Hello Ontario Nurses,
What's in this email:
- Nursing Week Panel Discussion – May 15 at 12 p.m. ET
- Greening Nursing Schools Community of Practice – June 11 at 3 p.m. ET
- Looking for Home Care Organizations to Participate in Extreme Indoor Heat Study
- Upcoming ONE-IIOE elections
- Perinatal Planetary Health Assessment Tool
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Nursing Week 2025 Panel Discussion
Title: Celebrating Nurses’ Environmental Awareness and Action
Date and Time: May 15 at 12 p.m. ET via Zoom
Abstract:
Nurses today have a vital role in integrating an environmental consciousness into healthcare practice. Our panel discussion will focus on the inspiring efforts of nurses who are doing just that! Come and learn about actively contributing to a healthier planet through nursing and the benefits of nature-based healing practices in your personal and professional life.
Link: https://chapters-igs.RNAO.ca/events/224
Speakers:
Steven Cairns, RN, PhD, MEd, BScN, BEd
Steven is an assistant professor and program chair at Nipissing University’s School of Nursing. He specializes in specializes in ecological nursing, critical caring theory, online learning engagement, critical cultural education, interprofessional health education, program development and evaluation. Steve has explored a variety of work experiences among diverse cultural groups within Canada and abroad. He is currently the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment - Ontario (CANE-ON) board representative and the Webmaster for the Ontario Nurses for the Environment. Steve enjoys an active lifestyle in all seasons with family and friends in Bracebridge, Ontario.
Dominique Baillargeon, RN, BScN
Dominique graduated nursing school in 2020 and currently works as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Southwestern Ontario. She has been a member of Ontario Nurses for the Environment (ONE) for almost 5 years; she started as the Policy and Political Action Executive and recently became the Social Media Executive. She is passionate about advocating for climate justice and making small changes in her life to promote environmental health. As a runner and outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys connecting with nature and appreciating everything it does to keep us healthy.
Carmen Hust RN, PhD, MScN, CPMHN(c)
Carmen is retired from being a full-time nursing professor and program chair at Algonquin College. She obtained her BScN at Université de Montréal, her MScN at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and PhD from the University of Ottawa. Carmen teaches to her passion – mental health and wellbeing – and sits on the board of the Federation of Canadian Mental Health Nurses, and Algonquin College Campus Ministry. She is an active member of A ROCHA, a Christian environmental stewardship organization and is a practicing Nurse Psychotherapist. Her research focus has been the lived experience of post-secondary students with mental health concerns. Beyond the professional sphere, Carmen is an active member of the Anglican Parish of South Carleton and has an appreciation for nature and sustainable living. She has raised three daughters, and lives on a small hobby farm.
Nancy Brookes, RN, PhD, MSc(a), BScN
Nancy Brookes is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing with many years of clinical practice in mental health settings including at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. She was a founding member of the Canadian Nurses Association’s Environmental Reference Group which then became the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE). She has been lecturing on the environmental impacts on mental health dating back to 2003.
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Greening Nursing Schools Community of Practice
Come collaborate with nurse educators from across North America on how to green nursing school and include planetary health and disaster preparedness competencies into nursing education.
June 11 at 3 p.m. ET
Save the date - link to come soon
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Looking for Home Care Organizations to Participate in Extreme Indoor Heat Study
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is leading a national initiative to enhance climate resilience in health-care settings, with a focus on healthcare facilities. Extreme indoor heat poses significant risks to vulnerable populations, yet many care environments remain under-equipped to handle rising temperatures. We are actively seeking home care providers to participate in heat-health assessments that will guide evidence-based climate adaptation. Participation is fully supported, research-backed, and designed with minimal disruption. Please join us in creating safer and more resilient home care facilities. If you are interested or want to learn more, please reach out. You can also visit our project page for more information: https://greenhealthcare.ca/indoor-heat-health-impacts/
On-boarding document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZPPkvQCCMoUnywh1O3IRvc222A6WXzHfREHoXruZIJ4/edit?usp=sharing
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ONE-IIOE Elections
Our election is coming up next week, so stay tuned, but also please consider joining our executive team. Here are the position that we need:
Chair/Co-chair
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Communicate with RNAO Home Office
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Organize and lead quarterly meetings and AGM
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Coordinate members’ voices report to RNAO
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Represent ONE-IIOE at events and in meetings with the RNAO and partners
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Attend RNAO assembly meetings and AGM
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Coordinate annual election process
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Support ONE-IIOE exec and member activities
Membership ENO (2nd)
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Communicate with the RNAO Home Office Membership contact
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Monitor the member communications whether through the ONE-IIOE email account, the ONE-IIOE website, mail or telephone, and direct communications to an ENO, as needed
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Strategize to keep members engaged
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Welcoming new members and facilitating their involvement in ONE-IIOE issues, events and committees
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Consider strategies for recognition of members within ONE-IIOE and RNAO Home Office
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Provide copies of minutes and/or other written resources, such as newsletters, to the Home Office contact as needed
Newsletter Editor (2nd)
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Make call-outs for newsletter content
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Develop and distribute an engaging quarterly ONE-IIOE newsletter
Policy and Political Action ENO
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Communicate with the RNAO Home Office Policy/ Political Action contact
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2 positions available
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Act as an ambassador for political action on behalf of ONE-IIOE
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Explore networking opportunities to advocate for ONE-IIOE objectives
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Utilize RNAO strategies for action for policy change and environmental action
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Provide feedback from ONEIG on emerging issues
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Inform ONE-IIOE of issues and opportunities relevant to ONE-IIOE’s Mission, Vision, and Objectives
Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) Representative
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Liaise between CANE and ONE-IIOE
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Enhance communication between the national nurses group and the provincial nurses group, to support each other in activities and actions to influence optimal environmental health
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Support the activities and initiatives of the ONE-IIOE executive
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The person should be an active member of both organizations with some institutional knowledge.
Webmaster (2nd)
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Keep the ONE-IIOE website up-to-date, interactive and engaging
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Work with other members of the EC to create and publish content for the website including bylaws and meeting minutes
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Liaise with RNAO home office as needed for website purposes
Members-at-Large
- Come to meetings, learn about how we work and help where needed and you have capacity.
- Get your feet wet and have fun.
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Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment Event:
PERINATAL PLANETARY HEALTH ASSESSMENT TOOL (PERIPHAT)
JOIN OUR LAUNCH
May 14, 2025 - 11:30-1 CT | 1:30-3 ET
https://bit.ly/periphat-launch
Speaker: Jacqueline Avanthay Strus, RN, MScN, PhD (c)
In the face of escalating planetary health crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—perinatal families are encountering unprecedented risks with lifelong implications. As healthcare providers, you play a critical role in equipping families with the knowledge and strategies needed to mitigate and adapt to these challenges.
Key Areas of Focus
The Periphat is a validated resource designed to assess the resilience of perinatal families across seven key areas:
- air quality
- disaster preparedness
- food and water security
- heat extremes
- mental health
- toxins and pollution
- vector-borne diseases
Why attend?
- Gain insights into the development and validation of this groundbreaking tool
- Learn how the PeriPHAT can be integrated into your clinical practice
- Explore resources to enhance family resilience
- Engage with fellow professionals dedicated to planetary health and perinatal care
- Developed by CANE-ACIIE through a rigorous research process, including a modified Delphi method and expert consensus, PeriPHAT offers healthcare providers an evidence-based approach to support families navigating the impacts of planetary health challenges.
Together, we can empower perinatal families to face the future with confidence and resilience. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!