Community Patient Advisory Council
COMMUNITY PATIENT ADVISORY COUNCIL Members:
Council Co-Chairs:
Rita Boutette
Kathy Kishiqueb
Council Members:
Gale Black
Laura Dowdell
Jennie Hissa
Laura Loohuizen
Merv Copenance
Theresa Bowen
Sandi Puls
Grant Vanesse
Eric Brown
Mark Labelle
Will Landon
Elder Advisor:
Eleanor Skead
Contact:
Email: cpac@anhp.net
A voice for patients
The Community Patient Advisory Council (CPAC) serves as a bridge between patients, families, Elders, caregivers, and the leadership of the ANHP Ontario Health Team.
Its key function is to provide advice and lived-experience perspectives on issues impacting health system users within the ANHP OHT region, and advocate for patient-focused issues. This ensures that patient voices are integral to decision-making at the Steering Committee and leadership levels.
The Council is composed of 10 to 12 permanent area residents with recent lived experience as a patient, family member, or caregiver who have accessed services through the ANHP OHT or a related community partner.
The All-Nations Health Partners is committed to engaging patients, families, care givers, elders, organizations and primary care in co-designing and transforming the healthcare care system, in the Kenora and surrounding area. We know that programs and systems are significantly improved when they are co-designed with those who use the system — patients, family members and caregivers.
Our goal is to develop and connect a strong network of people with lived experiences and expertise across the health care system I takes many voices and experiences to influence sustainable healthcare transformation.
The ANHP Community Patient Advisory Council is also working to develop a network of advisory groups that can support broader engagement across our Ontario Health Team.
The pool will consist of patients, families, and care partners (people with lived/living experience) who don’t want to lead engagement work but want to support project-specific work or events, provide input via surveys, etc., and want to be kept in the know of work of the All-Nations Health Partners.
Our Engagement Strategy
The CPAC is established under the broader ANHP framework, with its role built into the ANHP’s Terms of Reference. It fosters community engagement across all decision-making levels, including notable inclusion in working groups and development of a Patient Declaration of Values, co-created with CPAC input.
Why We Engage
Embedded Participant Voice: The CPAC ensures that the experiences and needs of patients, families, elders, and caregivers inform policies and project planning.
Strategic Involvement: CPAC members contribute to governance, working groups, and decision making at all levels of leadership within the OHT — making care more responsive and inclusive.
Community Representation: With its active and involved members, the CPAC aims to reflect the real-world experiences of people accessing health services in Kenora and the surrounding areas.
SHARE YOUR VOICE!
What healthcare system issues concern you?
The Community Patient Advisory Council is your advocate voice for healthcare in the region. Do you have an area of concern or a story that you feel is important to share? We want to hear from you! Please contact us via email at cpac@anhp.net, and we will be in touch!
Current engagement initiatives
What we’re working to change for Kenora region patients.
Northern Health Travel Grant Advocacy
UPDATE: As of December 1, 2025, you can submit your NHTG applications through the Ministry of Health’s online portal! Find out more at Northern Health Travel Grant Program | ontario.ca
We love living in Northwestern Ontario, with its unbridled wilderness and beauty. But when we need specialized care, it often requires travelling to larger centres.
In 1985, the province of Ontario created the Northern Ontario Travel Grant to help offset the cost of that travel. But it’s not always enough help.
Earlier this year, the CPAC held a story-sharing event, creating the opportunity for patients who had accessed the NHTG for medical care to tell us about their experience, in order for us to advocate for change to better meet the needs of the North. Many powerful stories were shared, and we had a compelling video created by Upriver Media to share with decision makers.
Northern Health Travel Grant Advocacy
We continue to work with other patient advocacy committees across the province for change to this program — but we need your voice too!
If you have a story or a challenge you faced using the NHTG, and feel comfortable sharing it, reach out to us!
Get Involved Today!
Have a passion for healthcare change? We have a team of volunteers that help the CPAC committee by volunteering their time to help with CPAC events in the community. Join us today!
