Roundtable Discussion
Strengths, Assets, and Resources of Francophone Populations: When Capacity Building Becomes a Catalyst for Action “By Us, For Us”
Thursday, November 10, 2022, from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. (EST)
“Citizen participation.” “Leadership.” “Action on all determinants of health.” “Cooperation to promote public health and well-being.” We hear expressions like these so often. In this session, we’ll go beyond the buzzwords and dive into concrete, on-the-ground actions that can be replicated in other parts of the country. It will be a chance to explore different tools, resources, and solutions that use a “by us, for us” approach to public health and wellness.
With participation from:
- Barbara Losier, Executive Director, Mouvement Acadien des Communautés en Santé du Nouveau-Brunswick (MACS-NB), which coordinates the Réseau-action Communautaire (RAC) of the Société Santé et Mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick (SSMEFNB)
- Paul Denis, Executive Director, Réseau santé Alberta
- Sarah Chaput, Director, Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé (Americas region) (RÉFIPS)
- Myrianne Richard, knowledge transfer specialist, Centre de collaboration nationale sur les déterminants de la santé (CCNDDS).
Barbara Losier
Executive Director, Mouvement Acadien des Communautés en Santé du Nouveau-Brunswick (MACS-NB), which coordinates the Réseau-action Communautaire (RAC) of the Société Santé et Mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick (SSMEFNB)
A proud Acadian hailing from New Brunswick, Barbara Losier has gained many years of experience in community development, including in municipal recreation, community radio, wellness, women’s issues, and the Francophonie. She is currently executive director of the Mouvement Acadien des Communautés en Santé du Nouveau-Brunswick (MACS-NB), which is dedicated to promoting health and wellness in French. The organization she directs coordinates the Réseau-action Communautaire de la Société Santé et Mieux-être en français du Nouveau-Brunswick (SSMEFNB), one of the 16 member networks of the Société Santé en français.
Ms. Losier takes a keen interest in ways in which communities and citizens can build their capacities, and in their power to influence the determinants of their health, all while finding innovative ways to advocate for their interests within the broader healthcare system.
Paul Denis
directeur général, Réseau santé Alberta
Paul Denis has been active in Alberta’s Francophone community since 1969, when he joined the ACFA’s youth committee while studying at university.
He has held a number of positions within various organizations:
- Current chair of the provincial ACFA Foundation
- Current chair of the Centre de Santé Saint-Thomas community committee
- Member of the Campus Saint-Jean steering committee (1990–1995)
- Member of the University of Alberta Senate (1995–1999)
- Member of the University of Alberta Alumni Council (2004–2007)
- Chair of the provincial ACFA (1993–1995)
- Chair of the Théâtre français d’Edmonton (1980–1986)
- Founding chair of the Alberta Multilingual Media Association (1983)
- Chair of the Association de la Presse francophone Hors Québec (1985–1986)
- Member of the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council (1981–1982)
- Founding chair of the Jeune Chambre de commerce d’Edmonton (1974–1976)
His professional experience includes the following:
- 25 years with Investors Group, where he worked as advisor, division manager, and regional manager (1987–2012)
- Writer and editor of the Le Franco newspaper (1981–1986)
- Director of planning and public relations for the provincial ACFA (1978–1981)
- Development officer with the federal Secretary of State (1975–1978)
- Director of public relations at Radio-Canada television (1971–1975)
Assistant executive director at the provincial ACFA (1970–1971)
Education:
- Secondary school at Collège Saint-Jean
- Bachelor in socio-psychology, Faculty of Arts, Saint-Jean Campus and University of Alberta (graduated 1970)
- Certified financial planner diploma from Canadian Association of Financial Planners (1990)
Sarah Chaput
directrice, Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé (région des Amériques) (RÉFIPS)
As director of the Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé (RÉFIPS), Americas Region, since October 2019, Sarah Chaput works with various stakeholders to strengthen actions taken to promote health in the Francophone world. She is involved in various key health promotion projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Montreal. Ms. Chaput has also worked as a scientific advisor at the Institut national de santé publique du Québec and as a project manager at the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia. She has a few publications to her credit that deal with advocacy in health promotion, equity in health, sugary drinks, and access to healthy food. She took an active role in the 24th IUHPE Conference as a member of the world scientific committee, president of the Francophone research subcommittee, and master of ceremonies. Ms. Chaput values the sharing of knowledge and expertise in health promotion and developing win-win relationships between stakeholders.
Myrianne Richard
knowledge transfer specialist, Centre de collaboration nationale sur les déterminants de la santé (CCNDDS).
Myrianne joined the NCCDH a year ago, to which she brings many years’ clinical experience in primary, community, and short-term health care in British Columbia and abroad, as well as healthcare programming and professional training. She has worked as a trainer, a clinical and organizational learning consultant, and public health specialist.
Myrianne holds a bachelor of health sciences in physiotherapy from the University of Ottawa and a master of public health from the University of Waterloo.
