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Join us in Toronto on OCT 17 – Oct 18, 2023 for the 2nd annual Canadian Human Connection Conference

Join us in Toronto on OCT 17 – Oct 18, 2023 for the 2nd annual Canadian Human Connection Conference

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Advancing Social Health As
A Public Priority

The COVID-19 pandemic has awakened many of us to the importance of human connection for health, happiness, well-being and the betterment of society. Now more than ever, it is important for schools, businesses, community leaders and individuals to invest time in understanding the importance of human connection for individual health and well-being, for the organizations and institutions that house our employees, students and communities, and for the betterment of the society which we are all apart of today and will leave behind for future generations.  Decades of research have demonstrated that social connection and social support are powerful positive determinants of mental and physical health, and that social isolation, disconnection, and loneliness have powerful negative consequences for individual health and well-being across the life course. 

Yet, social health is often side-lined, de-prioritized, and de-emphasized in our schools, workplaces, and even in our health and social care services. The time is now to ramp up the awareness and knowledge around the importance of human connection to our overall well-being.

The GenWell Project, in partnership with the Canadian Alliance For Social Connection and Health, is pleased to announce the 2023 Canadian Human Connection Conference, which will take place on October 17th – Oct 18th, 2023, in beautiful downtown Toronto. CHCC 2023 is an interdisciplinary conference, welcoming researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers, and business and community members to join and share the latest evidence and experiences about how we can work together to rebuild a connected Canada. Presenters with expertise in any field relevant to social connection are encouraged to attend.

Conference Details

CHCC 2023 will be an in person event only, held in at Beeton Hall in the Toronto Reference Library, with plans to record and share content within six weeks of the conference.  The event will commence on October 17th, with a reception held on the first evening and a second day of  sessions on October 18th, providing more opportunities for the attending community to connect and share thoughts, perspectives, and ideas.

Venue: Toronto Reference Library

Address: 789 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2G8

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General Admission: $129.00

Student, Not For Profit Employee: $69.00

Accommodation: For discounted room rates, check out the room block created for the conference at Town Inn Suites. There are several other hotels in the vicinity of the venue, where attendees can book a room.

Become a speaker

Everyone and anyone is welcome to submit a presentation proposal for CHCC 2023.

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, short oral presentations, panels, workshops, roundtable discussions, or an alternate format that you propose. We especially encourage submissions that answer the questions:

  • How does social connection impact the health, happiness, and wellbeing of Canadians?
  • How do social and structural barriers to social inclusion and participation drive health and social inequities among different marginalized groups in Canada?
  • How can individuals, community-based organizations, healthcare providers, researchers, and decision-makers be informed by people with lived experience of social isolation/disconnection, and work together to build stronger social connections and communities?
  • How are Canadian schools, businesses and community organizations working to build greater understanding and action around the importance of human connection in the work that they do each day?
  • What global initiatives are being undertaken to address social isolation, disconnection and loneliness, and promote social connection?

Suggested Topics

We welcome proposals that identify community needs, promising interventions or practices in healthcare and social services that support the wellbeing of all communities. Submissions can be based upon research, programming, policy initiatives, advocacy, activism, art-based approaches, grassroots responses, and/or community-based actions engaging communities in Canada or abroad.

In 2023, we have a special interest the following areas:

  • the impact of digital technology in connecting or disconnecting society.
  • the association between of social connections and addictions.
  • the association between social connections and youth mental health.
  • the role of government in solving for a disconnected society through policy and action.
  • the role of social connection in the support of any and all marginalized communities.

Diversity

We encourage people with diverse lived experience to submit a proposal, and in particular, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, and other underserved and underrepresented people in our communities, including but not limited to 2SLGBTQ+ people, people living with disabilities, and those facing social and structural barriers to social participation and inclusion.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the conference, including whether your proposal idea aligns with the conference’s theme, please contact us at chcc@genwellproject.org.

Key Dates

Presentation Proposal Submission Deadline: July 31, 2023.
Notification of Results to Presenters: August 15th

Presentation Formats

We are accepting proposals for multiple presentation formats, including those listed below. You may also propose an alternative format that might work better for you.

1. Short Oral Presentation

Duration: 8-minute individual presentation & participation in facilitated panel discussion (total 60 minutes)

Ideal for research and evaluation findings, program or campaign reviews, and project results. The Programming Committee will group accepted proposals thematically into panels with 4 different presentations. Due to the virtual format, all presenters/panelists will be asked to prepare a brief, pre-recorded oral presentation (maximum 8 minutes) and will participate in a live facilitated Q&A session on the panel topic with panelists and audience members.

2. Workshop

Duration: 60 Minutes
Ideal for live presentations involving skills development, knowledge exchange, capacity building, or interdisciplinary or interprofessional dialogue. Each workshop will last 60 minutes, and should include 20 minutes of engagement or discussion with the audience. These presentations should be interactive and focus on dynamic exchanges or discussions among participants.

3. Roundtable Discussion

Duration: 60 Minutes
Ideal for live, interactive conversations amongst attendees on issues critical to the community. This can include broader discussions about systemic issues, access to care and services, and community responses to the CHCC 2022 theme, Disrupt and Reconstruct. Each session will last 60 minutes and should be led by the presenter(s)/panelist(s).

4. Curated Panel

Duration: 60 Minutes

Ideal for discussing an issue in greater detail with multiple experts. Integrated panels should include 3-4 brief, pre-recorded presentations and at least 20 minutes for a live facilitated Q&A session with the presenters/panelists. Proposals should identify all relevant presenters/panelists as well as a moderator for the 60-minute session.

5. Poster Presentation

Virtual Poster Exhibit

Ideal for sharing health promotion and education campaigns, artwork, research summaries, or program descriptions/updates. CHCC 2022 will include live scheduled poster viewing sessions with authors/presenters, as well as a virtual poster exhibit that will be accessible on the conference platform throughout the duration of the conference. Each presenter has the option to submit a poster (i.e., PDF or PPT file) or a pre-recorded video or audio presentation (maximum 5 minutes). If you are interested in using a different format or have questions about the poster presentation format, exhibit, or viewing sessions, please contact chcc@genwellproject.org.

Submit a proposal

Are You Able
to Volunteer?

The Canadian Human Connection Conference is a volunteer-driven event. If you are interested in serving as an abstract reviewer or a session facilitator, please contact us at chcc@genwellproject.org.

Questions, Concerns
Comments

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the project or application process, please feel free to contact the Programming Committee at chcc@genwellproject.org.

Partners

CHCC 2022 Partners is made possible through funding from these partners.