Niagara Health has been named one of three finalists for the provincial Excellence in Health Communications Award for its community engagement on the three-site hospital system model.
The recognition comes from the Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Awards, hosted by the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health in partnership with Ontario Health, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Medical Association.
André Picard, Globe and Mail columnist, recently presented the excellence in communications award at the Ontario Health System Quality and Innovation Awards. Niagara Health's communications team was a finalist in the category. From left: Micaela Grant, Communications and Engagement Specialist, Erica Bajer, Manager of Public Affairs, Mary Jane Johnson, Director of Communications and Engagement and Antonietta Culic, Senior Communications Specialist.
More than 100 nominations were submitted from across Ontario, with three finalists selected in each of nine categories.
The Excellence in Health Communications finalists were:
- Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (category winner)
- Niagara Health’s Three-Site Hospital Model Community Engagement
- The Bridge – Southlake Health’s gateway to verified local healthcare news
Finalists were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process that included multiple rounds involving Dalla Lana School of Public Health students before final assessment and nomination by subject matter experts.
Niagara Health’s nomination highlights the region-wide engagement work that took place in 2024 to share information, answer questions and address concerns about the move to a modern three-site hospital system.
“This nomination is a meaningful acknowledgement of the work our communications team and the entire organization put into this effort,” says Director of Communications and Engagement Mary Jane Johnson.
“This recognition also belongs to the people of Niagara and to our teams across the organization. In 2024, residents gave their time, their questions and their honesty. Our staff, physicians and partners showed up alongside them. This nomination reflects that shared effort.”
Engagement across Niagara in 2024
In 2024, Niagara Health held 11 public engagement sessions across Niagara’s 12 municipalities. Each session was tailored to its host community, with formats ranging from traditional town halls to open-house style events that allowed for one-on-one conversations with Niagara Health leaders.
The sessions focused on sharing clear information about the three-site hospital model, including how it will support access to care, Emergency Department pressures and future planning for sites such as Welland, Fort Erie and Port Colborne. Residents were encouraged to ask questions, raise concerns and share what matters most to them.
“We knew these wouldn’t always be easy conversations,” Johnson says. “People care deeply about their local hospital. Our responsibility was to be honest, listen carefully and explain why this transformation is needed for Niagara’s future.”
Patient Partners reviewed all public materials to ensure they were clear and accessible. After each session, Niagara Health posted summaries and recordings online to keep information available for people who could not attend in person.
Multi-channel campaign to support public understanding
Alongside the in-person sessions, Niagara Health launched a broader education campaign in 2024 to reach residents in different ways. This included a dedicated project webpage, social media content, videos, direct mail to households, media interviews, op-eds and regular news updates.
These efforts were designed to provide consistent information about the three-site model, counter misinformation and explain the reasons behind the changes.
“Our goal in 2024 was simple,” Johnson says. “We wanted people to have reliable information, in plain language, from trusted sources. Whether someone preferred to attend a town hall, read a story in the paper or watch a recording at home, there needed to be a way for them to learn about our future vision.”
Gratitude to the community
Niagara Health leaders say the award nomination underscores the importance of community dialogue during major system change.
“We are grateful to every resident, elected official and partner who showed up in 2024 to learn about our future vision, ask hard questions and share their perspective,” Johnson says. “Those conversations are shaping how we move forward. Being named a finalist is an honour, but the real measure of success is the trust we continue to build with the communities we serve.”
