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SDG 3
Strategic Initiatives

SDG 3 - Strategic Initiatives

Western is committed to collaborations with health institutions locally, nationally, and globally.

Local

Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety: CQUINS partners with London Health Sciences Centre and St Joseph's Health Care to provide mentorship & support, education, and research & innovation.
Centre for Translational Cancer Research: Links researchers with academic clinicians to share findings with regional partners, including family physicians and community hospitals.
Dental Health Clinic: In partnership with Oxford County Community Health Centre, the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry provides dental services to under-served individuals without dental benefits.
Hub for NeuroDevelopment Research and Disorders at Mogenson Centre: Attracting companies focused on pediatric brain health and neurodiversity across all ages, the hub includes social workers, registered psychotherapists, grief counsellors, and others driving interdisciplinary innovation in mental health, wellness, and inclusive innovation.
Land-Based Healing | Nature for Healing: In collaboration with the Indigenous Healing Center and the Children’s Hospital in London, this program aims to enhance patient and family healthcare experience through increased exposure to nature, both inside and outside.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC): One of Canada’s largest research-intensive acute care teaching hospitals. It collaborates with a range of local and regional research and charitable organizations to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and management of numerous diseases and health conditions.
Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: One team is surveying healthcare workers at 14 southwestern Ontario hospitals to spot gaps in knowledge, training, and cultural sensitivity when it comes to treating Indigenous patients.

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REGIONAL

Lawson Research Institute: One of Canada’s premier health research institutes, working with regional hospital networks to advance health research.
Ontario’s COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Initiative: Western partners in early detection of virus trends to mitigate outbreaks and inform decisions made by Public Health Ontario.
Shelter Health Initiative: The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry collaborates with the City of Windsor, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare, and the Canadian Mental Health Association — Windsor Essex Branch to provide same-day episodic medical care to the city’s homeless population.
Western Research Hub for Physical Activity and Health: Created an online platform for individuals with chronic health conditions, supported by the Community Advisory Council.

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National

Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing: The School partnered with universities across Canada to create iHeal, a free, bilingual app for women experiencing intimate partner violence, focusing on health and well-being.
Centre for School Mental Health: Engages in national research on child and youth development, school psychology, and mental health. Programs like Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups help immigrant or refugee children in Canada manage stress.
Exercise and Pregnancy Lab: Collaborates with universities across Canada to investigate the effects of exercise on pregnant women and their fetus.
National Centre for Audiology: The Centre is Canada’s largest research and teaching facility dedicated to hearing, advancing research in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders.
Newcomer Health Hub: This resource reduces healthcare disparities and supports Canadian healthcare providers with evidence-based guidelines for newcomer populations.
Robarts Research Institute: A national leader in biological, clinical, and imaging research, investigating diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

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Global

Achieving Equity and Global EDIDI Competence in the Canadian Health Sector Workforce: Partnering with universities in Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, Benin, Liberia, and Senegal, this program prepares health care professionals to work with and understand diverse populations.
Brain and Mind Institute (Centre for Brain & Mind): This institute has exchange programs with the Geneva Neuroscience Center and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, as well as collaborations in 13 other countries. It promotes research and international collaborations in cognitive neuroscience.
Frugal Biomedical Innovations: This multi-disciplinary initiative co-designs, develops, and deploys innovative medical technologies for remote and low-resource areas. In 2023, a total of 15 recipients received grants for low-cost innovations, including a 3D-printed, open-source medicine autoinjector.
SuperAging Research Initiative: This collaborative project focuses on identifying factors that contribute to healthy cognitive aging. Collected data will be used in analysis to identify behavioural, health, biologic, genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, psychosocial anatomic and neuropathologic factors associated with the SuperAging phenotype.
TRIDENT Project: This multi-centre project collaborates with McGill University, UBC, University of Toronto, and several international partners including the UK Dementia Research Institute. Western’s Mouse Translational Research Accelerator Platform supports this initiative with advanced brain imaging equipment, leading the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.
Western Academy for Advanced Research (WAFAR): In 2023, WAFAR scholars partnered with Princeton University to map the human brain.
Western Heads East: This collaboration between Western staff, students, faculty, and African partners uses probiotic foods to contribute to health and sustainable development. Key researcher Gregor Reid has been honoured with the Gregor Reid Award for Outstanding Scholars in Developing Nations.

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Health Outreach Programs

Western delivers outreach programs and projects in the local community to improve and promote health and wellbeing. These include but are not limited to hygiene, nutrition, family planning, sports, exercise, aging well, and other health and wellbeing related topics for local, disadvantaged, and refugee or immigrant communities.

Local Outreach

Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging: Promotes physical activity and well-being for older adults through a combination of basic and applied research, education, and community-based exercise programs.
Discovery Week: Medical students engage annually in immersive, community-based placements across Southwestern Ontario, delivering outreach programs that promote health and wellbeing in areas such as hygiene, nutrition, aging, and physical activity. The program is designed to foster empathy, cultural competence, and a deeper understanding of rural and regional healthcare, with many students returning to practice in the communities where they trained.
FRESH: Food Resources and Education for Student Health is a peer nutrition education program created by and for university students, using multiple strategies designed to increase awareness, improve knowledge, build skills, and influence the campus food environment.
Geriatric Medicine Refresher Day: Providers including physicians, nurses, therapists (OT, PT, SLP, RT), pharmacists, dietitians, psychologists, social workers, researchers, educators, discharge planners, as well as people serving primarily in administrative positions connect annually to broaden their knowledge base, refine specific skills, and meet with others who share their desire to improve the quality care for the older adult.
Healthy Aging Fair: This free event connects older adults to research and community resources for physical, mental, and social wellness, featuring healthy food, a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, and vendor demonstrations.
Rural Medicine Outreach Club: This club aims to increase the awareness and experience of rural medicine for students, working closely with stakeholders in local rural communities to increase the reach of the existing healthcare career exploration programs.
Sleep hygiene: Infographics with best practices for healthy living, such as sleep hygiene, are free and publicly available.
SPARQ 2025: Must-attend event for all those passionate about advancing quality improvement in healthcare. This Quality Improvement Symposium will exchange ideas, showcase innovative projects, and explore the latest strategies for enhancing patient care and system performance through quality improvement.
The Catalysts: Miniseries on the Science of Aging, produced by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in association with the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine, features fascinating talks on aging, with top scientists and clinicians transforming the field.
Western Serves Network: Connects local non-profit organizations with dedicated and talented students to support community initiatives; opportunities include working with children with serious illnesses.

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Disadvantaged Outreach

AI for Health and Social Justice: Bringing together Western researchers, diverse individual and organization experts from across a variety of communities, industries, governments and not-for-profits to share perspectives, find common ground, build connections, and explore opportunities for collaboration to advance social justice in public and population health.
Black youth mental health community-based research project: Engaging students in Grades 7, 8, 11, and 12 for their input, and partnering with two schools in Windsor, the project conducts focus groups, provides mental health workshops, and leads knowledge mobilization activities.
Community Conversation on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Healthcare: This event aims to amplify the voices of Black communities in healthcare, foster dialogue, and explore solutions for building a more equitable system and drive more inclusive policies and practices in local healthcare.
Community Service Learning Program: CSL provides dental service through placements in community sites and low-cost primary clinics in Southwestern Ontario to address the high unmet acute dental treatment needs of equity-seeking community members such as those living with HIV, high-risk youth with housing and addition crises, refugees and newcomers to Canada, Indigenous community members, 2SLBGTQIA+, and others.
Health Education Media Library: Community-sourced open access repository of medical, dental, and health education media representative of a diverse population of both patients and healthcare providers and inclusive of stigmatized healthcare topics.
Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic: This cost-neutral clinic offers a sliding fee scale to our community and families based on financial need, psychological consultation, assessment, and treatment services to children and youth aged 3 to 18 years.
MedLINCs Summer Elective Program: Summer elective program through Schulich Medicine Distributed Education that places medical students with the Chippewas of Nawash community in the Grey-Bruce region followed by a summer clinical opportunity in the region.
OServes: Each orientation week, our students collaborate with local non-for-profit organizations in the London community to immerse themselves in a day of volunteering and service.
Spark Symposium: The Mustangs Athlete Student Council and Mustangs Care, a student-led organization focused on community outreach, ran the event in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of London featuring seminars on health and wellness for high school students in the specialist high skills major program, to motivate and offer mentorship.
Speech and Language Camps: At the unique summer camps in Elborn College, Western speech-language pathology and occupational therapy students provide one-on-one and small group therapy to kids four to 10 years old. The week-long camps help children who have challenges with speech, language or literacy.

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Refugee Outreach

Curriculum Framework: Created for Canadian doctors and nurses to give greater insight into trauma to better care for vulnerable newcomers, providing medical students evidence-based guidelines for treating refugees, as well as a grounding in trauma-informed care to maximize their well-being and integration into educational and working life.
Equity in Settlement Report: Identifies barriers to equitable access in settlement services for racialized newcomers and refugees in small and mid-sized Ontario communities. It supports the development of inclusive outreach programs that promote health and wellbeing by addressing systemic discrimination and improving access to culturally responsive care and services.
Life as a Refugee: Western partners with the London Cross-Cultural Learner Centre to host an annual event which features a series of activities aimed at raising awareness about the experiences of refugees. This event is free and open to the public.
Newcomer Clinic Evaluation: Partners with London InterCommunity Health Centre and the Cross Cultural Learners Centre, highlights efforts to examine access to health care for government-assisted refugees in London. Through storytelling, interviews, and journey mapping, the evaluation captures newcomers’ experiences accessing culturally safe and trauma- and violence-informed health and settlement supports. This work is helping build and sustain more responsive, integrated care models for newcomers in the city.
Newcomer Health Hub: Resource for community members and frontline healthcare workers looking to treat, advocate for, and empower newcomers to Canada, including refugees.
Pathways to Prosperity Partnership: An alliance of university, community and government partners dedicated to fostering welcoming communities and promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Canada, providing resources such as Access to Suitable Health Care.
Yazidi Refugee Mental Health Peer Support Program: CRHESI received funding to develop, implement and evaluate a tailored and culturally integrated program. Refugees are at a higher risk for mental health issues, and less likely to reach out than their domestic peers. The largest Yazidi community in Canada have been settled in London, presenting a unique opportunity to support a young growing and vibrant community.

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Sports Facilities

Western University students who are currently enrolled in courses full-time are eligible for a Campus Recreation membership, which gives them access to the Western Student Recreation Centre. Students who have paid ancillary fees are eligible for a membership at no additional cost. Students have access to the fitness centre, drop-in recreational programs, and all facility amenities including an indoor walking/jogging track, gymnasium, and aquatics. 

The university offers a number of paid and free programs for children and youth, including:  

Indigenous Track and Field Day is an annual event for elementary students across Southwestern Ontario.
Learn to Swim offers the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life Program teaching children in both group and private lessons.
OFSAA Track & Field Championships, or the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations, welcomed high school student athletes from six regions in Ontario.
Special Olympics Ontario Provincial School Championships, the largest multi-sport games for people with intellectual disabilities in Canada, will feature athletes aged 14 to 21 participating in soccer, bocce, basketball, floorball and track and field events. Western is providing the facilities, including athletic venues and overnight accommodation in residence buildings for the athletes, educators, and coaches.
Sport Western day camps for March Break, and summer camps include archery, badminton, swimming, hockey, soccer, and more.
Wild Western Days is a school outreach program providing children and youth in the community access to the sports facilities on campus to play and watch sports and receive coaching and leadership skills.

The university also hosts events for the general public:

Bell Track & Field Trials serve as Canada’s official Olympic and Paralympic Trials for track and field, determining which athletes will represent the country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Canadian Track & Field Championships will be coming to Alumni Stadium in partnership with the City of London. Athletes from all over Canada will showcase their talent on Western’s campus.
Membership at the recreation centre for the general public is also available.
Ontario Summer Games community event hosted 3,500 athletes and 6,000 spectators free and open to the public.

Western Mustangs Facilities: Western University & the Western Mustangs have a vision of creating communities of belonging where all Western Mustangs thrive. They are home to several signature facilities including:

Alumni Field(118,00 sq ft, turf)
Alumni Field is the home for the Mustangs men's and women's rugby teams and is one of only a handful of International Rugby Board certified fields in Canada, making it possible to host internationally sanctioned rugby contests as well as a wide variety of other sports. Equipped with lights and electronic scoreboard the field also features bleachers for 600 patrons.
Alumni Hall(1,200 capacity)
Alumni Hall is a multi-purpose auditorium and gym, and is home to the Mustangs Basketball and Volleyball men's and women's teams.
Mustang Field(112,000 sq ft, turf)
Mustang Field serves as the home pitch for Western's varsity men's and women's soccer teams. In addition to full-field soccer, lacrosse, and other activities, Mustangs Field is also designed for 7-on-7 soccer with three mini field pitches available for use. The field is equipped with full lighting and an electronic scoreboard and features bleachers for 600 patrons.
Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre(TRAC)
TRAC contains an ice rink and indoor track & field facilities. TRAC is the official home for the men's and  women's  hockey and track & field teams.
Western Alumni Stadium(8,200 capacity)
Western Alumni Stadium holds a CFL regulation football field featuring an infill turf playing surface with a 2" rubberized e-layer. Bordering the field is an eight-lane, 400-metre track (beynon).
Western Student Recreation Centre(WSRC, 160,000 sq ft)
WSRC facilities include: gymnasiums, fitness centre, swimming pool, cardio room, climbing room, as well as weight training, aerobic and cardio areas.

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Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

Western provides students with access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services free of charge.

Birth Control Information: Book an appointment to review information on types of birth control available and how to make an informed decision.
Health & Wellness: This is an appointment-based medical clinic for all registered part-time and full-time students at Western and affiliated colleges.
HPV Vaccine: Free for a limited time. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world.
On-Campus HIV Testing: Members of the Western community can access anonymous HIV testing through monthly clinics. No appointment is necessary.
Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing: Screen for all common sexually transmitted infections. STI testing is done with the utmost sensitivity and understanding.
Trans Care Team: It provides specialized psychological counselling and medical care to students in a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirmative environment.

In Ontario, physicians are required to provide reproductive healthcare that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of patients’ rights and autonomy. The physician may make a conscientious objection but must refer to another provider who can offer the required care. Physicians must not discriminate against patients based on protected grounds such as sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion. This means they cannot refuse to provide reproductive healthcare based on these characteristics. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario conducts regular assessments to ensure that physicians are complying with standards of practice.

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Mental Health Support

Western actively promotes mental health and provides students and staff with access to free mental health supports.

Students

2SLGBTQIA+: Mental Health Support has several counsellors with expertise in the provision of services to 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
Black and Racialized Student Supports: students experiencing race-related stress can request to speak with counsellors who are themselves persons of these communities with lived experience.
Engineering Student Wellness Counselling: Supports engineering students to resolve personal, social, and family difficulties that may affect their academic success.
Group Care and Workshops: These activities provide a supportive environment where students can explore new skills, enhance self-awareness, and share experiences with their peers.
I.M. WELL: The Society of Graduate Students includes a tele-virtual mental health support system available to members.
Individual Counselling: this is a safe space with professionally trained mental health counsellors.
International Student Wellness: Western International offers a full range of programs and services to support international students during their stay at Western.
Mental Health Guide: A guide for students to explain the process of finding and accessing the right mental health supports needed.
Mental Health Support: Health & Wellness Services provides professional and confidential services, free of charge, to students needing assistance to meet their personal, social, and academic goals. Services include consultation, referral, groups, and workshops, as well as brief mental health counselling.
PurpleCARE: Undergraduate students have mental healthcare included in their ancillary fees. Mental health and wellness support is available for all students.
Residence Counselling: This service provides professional and confidential mental health and counselling services, free of charge, to students living in a Main Campus residence.
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Counselling: Our experienced counselling staff is available for impartial and supportive personal counselling appointments.
The Harbour: Serving students with an eating disorder, it is operated to provide appropriate clinical treatment and restorative support from a variety of healthcare disciplines. It is a place to make friends, get professional help and meet mentors with helpful lived experiences.
Western Law Mental Health and Wellness Services: These services address the complex experience of law school including impostor syndrome and perfectionism counselling.

Staff

Employee Assistance Program: TELUS Health is confidential, voluntary, and free of charge. The resources are available to all employees and their immediate family members.
Employee Well-being: Provides assistance for various aspects of an individual’s life, such as assisting employees impacted by illness, injury, or disability, and Wellness Information and programs to help employees achieve balance and well-being in their work lives.
Health Benefits: The majority of our employee groups have mental health coverage included in their medical benefits coverage.
Living Well @ Western: This service provides free wellness activities that span the seven domains of wellness, intended to maintain and improve employee well-being.
Mental Health Module on OWL: This module explores the signs of mental illness and outlines the steps you can take to support someone experiencing it. It is available to all Western students, faculty, and staff.
Systems Innovation Challenge: A Canada-wide student challenge organized by Innovation North and powered by Ivey Business School and BMO Academy. This year’s Challenge focuses on mental health and wellness, particularly as it manifests in reduced well-being at work and within organizational settings.