Grey Bruce residents and professionals can join a community-focused discussion on wellness later this month.
Registration is now open for the 2026 Healthy Communities Conference, which is set to take place April 27 and 28 in Owen Sound.
The two-day event will bring together participants for keynote presentations, panel conversations, and interactive breakout sessions. The goal is to strengthen health, equity, and inclusion across the region.
Attendees will be encouraged to examine what it truly means to foster a “culture of wellness,” while sharing ideas and strategies that support stronger, more connected communities.
“Our goal is to create space and an opportunity for open discussions about community health and well-being,” said Jason Weppler, co-chair of the Grey Bruce Healthy Communities Partnership and a Program Manager at Grey Bruce Public Health. Building healthier communities means being honest about what isn’t working, sharing what does, and co-ordinating across systems, so people aren’t left navigating gaps on their own."
Organized by the Grey Bruce Healthy Communities Partnership, the conference will begin the evening of April 27, running from 6 to 8:45 p.m. at The Sydenham Campus. Activities will continue the following day, April 28, with a full schedule from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre.
The opening night will feature a panel discussion focused on innovative health and wellness approaches and the future of care delivery. Participants will also have the option to join guided tours of either The Sydenham Campus or Georgian College’s Owen Sound campus.
Family physician and dietician, Dr. Elisa Levi, will deliver the keynote address for day two. She will highlight her work establishing a place-based, Indigenous-led primary care and healing space in Neyaashiinigmiing.
Throughout the day, attendees can choose from three concurrent sessions covering a wide range of topics, including age-friendly community design, equitable access to palliative care, and Indigenous-led care models.
Additional programming will include a panel exploring how systems can better reflect rural realities, with a focus on housing, homelessness, and health, along with a rural innovation activity led by Georgian College’s Department of Social Innovation.
Tickets are priced at $30 plus HST for the first day and $70 plus HST for the second day, which includes a hot lunch and refreshments. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register by midnight on April 20, 2026.
Organizers have also prioritized accessibility, introducing options to help remove financial barriers. Individuals and organizations can purchase extra tickets which will be shared with community members who may otherwise be unable to attend.
In addition, anyone under the age of 30 can participate free of charge thanks to sponsorship from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grey, Bruce, and West Simcoe.
More details, including full agendas, speaker information, and registration options, are available on the Healthy Communities Conference webpage.
