Holistic integrated care now available in Windsor

March 26, 2019

The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre opened it’s doors in Windsor, Ont., on March 4. Staff includes (from left): Sylvie Guenther, Regional Director; Shannon Marchand, Chief Financial Officer; Rhonda Doxtator, Mental Health Counsellor; Andrea Mayrand, Clinical Care Coordinator; Sabrina Puente, Mental Health Counsellor; Dr. Chintan Shah, Family Physician; Andrea Racette, Registered Practical Nurse; Elayne Isaacs, Integrated Care Manager; Brooke Wuerch, Nurse Practitioner; Connie Leslie, Executive Assistant; Shelley Price, NP; Melissa Thomas, Social Worker. Liaison. Photo supplied.

By Shirley Honyust

WINDSOR—Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) in Windsor, Ont., celebrated with a Grand Opening Ceremony on Monday March 4.

SOAHAC opened its doors to the community, similar organizations, and supporters at the newly expanded site on Tecumseh Road West. The celebrations began with ceremony that included a prayer/song by the Women’s Drum Group: Wanda Buffalo, Lacey George and Theresa Johnson.

The official ribbon cutting was done by dignitaries and SOAHAC staff including Shannon Marchand, Chief Financial Officer of SOAHAC’s Administration Office in Munsee Delaware Nation; Jim Morrison, Windsor Ward 10 Councillor; Brian Masse, Windsor West MP; Ralph Ganter, Chief Executive Officer of Erie St. Clair Local Integrated Health Network Services; and Dr. Chintan Shah, Staff Physician at SOAHAC Windsor.

Congratulatory announcements were sent from Percy Hatfield, MPP Windsor- Tecumseh and Brian Masse, MP Windsor West, thanking SOAHAC Windsor providing health and social services to Indigenous families and individuals in Southwestern Ontario.

“We are grateful that we are able to expand our services to the local Indigenous community,” expressed Elayne Isaacs, Integrated Care Manager at SOAHAC’s Windsor site. “In particular, with the addition of Traditional Healing Services Program, we are now in the position of providing holistic integrated care.”

The SOAHAC will also feature a Traditional Healing Services Program Coordinator, Lacey George.

Through the Windsor site, outreach services to the communities of Caldwell First Nation, Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, and Aamjiwnaang First Nation will be provided. Services include primary health care, mental health and addictions support, and traditional healing services.

The Tecumseh Road West space is now nearly three times its original capacity and will see expansion of programs and renovations made to the centre through the design and architecture by Two Row Architect, Ohsweken, Ont.

SOAHAC is funded by the Government of Ontario; Ministry of Health and Long Term and Youth Services and Southwest Community Care Access Centre.