News & Blog

Aging in Place – Huron is a pilot research program by Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) dedicated to engaging with and learning from older adults about aging in our community.

We’re excited to share that our Summer 2026 Newsletter is now available to read and download. This edition contains updates and highlights from the past couple of months; from recent milestones and community stories to opportunities to get involved, there’s plenty to explore!

On May 26, 2026, the Lions Club of Goderich presented Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) board members and staff with a donation of $15,000.

On June 9, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (Gateway CERH) had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) for an engaging and collaborative discussion focused on brain health, research, and the importance of partnerships.

Across Ontario, seniors are the backbone of our community. In Huron County specifically, people over the age of 55 make up 42% of our population (Statistics Canada, 2021). Seniors work, volunteer, mentor, and support local organizations allowing community initiatives to take place. Yet, many seniors face barriers to staying engaged and connected, especially as more services, information, and opportunities move online.

On Friday, May 29, 2026, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) with its Board of Directors in attendance. During the meeting, the Board reflected on Gateway CERH’s accomplishments over the past year, reviewed key initiatives supporting rural health and well-being, and elected a new Executive Committee for the coming year.

On May 20, 2026, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) had a special visitor when Mrs. Lucia Slack, a psychiatric nurse from Cumbria, England, visited the Gateway CERH office for a presentation and conversation.

Locating support for a farmer who is stressed is challenging. Rural areas lack many of the necessary primary care resources for mental health. On April 14, 2026, Gateway CERH hosted a webinar on “Grief We Carry and Roles We Inherit: Mental Wellness in Rural Families,” introducing complicated grief as it shows up in rural life, where loss often affects not only families but also farms, businesses, and community roles.

Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) is excited to welcome a new group of students to its Summer 2026 team. These talented students bring diverse experiences, innovative ideas, and a strong commitment to advancing health and well-being in rural communities. In addition, Gateway CERH is pleased to officially welcome Alexa Hugill as Marketing and Communications Coordinator, who joined Gateway CERH in November.

Every year, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) welcomes a group of summer research assistants, ranging from high school to university, who are challenged with developing innovative solutions for promoting health in rural communities. Emerging issues such as an aging population, economic uncertainty, and emergency department closures - all of which contribute to health outcomes – are confronted.

In 2024, there were 26.8 million motor vehicles registered in Canada. Rural areas have sparse, dispersed populations. Residents rely on ownership of private vehicles to get to work, home, school and recreation. According to the Ontario Living Wage network, the Southwest region of Ontario is considered to have one of the highest annual transportation costs. A family of four has an estimated annual transportation expense of $13,419!

Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) and the Goderich Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 are excited to invite seniors to drop in June 3rd, 2026 between 9AM-12PM for another year of “Senior Summer Camp” featuring one-on-one tech help and a free BBQ lunch.

An increasing number of people are turning towards their devices for mindfulness, meditation, or mood tracking. These applications are also being used to manage serious conditions ranging from substance use to PTSD. Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) is excited to announce an upcoming webinar series event on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, from 12 – 1 PM ET via ZOOM. The topic is “Can Smartphone Apps Impact Substance Use and Mental Health? A Look at the Evidence.”

On Monday, April 27, 2025, the BRAVE-F team kicked off a new year of screenings with a visit to the Zurich Firehall. This event marked both the first screening of the year and the 12th since the program began, as a part of our organizations commitment to screen firehalls throughout Huron County.

The University of Guelph hosted the 12th annual Rural Research Symposium on April 1st, bringing together students, faculty, community practitioners, government, and non-governmental organizations to share research on emerging rural themes. The event featured a series of insightful presentations, posters, and networking opportunities, with the goal of fostering collaboration and innovation in rural research.

The support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being, a mental health crisis, or substance use problem. Just as physical first aid is administered to a person with an injury prior to seeking more intensive medical care, MHFA is the immediate support provided to an individual until appropriate treatment is found or the crisis is resolved. Gain knowledge & learn about local resources. Are you hoping to expand your knowledge and understan

The National Farmer Mental Health Alliance invites you to participate in an in-person testing session for the Be Farm Well app.

Five counties in Ontario, Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Perth, and Wellington are leading the way towards sustainable transportation. On Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, from 12 - 1 PM via ZOOM, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health will explore the complex relationships between “Climate Change, Planning for EV’s and Community Health.”

Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health awarded $100,000 to scale cancer screening access for rural and remote communities across Canada.

On Friday, March 27, 2026, Karissa Overholt officially transitioned to Operations Manager with Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH).

We’re excited to share that our Spring 2026 Newsletter is now available to read and download.

Maintaining mental resiliency in rural spaces amid loss is challenging. On Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, from 12 - 1 PM via ZOOM, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health introduces the complicated relationship between grief and mental wellness among rural families.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) presented at the Goderich Legion on “Travel and Technology,” exploring how digital tools are transforming the way we plan, navigate, and experience travel.

On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Huron Perth Chicken Farmers visited the Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) office to present a donation of two thousand seven hundred dollars, in support of the Farmers’ Safety and Well-Being program.