Knowledge Hub Bulletin 29 - December 2023
KH Team Visited Montreal!
The Knowledge Hub team embarked on a significant journey to Montreal in early November, marking a pivotal moment as it was the first occasion for our entire team, including the latest additions, to convene in person. This gathering held particular significance as we explored three crucial projects and delved into the importance of face-to-face interactions.
One primary objective of our visit was to survey potential venues for our forthcoming in-person knowledge exchange event. We viewed a couple of hotel meeting spaces and while we were not sure about the availability due to the 2024 Grand Prix, we are able to hold the 2024 In-Person Knowledge Exchange at the Delta Marriot in Montréal, QC for June 4th and 5th. Save the date!
Beyond venue scouting, our visit aimed to establish connections with prominent CoP members in Montreal. We were delighted that three projects accepted our invitations, enhancing our understanding of their initiatives. At the Marie Vincent Centre, Jessica and Melanie graciously hosted us, providing a captivating tour of their space, including intervention rooms, and offering insights into the future of Compass project.
Our engagement continued with a delightful lunch at Arts et Contes, where we had the pleasure of meeting Juliette, Annabelle Jo An and Laurence. Additionally, a visit to PEYO allowed us to connect with their entire team, fostering valuable relationships. Scaling Mont Royal offered a scenic perspective before we proceeded to the University of Montreal campus. There, we met with Sara Dufour and Julio Meideros, engaging in fruitful discussions about their project and ideas for future collaboration between the projects.
Caption: The Knowledge Hub Team on the top of Mont Royal: Jade, Anna-Lee, Jessica, Sabry, and Ajirioghene
The time spent together as a team was truly enriching, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our hosts for their warm welcome and dedicated time. As we look ahead, the details of our 2024 initiatives are still evolving. However, we anticipate building on the connections forged during such engagements and leveraging these experiences to shape our future endeavors. The enriching interactions and strengthened relationships will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for continued collaboration and shared success within the CoP.
Caption: In-Person Collaboration: KH Team Meets PEYO Team at Parc Extension Community Organization building in Montreal
Caption: Laurence and Juliette presented all the art supplies and scenarios used in the Art et Contes program.
Caption: The Marie VIncent team sharing their updates of the Compass project
Caption: “That’s not a game!” - A resource created and distributed by Marie Vincent Centre
Caption: The Marie Vincent Team: Jessica Martin, Melanie Murphy, and Mélissa Laliberté
Caption: We loved meeting Marvin!
Caption: Finishing our visit with Espace Parents team (Sarah Dufour and Julio Macario de Meideros)
CoP Member Updates
Exciting news for CoP members with the iHeal project. After three years of extensive research, the team launched their brand-new app in late November!
More than 40% of women in Canada have experienced intimate partner violence at some point in their lives, and women sometimes encounter barriers in seeking help and accessing resources. While the path to safety and healing varies from person to person, online support and mobile applications have been shown to offer benefits such as improving health, safety, and well-being.
As a resource for women who have experienced partner violence, and for professionnals who support them, this new app was designed from the ground up with many interactive features. It is available in both English and French. Please download the app and share it with your network. They also launched a new Instagram account and will be promoting the new app. Give them a follow @iHEALCanada.
Social media shout out!
The RISE program has recently launched their Twitter/X page. Please give them a follow @RiseCollab!. Do not hesitate to message us if you would like us to feature your social media.
FY!
The email addresses of all CoP members are now available in the portal for easy communication.
Save the Date! 
2024 Knowledge Exchange
June 4-5, 2024
Delta Marriott, Montreal
Knowledge Hub Presents!
In October we launched our Knowledge Hub Presents! Series. Big thanks to our first presenters: Mary Motz and Kara Bisson-Boivin. Recordings of Mary’s presentation, “Developing and Testing a Readiness Tool for Partnerships with Community-Based Projects” and Kara’s, “Moving On: Digital Empowerment and Literacy Skills for Survivors” are both available on the Knowledge Hub website.The Knowledge Present series will continue into 2024 and we are currently looking for new topics!
Every member of our community of practice has valuable insights and expertise to share, and we want to extend an invitation for you to contribute to our Knowledge Hub Presents! Series.
If you have a project, research finding, a tool, or innovative approach that you would like to present to fellow members, we encourage you to step forward and become a presenter in our upcoming series. This is an excellent opportunity to highlight your work, engage with the community, and contribute to the collective learning experience.
To express your interest or suggest a topic, please reach out to Jessica or Sabry.
Welcoming New CoP Members
Let's take a moment to extend a warm welcome to our newest members:
- Julio Macario de Medeiros: Serving as a research advisor for the "Effet de l’Initiative Parent" project alongside Sarah Dufour, Julio brings valuable expertise to our Community of Practice.
- Mélanie Murphy: Joining the Boussole project with Jessica Martin, Mélanie Murphy takes on the role of Prevention Specialist, contributing her skills and knowledge to the team.
- Melissa Foong: We extend a warm welcome to Melissa Foong, who has taken over from Bari Knopf in the "Sharing the Healing Journey" project.
- Khadija Baig: Khadija Baig has joined the "MODELLS" project led by Kara Boivin-Brisson from Media Smarts.
We look forward to collaborating with these new members and believe their diverse skills and perspectives will greatly enrich our Community of Practice. Please join us in welcoming them!
Farewell to Allison Gray
Allison joined the Knowledge Hub as Research Coordinator in February 2023, filling in for Jenna Lopez who is currently on a parental leave. Allison recently gave birth to her first child in October 2023. Mommy and baby are doing well. We wish Allison well as she embarks on this great new project!
Best Wishes to Our Diverse Community of Practice Members
As we embark on new journeys and adventures, may the richness of our diversity be the guiding light that illuminates our shared path. In the spirit of unity, let us celebrate the strength that lies in our differences and the beauty that emerges when we come together as one.
In the words of an African proverb, "A short farewell brings a swift return,” and with longing hearts, we eagerly await the joyous moment when our paths converge once again in January 2024. May our farewells be brief and may the yearning for each other's company fuel the anticipation of our reunion.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year!
Knowledge Hub Team
- Ajirioghene Evi, Research Associate, aevi@uwo.ca
- Anna-Lee Straatman, Project Manager, astraat2@uwo.ca
- Jade Vajna, Media Technician, jvajna@uwo.ca
- Jessica Webb, Implementation Coordinator, jwebb63@uwo.ca
- Katreena Scott, Academic Director, kscot47@uwo.ca
- Sabry Adel Saadi, Implementation Coordinator, Francophone, ssaadi2@uwo.ca
Check Us Out on Social Media
Facebook: facebook.com/LNandKH
Twitter: twitter.com/lnandkh
Website: http://kh-cdc.com/
