Community Health Information Fairs connect people to services and information
Teresina Stanichevsky is a long-time volunteer and advocate for newcomers to Canada. As the Lead Community Ambassador for our Ontario Health Team, North York Toronto Health Partners (NYTHP), she connects people to health care, community and social services and other information at Community Health Information Fairs (CHIFs). NYG is a proud core partner of the NYTHP and contributes services, staff and space to support the CHIFs.
Community Health Information Fairs
Community Health Information Fairs (CHIFs) are co-designed by the NYTHP and community partners to improve health and wellness in high-needs neighbourhoods in North York. With core funding from the Ontario Government, CHIFs provide a range of services, including cancer and diabetes screening, blood pressure and blood sugar checks and information about local health and community services. In 2024-25, 30 CHIFs were held in a variety of locations around North York.
“Many of the people we help are newcomers,” says Teresina. “They often have language issues or difficulty using technology or just don’t know how our health care system works.”
Teresina helps connect people to a family physician so they can access primary health care and obtain referrals to specialized care. She connects newcomers with someone who speaks their language and helps families find local services. And she is always ready to listen.
“People may come to a fair for one reason but ask me questions on a variety of topics—they open up and tell you about their situation and what difficulties they are facing,” she says. “We try to help people find the services they need and understand they are not alone. There are a lot of services available and when people ask questions or express their concerns at a fair, we can help them benefit from those services.”
Teresina recalls one woman who attended a CHIF to obtain a pap test. “After the test, she asked for a few minutes of my time,” she says. “She had very limited English, so I connected her with one of our ambassadors who speaks Russian.”
The woman explained that she and her husband had come to Canada from Ukraine to escape the war. “She told me she wanted to have a baby and had started fertility treatments in the Ukraine,” says Teresina. “But she did not have a family doctor here and didn’t know where to find help.”
Teresina connected the woman to a primary care clinic linked to a fertility clinic. “She contacted me a few months later, thanking me for helping her connect with the fertility clinic and saying she was on her way to becoming pregnant.”
Teresina is attuned to the community’s evolving needs and is always looking for ways to bridge the gaps. “When I hear about a problem, I take it back to the team and we try to figure out a way to meet that need,” she explains, adding that she loves her role. “This is my passion,” she says. “It’s what I want to do.”
In 2024, Scotiabank became a major CHIF supporter through its ScotiaRISE community investment initiative. As a result, CHIFs are able to reach even more newcomers, support the work of Community Health Ambassadors, and allow for a structured schedule of fairs across North York.
This story is featured in the 2024 – 2025 Year in Review.