Transportation is one of the largest barriers for people in rural areas seeking health and healthcare services.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, from 12 - 1 PM via ZOOM, Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health is featuring a collaborative conversation on transportation networks and the connection to rural health.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Sarah-Patricia Breen, BC Regional Innovation Chair (RIC) in Rural Economic Development at Selkirk Innovates. Dr. Breen’s goal is supporting rural communities across Canada to thrive under conditions of rapid economic and social change. Her more recent publications have focused on rural transportation funding and the need for public transit.

She is joined by ONE CARE’s very own Stephanie Ellens-Clark, Executive Director and Charlene Tolton, Manager of Programs and Services. They will explain how their team provides instrumental home and community-based services, ranging from the transportation of patients for medical appointments to the facilitation of wellness programs for older adults and caregivers.

The final speaker is Stephanie Stewart, Manager of Community Transit at County of Grey. She will be discussing the role of municipal governments and collaboration for regional transit networks.

Anyone in the community is welcome to attend. To attend this event and future presentations, please register on the Gateway CERH website at: https://www.gatewayruralhealth.ca/lectureseries.