Lambton County – November 28, 2025 Bluewater Health and the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team (SL-OHT), together with local Indigenous and community partners, have been recognized with the Outstanding Partnership Award at the 2024 Erie St. Clair Regional Summit held last month.
This recognition celebrates the Indigenous Cancer Screening Clinic partnership for its collaborative and culturally grounded approach to improving access to cancer screening and advancing health equity for Indigenous peoples across Sarnia-Lambton.
The award highlights a transformative collaboration between Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Bluewater Health, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, Lambton Elderly Outreach, North Lambton Community Health Centre, Sarnia-Lambton Native Friendship Centre, Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team, and Walpole Island First Nation.
Together, the partners co-designed and held Indigenous Cancer Screening Clinics aimed at improving earlydetection of breast and cervical cancers in a safe, welcoming, and culturally responsive setting.
“This recognition is a testament to what can happen when healthcare organizations truly listen to and work alongside Indigenous communities,” said Doy Loulas, Indigenous Transition Navigator, Bluewater Health. “By combining traditional knowledge, community trust, and culturally safe clinical practices, we’re taking meaningful steps to ensure care is accessible, respectful, and equitable for all.”
Indigenous peoples in Canada experience disproportionately higher rates of certain cancers, including cervical cancer, often due to barriers in accessing preventive care, the legacy of systemic racism, and reduced trust in healthcare systems. In response, the collaborative team sought to remove these barriers through co-developed, community-led initiatives rooted in reconciliation and cultural safety.
“This partnership is an example of reconciliation in action,” said Nadine Neve, Executive Lead, Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team. “It represents the strength of collaboration when diverse organizations and communities come together with a shared purpose — to close gaps in care and create lasting, positive change.”
The Indigenous Cancer Screening Clinics bring together Bluewater Health’s Indigenous Navigation Services, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners trained in cervical screening, and Diagnostic Imaging teams to provide multiple screening services in one visit. The clinics continue to build trust, strengthen relationships, and promote early detection and improved outcomes.
The Summit Awards recognize individuals and teams who have made significant strides in improving cancer care across the Erie St. Clair region.
