HDGH's Impact Film More Than Medicine: Specialized Care, Close to Home to be featured at Windsor International Film Festival

HDGH is honoured and so excited to have our impact film “More Than Medicine: Specialized Care, Close to Home” featured as the free community screening at the 2025 Windsor International Film Festival.

More than Medicine: Specialized Care, Close to Home follows five extraordinary patient and family journeys, revealing how expertise, human connection, and community transform lives. Through intimate stories of diagnosis, struggle, support, and triumph, this powerful portrait of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Windsor-Essex’s specialty hospital, celebrates resilience and the healing power of care close to home.

Five powerful journeys prove that at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, healing is more than medicine—it’s courage, connection, and care close to home.

Join us on October 27th at 7:10 pm to laugh, cry, and cheer alongside these patient stories and feel inspired by the ways HDGH transforms lives right here in your community.

Free tickets to More Than Medicine can be reserved here.

View more details about WIFF 2025.

Advancements for Schizophrenia Care with Local Ties

Over the last two years, HDGH along with the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor Essex County Branch (CMHA WECB) have been one of four national demonstration sites working towards advancing standards in Schizophrenia Care.

The project, led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and Ontario Shoes Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores), has been showing major gains in treatment access and outcomes according to a new report released earlier this month.

To learn more about this important work and findings, read the Media Release.

A Space Built for Healing

In mid-September, we celebrated National Rehabilitation Awareness Week along with a major step forward — the upcoming relocation of our Outpatient Rehab Department to the Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre at HDGH. This project is the result of years of effort, planning, and, most importantly, the insights of our incredible staff. The new centre will offer improved accessibility, modern equipment, and welcoming spaces filled with natural light. It’s a space built to reflect the dedication, compassion, and teamwork that define our commitment to person-centered care.

Read the full blog by Rosie Pipitone-Middleton, Manager, Ambulatory Services.

HDGH Nurse Honoured with Hospice Award

We are thrilled to share that HDGH Intake Nurse, Jackie Stanek (pictured far right) on being selected as a recipient of the Dr. Jim Gall Award for Compassionate Palliative Care through The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County Inc.

This award “celebrates and honours healthcare professionals in recognition of outstanding achievement, contributions to and impact in the field of Hospice Palliative Care in Windsor and Essex County.”

Jackie was nominated by fellow nurse and Palliative Medicine Program Manager at Hospice, Jessica Audet. In her nomination, Jackie is described as "compassionate and caring and always prioritizes palliative patients, despite the multi-tasking required in her high demanding role."

"Jackie is rarely found without a smile on her face! Jackie’s humour and bright energy makes it a joy to collaborate with her. Jackie is always communicating with our team when needed and I appreciate her reliability as well...Jackie’s impact on our community may go unnoticed as she is often working ‘behind the scenes', but her palliative care colleagues recognize the magnificent work she does and appreciate and value her every day."

Jackie received this award alongside Paul Sharrow (posthumously).



Congratulations and thank you Jackie!

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Celebrated FASD Month

This September, we once again commemorate Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month. We're proud to highlight that HDGH continues to offer its vital FASD program, which provides crucial support to clients aged 0-18 and their families. Our dedicated team remains committed to assisting children, youth, and their families with comprehensive FASD education, school support, mental health service navigation, and guidance through the FASD diagnosis process.

As a cornerstone of our HDGH program, clients connect with our FASD team, Sarah Yang, Ann Marie Waddell-Makse, Lisa LaRocque, Megan Wilhelm, Sarah Stewart, or Amanda Denhartogh who offer a wide range of assistance tailored to each family's unique needs.

In addition, our FASD Caregiver Support Group continues to meet once a month. If you're a caregiver of a young person living with FASD, or if you know someone who is, we invite you to join this supportive community. This is a great opportunity to share experiences, learn from others, and access valuable resources.

To learn more about HDGH's FASD Program or to register for the Caregiver Support Group, please visit our FASD webpage.

Introducing ParentLink: Linking Parents and Caregivers to Information

The free parenting courses offered through HDGH’s Regional Children’s Centre, along with numerous community child and youth agencies, has gotten a fresh name and look.

Formerly referred to as the Positive Parenting Program, these free parenting courses boasts the new name “ParentLink” with its Fall 2025 Courses launched earlier this month.

ParentLink was a name suggested and chosen by our Community Parenting and Caregiver Committee as they believe it is representative of the goal of the program: to link parents and caregivers with invaluable resources and teachings to enhance their parenting experience.

Along with the new name, the ParentLink program welcomes a new look for the Fall 2025 season. The new design incorporates vibrant colours that are representative of partnering agencies, include age-appropriate/relevant graphics, in a clear, and simplified style.

Registration for Fall 2025 courses are open with some courses already underway.

Celebrating Wellness, Health and Safety for HDGH Employees

On September 11, hundreds of HDGH employees attended the organization's annual Wellness, Health and Safety Fair.

Aimed to bring together an assortment of local organizations and resources that share valuable information and services to support the physical and mental wellbeing, health, and safety HDGH employees and their families, this year's Fair did just that.

Thank you to all of the incredible vendors who took time out of their day to attend, the organizers of the events, and all those who attended.

HDGH Patient Benevolent Fund to be Recipient of Windsor Spitfires 50/50 Game + Discounted Tickets Available

We are excited to share that the Windsor Spitfires have selected the HDGH Foundation to be the benefactors of the 50-50 raffle for two of their upcoming games:

• Sunday, October 26 vs. Saginaw – Halloween theme
• Sunday, November 2 vs. Flint – Swifty 3.0 theme

We invite you, your family, and friends to come to these action-packed games and support the Spitfires and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. Proceeds raised during these games will directly support the HDGH Patient Benevolent Fund through which our teams are able to seamlessly assist with purchasing the necessary equipment, comfort items, and tools that contribute to each person’s unique care plan.

As a bonus, we have secured discounted tickets to these games! Tickets can be purchased here by entering the promo code 5050CHARITY5. Tickets can be purchased for as low as $24.

Can’t make it to the games? You can still show your support by purchasing 50-50 tickets online at www.spits5050.com.

Spread the news and let’s help fill up the WFCU Centre and cheer on our hometown team while supporting a great cause. GO SPITS GO!

Get Ready for The Big Party

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Foundation invites you to “Party with a Purpose” at The Big Party, in support of the Mental Health and Addictions Programs at HDGH.

The evening will boast an unforgettable casual affair featuring live entertainment, dinner & food stations, silent auction, raffles and more. The Big Party will be taking place on Friday, November 14th at Ciociaro Club of Windsor. As always, 100% of the proceeds raised at this event will stay local and benefit vital HDGH programs.

Tickets for this extraordinary event are available to purchase online for $150 each, with tables of 10 available for $1,400. With your gracious support we are "Changing Lives Together". 

For additional information, event and ticket inquiries, or if you're interested in sponsoring or partnering with The Big Party, please review our sponsorship package or contact Afshin Ali at 519-257-5111 ext. 75256.