Activity In Ontario Research Articles

Early Iterations of Bisexual Activism in Toronto, Ontario: A Historical Examination of Bykes and the Ontario Bisexual Network

This article seeks to illuminate the activities of historical bisexual community groups in Toronto in the late twentieth century, a peak era of bisexual activism in Ontario. The city’s first bisexual women’s group, Bykes, was founded in 1983, and the first mixed gender group, the Ontario Bisexual Network, was established later in 1989. While the former was influenced by radical lesbian separatist politics in 1970s and 1980s Toronto, the latter demonstrated the need to amplify bisexual concerns across the gender spectrum, in addition to serving a growing membership within the burgeoning bisexual community in the city. In order to contextualize the significance of these bisexual community groups, the following research questions are addressed: what were the objectives of Toronto’s early bisexual community groups and how did activists accomplish them? How did bisexual people in these groups situate themselves in Toronto’s gay and lesbian landscape? What were the main tenets of bisexual community building in the city? Through analyses of oral history interviews and archival materials, we can observe that bisexual activists involved in Toronto’s first community groups participated in creating meeting spaces for each other and engaging in public advocacy that revolved primarily around visibility, education, and community care.

Comparison of longitudinal trends in self-reported symptoms and COVID-19 case activity in Ontario, Canada.

Limitations in laboratory diagnostic capacity impact population surveillance of COVID-19. It is currently unknown whether participatory surveillance tools for COVID-19 correspond to government-reported case trends longitudinally and if it can be used as an adjunct to laboratory testing. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether self-reported COVID-19-like illness reflected laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case trends in Ontario Canada. We retrospectively analyzed longitudinal self-reported symptoms data collected using an online tool-Outbreaks Near Me (ONM)-from April 20th, 2020, to March 7th, 2021 in Ontario, Canada. We measured the correlation between COVID-like illness among respondents and the weekly number of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and provincial test positivity. We explored contemporaneous changes in other respiratory viruses, as well as the demographic characteristics of respondents to provide context for our findings. Between 3,849-11,185 individuals responded to the symptom survey each week. No correlations were seen been self-reported CLI and either cases or test positivity. Strong positive correlations were seen between CLI and both cases and test positivity before a previously documented rise in rhinovirus/enterovirus in fall 2020. Compared to participatory surveillance respondents, a higher proportion of COVID-19 cases in Ontario consistently came from low-income, racialized and immigrant areas of the province- these groups were less well represented among survey respondents. Although digital surveillance systems are low-cost tools that have been useful to signal the onset of viral outbreaks, in this longitudinal comparison of self-reported COVID-like illness to Ontario COVID-19 case data we did not find this to be the case. Seasonal respiratory virus transmission and population coverage may explain this discrepancy.

Modeling pandemics and vaccine and equity issues

We present some recent activity in Ontario on the mathematical modeling of COVID-19 and the development of optimal strategies for vaccine distribution that take into account equity issues.

Family Matters: Immigrant Women’s Activism in Ontario and British Columbia, 1960s -1980s

This article uses oral history interviews to explore the ways in which different attitudes towards family and motherhood could create major tensions between mainstream feminists and immigrant women’s activists in Ontario and British Columbia between the 1960s and the 1980s. Immigrant women’s belief in the value of the family did not prevent immigrant women from going out to work to help support their families or accessing daycare and women’s shelters, hard fought benefits of the women’s movement. However, these women demanded access to job training, English language classes, childcare, and women’s shelters on their own terms, in ways that minimized the racism they faced, respected religious and cultural values, and respected the fact that the heterosexual family remained an important resource for the majority of immigrant women. Immigrant women activists were less likely to accept a purely gender-based analysis than mainstream feminists. They often sought to work with men in their own communities, even in dealing with violence against women. And issues of violence and of reproductive rights often could not be understood only within the boundaries of Canada. For immigrant women violence against women was often analyzed in relation to political violence in their homelands, while demands for fully realized reproductive rights drew on experiences of coercion both in Canada and transnationally.

Influence of Age, Sex, and Generation on Physician Payments and Clinical Activity in Ontario, Canada: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

To compare the effect of age, sex and generation on physician practice patterns in Ontario, Canada. Retrospective cohort study. Physician and patient data from 1992-2013 were used to calculate the yearly number of physicians, distinct patients seen, patient visits, government payments, physician age, sex, specialty, and year of birth. Age-period-cohort models were used for analysis. There was a negligible change in the number of distinct patients for all physicians and family physicians and a 20.6% decrease for ophthalmologists. There were small declines in yearly visits for all physicians (14.2%) and family physicians (17.3%) and a 10.0% increase for ophthalmologists. There were a lower number of visits (and patients for ophthalmologists) in each succeeding recent birth cohort. For all groups and birth cohorts, male physicians had a significantly greater number of visits and patients. Median payments increased over time in all groups and were less for women with an average women-to-men ratio of 0.64 for all physicians, 0.75 for family physicians, and 0.59 for ophthalmologists. After adjusting for the number of visits and patients, sex differences in payments remained significant for all physicians and ophthalmologists but were no longer significant for family physicians. Younger cohorts of Ontario physicians have greater yearly payments compared with older cohorts at the same age despite similar or a slightly lower number of visits and patients. The sex gap of payments was mostly explained by differences in the number of patients and visits for family physicians but remained significant for all physicians and ophthalmologists.

Monitoring telehealth vomiting calls as a potential public health early warning system for seasonal norovirus activity in Ontario, Canada.

Norovirus is a predominant cause of infectious gastroenteritis in countries worldwide [1-5]. It accounts for approximately 50% of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and >90% of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks [6, 7]. The incubation period ranges between 10 and 48h and illness duration is generally 1-3 days with self-limiting symptoms; however, this duration is often longer (e.g. 4-6 days) in vulnerable populations such as hospital patients or young children [2, 8]. Symptomatic infection of norovirus presents as acute vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and nausea, with severe vomiting and diarrhoea (non-bloody) being most common [2, 5, 9].

An Ecological Call to Arms

This article argues that the 22 October 1967 broadcast of The Air of Death was a central event in the emergence of environmental activism in Ontario. A production of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, The Air of Death examined air pollution’s adverse impact upon the environment. This documentary drew the ire of industrial interests as a result of its allegations of human fluorosis poisoning in Dunnville, Ontario. Subsequently, the film and the team behind it were subjected to two high-profile investigations, an Ontario ordered Royal Commission and a Canadian Radio-Television Commission hearing. This controversy resulted in the creation Ontario’s first two environmental activist organizations, most notably the highly influential Pollution Probe at the University of Toronto, which would play a key role in shaping the province’s nascent environmental community.

Review: The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario by Ryan O’Connor

Review: The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario by Ryan O’Connor

Ryan O’Connor. The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario

Ryan O’Connor. <i>The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario</i>

The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario, by Jennifer Bonnell

The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario, by Jennifer Bonnell

The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario. By Ryan O’Connor. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2015. 264 pp. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, and index. Paper $32.95.

<i> The First Green Wave: Pollution Probe and the Origins of Environmental Activism in Ontario. </i> By Ryan O’Connor. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2015. 264 pp. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, and index. Paper $32.95.

Peer-review of radiation treatment planning in a provincial radiation oncology program: A survey of current practice.

211 Background: The use of peer-review activities in oncology is not well described as a quality improvement process. We sought to describe current patterns of practice of radiation oncology peer-review across a large Provincial Cancer program and to identifiy barriers to its use. Methods: Ontario cancer centres were surveyed. Survey item responses were typically scored using a 10-point Likert scale. The survey was administered electronically with follow-up reminders as required. The use of free-text for comments elaborating on responses was encouraged. Results: Fourteen (100%) centres responded. All rated the importance of peer-review as at least 8/10 (10=extremely important). Detection of medical error and improvement of planning processes were the highest-rated benefits of peer-review (each median 9/10). Four centres (29%) conducted peer-review in more than 80% of cases treated with curative intent; six (43%) peer-reviewed at least 50% of curative cases. Five centres (36%) reported “always” or “almost always” conducting peer-review prior to the initiation of treatment. Variation was seen in which aspects of a case were typically reviewed (e.g., GTV “almost always” reviewed in 67%; contouring of organs at risk in 50%). Five centres (46% of those with regular peer-review) reported that 5% to 9% of peer-reviewed cases were flagged as requiring a change, whereas 3 centres (27%) reported that &lt; 2% of peer-reviewed cases required a change to be made. Five centres (36%) recorded the outcomes of peer-review on the medical record. Thirteen centres (93%) planned to expand peer-review activities; the two factors rated as most limiting to expanding peer-review were a critical mass of radiation oncologists (median score 6/10), and prioritization of peer review by the program overall (median 5/10). Conclusions: Peer review in radiation oncology practices it is now widely used as a quality assurance activity in Ontario, identifies changes to improve quality in the individual case, and improves departmental process. The development of guidelines and standards for peer-review activities, coupled with effective knowledge translation activities are recommended.

Organ donation after cardiac death: donor and recipient outcomes after the first three years of the Ontario experience

The aim of this study was to explore donor and recipient outcomes from organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) in Ontario and to examine the impact of DCD on deceased donation rates in Ontario since its implementation. Donor data were obtained from the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) TOTAL database from June 1, 2006 until May 31, 2009. All DCDs were tracked, including unsuccessful DCD attempts during that time. For the first 36months after DCD implementation, all Ontario solid organ transplant programs that utilized organs from DCD provided clinical outcome data at one year. Total DCD activity until December 1, 2010 was also tracked. In addition, we compared organ donation and DCD rates across all Canadian jurisdictions and the USA. For the first 36months of DCD activity in Ontario, June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2009, there were 67 successful DCDs out of 87 attempted DCDs in 18 Ontario hospitals, resulting in 128 kidney, 41 liver, and 21 lung transplants. The one-year kidney patient and death-censored allograft survivals were 96 and 97%, respectively. Mean (SD) creatinine at 12months was 150 (108) μmol·L(-1). In 26 (20%) extended criteria donors (ECD-DCD), the one-year creatinine was 206 (158) μmol·L(-1) vs 137 (80) μmol·L(-1) in 102 standard criteria donors (SCD-DCD) (P=0.002). The one-year liver and lung allograft survivals were 78% and 70%, respectively. Since its implementation four and a half years ago, DCD has accounted for 10.9% of deceased donor activity in Ontario. In 2009, Ontario had a record number of organ donors. Of the 221 deceased donors, 37 (17%) donors were DCD. By December 1, 2010 there were 121 DCD Ontario donors resulting in>300 solid organ transplants and accounting for 90% of all DCD activity in the country. The rapid update of DCD in Ontario can be attributed to strong proponents in the critical care and transplantation communities with continued support from Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN). Ontario is the only province to demonstrate growth in deceased donor rates over the last decade (25% over the last four years), which can be attributed primarily to the success of its DCD activity.

The effectiveness and efficiency of diabetes screening in Ontario, Canada: a population-based cohort study.

BackgroundLittle is known about the efficiency and effectiveness of the current level of diabetes screening activity in Ontario where there is universal access to health services. Our study aims were to: (i) determine how often Ontarians are screened for diabetes; (ii) estimate screening efficiency based on the number needed to screen (NNS) to diagnosis one diabetes case; (iii) examine the population effectiveness of screening as estimated by the number of undiagnosed diabetes cases.MethodsOntario respondents of the Canadian Community Health Survey who agreed to have their responses linked to health care data (n = 37,400) provided the cohort. The five-year probabilities of glucose testing and diabetes diagnoses were estimated using a Cox Proportional Hazards Model. We defined NNS as the ratio of diabetes tests to number of diabetes diagnoses over the study period. We estimated the number of undiagnosed diabetes by dividing the number not tested at the end of study period by the NNS.Results80% of women and 66% of men had a blood glucose test within 5 years. The efficiency of screening was estimated by a NNS of 14 among men and 22 among women. 127,100 cases of undiagnosed diabetes were estimated, representing 1.4% of the Ontario adult population. Increasing age, hypertension, immigrant and non-white ethnicity, and number of general practitioner visits were associated with an increased likelihood of having a glucose test (LR χ2 p < 0.001). Low income men were less likely to be tested.ConclusionsDiabetes screening was high in this population-based cohort of Ontarians. Screening efficiency varied considerably in the population. Undiagnosed diabetes continues to be prevalent and remains concentrated in the highest risk groups for diabetes, especially among men.

Relating sea surface temperatures to fire activity in Ontario, Canada

Relating sea surface temperatures to fire activity in Ontario, Canada

Distribution and Characterization of &lt;I&gt;Borrelia burgdorferi&lt;/I&gt; Isolates from &lt;I&gt;Ixodes scapularis&lt;/I&gt; and Presence in Mammalian Hosts in Ontario, Canada

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), has a wide geographical distribution in Ontario, Canada, with a detected range extending at least as far north as the 50th parallel. Our data of 591 adult I. scapularis submissions collected from domestic animals (canines, felines, and equines) and humans during a 10-yr period (1993-2002) discloses a monthly questing activity in Ontario that peaks in May and October. The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmidt, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner was detected in 12.9% of I. scapularis adults collected from domestic hosts with no history of out-of-province travel or exposure at a Lyme disease endemic area. Fifty-three isolates of B. burgdorferi were confirmed positive with polymerase chain reaction by targeting the rrf (5S)-rrl (23S) gene. Using DNA sequencing of the ribosomal species-specific rrf (5S) -rrl (23S) intergenic spacer region, all isolates belong to the pathogenic genospecies B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.). Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 218- to 220-bp amplicon fragment exhibits six cluster patterns and, collectively, these isolates branch into four phylogenetic cluster groups for both untraveled, mammalian hosts and those with travel to the northeastern United States (New Jersey and New York). Four of five geographic regions in Ontario had strain variants consisting of three different genomic cluster groups. Overall, our molecular characterization of B. burgdorferi s.s. shows genetic heterogeneity within Ontario and displays a connecting link to common strains from Lyme disease endemic areas in the northeastern United States. Moreover, our findings of B. burgdorferi in I. scapularis reveal that people and domestic animals may be exposed to Lyme disease vector ticks, which have wide-ranging distribution in eastern and central Canada.

Union Raiding and Organizing in Ontario

This paper provides the first analysis of aggregate raiding activity in Ontario by isolating raid applications from available certification data. Raiding in Ontario generally decreased over the 1975 to 2003 period save for the huge increases in 2000 and 2001 involving the CAW and SEIU. Bargaining units are significantly larger in raids, and legislative changes had little effect on aggregate raiding levels. Over most of the period raiding activity has been quite modest. Thus analyses of union organizing and its effect on union density are unlikely to be affected by leaving raids in the organizing data. An important exception occurs in 2000 and 2001, where the certification data seriously overstate new organizing. Corrected measures show that new (non-raid) union organizing continues to decline in Ontario. The decline in new organizing has been greater than the decline in raiding, resulting in an increased proportion of organizing due to raids in recent years.

From the Environment to the Workplace and Back Again? Occupational Health and Safety Activism in Ontario, 1970s–2000*

This article addresses the issue of alliances between social movements through an investigation into the possibility of a convergence and/or allliance between two of the most enduring social movements in Ontario over the past three decades: the occupational health and safety (OHS) and the environmental movements. Both movements have not only endured, but been successful movements. Presently, however, each movement is fragmented and becalmed. Recent political developments are leading many OHS/labour movement activists to argue for an alliance with environmental movements. I argue that while there is benefit to both movements in such undertakings, continuing class differences between these two movements militates against any enduring alliance.

Partnering in and for Heart Health Promotion: Findings from a Survey of Community Organizations

This paper presents the results of a survey conducted with representatives (n = 283) of community health agencies linked to heart health activity in Ontario in order to: 1) describe their levels of involvement in heart health promotion, 2) describe the nature and extent of partnering undertaken in the context of community-based heart health promotion, and 3) assess the extent to which community development approaches vis-à-vis partnering are being employed in Ontario heart health promotion. The survey included a series of questions regarding level of agency involvement in heart health promotion activities organized around four areas: tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and general heart health. Respondents were also asked to report the nature and extent of partnering that took place. Results indicate that levels of involvement varied significantly across activity area and by organization, although every agency type reported some level of involvement in each of the four activity areas. Overall, agencies surveyed continue to employ traditional settings (i.e., schools and community) as well as strategies (i.e., public education) but report a substantial amount of partnering and collaboration when undertaking community-based heart health promotion activities.

Mr. Harris, Mr. Rae and Union Activity in Ontario

In 1990 Bob Rae's New Democratic (NDP) government was elected in Ontario and in 1993 they passed labour relations legislation favouring organized labour. In 1995 Mike Harris' Progressive Conservative (PC) government was elected and they quickly passed legislation much less favourable toward unions. Monthly data, 1987-98, are used to estimate the effects of the changes in government and legislation on certification and decertification activity and complaints of unfair labour practices. Certification activity increased and decertification activity decreased after the NDP legislation was passed. The opposite occurred with the election of Harris' Conservatives and the change of government had a significant impact, even before new legislation was passed. Complaints of unfair labour practice rose during the NDP tenure but returned close to historical levels under the PCs.