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Five Years of Impact

Over the past five years, Healthcare Excellence Canada and partners across the country have been working together to improve the quality and safety of care.

Celebrating five years. Shaping what comes next.

Over the past five years, Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) and partners across the country have been working together to improve the quality and safety of care.

Across communities and care settings, people have shared learning and applied proven approaches that strengthen care experiences and outcomes.

Thousands of healthcare leaders, providers, policymakers, patients, caregivers and community partners have contributed to this effort.

Through more than 80,000 HEC engagements with healthcare leaders across the country, this collective effort has driven meaningful improvements in healthcare quality and safety, expanded access to care and supported the health workforce.

Together, this work has had the potential to impact more than four million people across the country.

As we mark HEC's fifth anniversary, we are reflecting on what we have achieved together and building momentum for what comes next.

See the momentum moving Care Forward

Watch how collaboration, shared learning and community-led innovation have driven progress over the past five years - and are building momentum for the next five.

Impact By the Numbers

80,000+

engagements with healthcare leaders across Canada

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83%

of teams spread their project beyond the original site

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4 million+

people within our potential reach

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Progress made together

Over the past five years, thousands of healthcare leaders have come together to prove that progress is possible – and that impact multiplies when we act together.

Through more than 80,000 engagements with healthcare leaders across the country, this collective effort has supported initiatives that strengthen healthcare safety and quality, expand access to care and support the health workforce.

Explore our impact
  • “When I think back to where this all started – an unassuming meeting about data – I’m in awe of where we are today. We identified an innovation, spread and scaled it with the right partnerships, and now we’re releasing a change package that will help others benefit from this expanded paramedic services model. We started in Nova Scotia but didn’t end there. The learning and resources from this program will benefit anyone who wants to expand their paramedic services model. And that’s a great thing for paramedics, patients and families across Canada.”  

  • "Working and collaborating with HEC teams has been such a pleasure as a patient partner for numerous years. HEC has been a strong leader in moving forward and innovating the role of patient partners so that a greater impact will be made on patients’ lives across Canada."

  • “Working with Healthcare Excellence Canada through the Strengthening Primary Care program, I felt a deep sense of connection and support throughout the entire process. There were always team members I could turn to and rely on. Our gatherings were thoughtful and intentional. I never felt rushed or pressured to meet goals. Instead, we were able to take the time needed to do things well and achieve what we set out to do. I felt valued and part of a larger team. That can be hard to achieve in healthcare, and I am grateful for the entire experience.”

  • "Our heartfelt thanks to HEC for providing us the opportunity in the form of a grant, to be part of “Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care” initiative in 2023 where we were able to develop our digital and AI- Technology division of our operations to meet the digital divide in the rural and remote Indigenous communities in Manitoba."

    Help us celebrate healthcare excellence and accelerate progress

    We’re asking for your help to shape the future of care. What you’ve learned needs to guide what happens next. Add your voice so the progress you’re making becomes the progress everyone can count on. We’re asking you to share: 

    • How you’ve worked with or learned from HEC

    • What healthcare excellence means to you

    • An example of collaboration, innovation or positive change in the quality and safety of care that you/your team have experienced  

    Text, video or photos – any format is welcome. We will reflect these stories back in the new year so that we can all applaud and learn from experiences across the country. 

    Share your experience by tagging us and using #HEC5YearsOfImpact.

    Submit your story

    Our refreshed strategy for 2026–2031

    While we celebrate how far we’ve come, we are equally focused on what comes next.

    Our refreshed 2026–31 strategy builds on the progress of our first five years, and focuses action where the need and opportunity for impact are greatest.

    It was shaped through 18 months of listening and learning with more than 1,200 patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, policy-makers and partners across Canada.

    Thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives and helped shape this next chapter of our work. Your participation has been vital in ensuring our next phase reflects the real needs and priorities of communities across Canada.

    Explore the strategy

    Moving Care Forward

    Continued momentum is at the heart of our strategy for 2026–31. Shaped by what we’ve learned over our first five years, we’ve refined our focus areas and strengthened our paths to impact to move further, faster.

    Care Forward is how we bring our strategy to life – connecting partners across Canada to share knowledge, apply proven approaches and spread improvements that strengthen healthcare safety and quality.

    Learn more

    Be part of what comes next

    No matter your role, your setting or your corner of the healthcare system, if you believe in safe, high-quality care that works for everyone, there is a place for you in what comes next.

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