October is Health Literacy Month

clip art image of a medical report

October is Health Literacy Month! This is an important month for Vaughan Public Libraries. During this month, we devote our time and resources to helping the Vaughan community increase their health literacy, be better informed about health organizations, and be able to make health decisions.

This year, Vaughan Public Libraries has invited over 10 different health organizations to our Resource Libraries, to educate you about their services, and to learn more about what resources are available to you.

Here you can find the schedule of organizations and when they will be visiting each of the Resource Libraries, followed by a description of what each organization does. These organizations will cover different ages and health needs, so there is almost certainly something that will have an impact on you.

Participating Libraries

BCRL – Bathurst Clark Resource Library (Map)
CCRL – Civic Centre Resource Library (Map)
PBRL – Pierre Berton Resource Library (Map)

The Alzheimer Society of York Region offers support, education, navigation and DAY programs to people impacted by dementia.

PBRL – Friday October 4th, 10:00-2:00pm
BCRL – Wednesday October 9th, 11:00-3:00pm
CCRL – Friday October 18th, 11:00-3:00pm

Launched by SickKids in 2013, Boomerang Health is an independent and wholly owned, healthcare centre in Vaughan, creating more access to community-based services for babies, children and adolescents.

PBRL – Tuesday, October 1st, 9:30-12:30pm
CCRL – Monday October 21st, 9:30-12:30pm

CMHA-YRSS offers a wide range of free programs, serving clients aged 12 and up on-site at several locations across York Region and South Simcoe, remotely and in community settings. They provide mental health education and training programs to organizations looking to build knowledge, skills and resilience in their teams.

CCRL – Friday October 4th, 10:00-1:00pm
BCRL – Tuesday October 8th, 10:00-1:00pm
PBRL – Friday October 18th, 10:00-1:00pm

CanTreatCOVID is publicly funded research studying medications to see if they can help people with COVID-19 feel better faster, stay out of the hospital, and prevent long COVID.

CCRL – Tuesday October 15th, 1:00-5:00pm
PBRL – Tuesday October 22nd, 1:00-5:00pm
BCRL – Tuesday October 29th, 1:00-5:00pm

CHATS is a not-for-profit organization, advocating for and delivering high-quality, person-centred home and community services to older adults and caregivers living in York Region and South Simcoe.

PBRL – Wednesday October 9th, 10:00-3:00pm
BCRL – Wednesday October 16th, 10:00-3:00pm
CCRL – Wednesday October 23rd, 10:00-3:00pm


Kinark Child and Family Services provides comprehensive support and services encompassing child and youth mental health care, autism services, and forensic mental health treatment.

CCRL – Thursday October 10th, 10:00-2:00pm
BCRL – Thursday October 17th, 10:00-3:00pm
PBRL – Monday October 21st, 9:30-1:30pm

Mackenzie Health District Stroke Centre is the District Stroke Centre for York Region, and a nationally accredited stroke program.


CCRL – Thursday October 3rd, 9:00-11:00am
BCRL – Thursday October 10th, 9:00-11:00am
PBRL – Thursday October 17th, 9:00-11:00am

MedicAlert is Canada’s most trusted emergency health information service, providing medical IDs endorsed by first responders and linked to a secure medical record.

CCRL – Wednesday October 9th, 10:00-2:00pm
BCRL – Tuesday October 15th, 10:00-2:00pm
PBRL – Wednesday October 16th, 2:00-6:00pm

VCHC is a non-profit, community-governed organization funded by the Central Local Health Integration Network and the Ontario Ministry of Health. VCHC provides primary health care, health promotion, illness prevention and community-based programs to meet the needs of Northern York Region and Western York Region residents using an interdisciplinary staff team approach.

CCRL – Tuesday October 15th 9:00-12:30pm
PBRL – Wednesday October 23rd, 9:00-12:30pm

Women’s Support Network of York Region is a sexual violence and rape crisis service centre dedicated to providing free, confidential, and non-judgmental services to survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.


PBRL – Monday October 7th, 10:00-1:00pm
CCRL – Wednesday October 11th, 10:00-1:00pm
BCRL – Wednesday October 23rd, 10:00-1:00pm

York Hills has expertise in treating the social, emotional and behavioural challenges of children, youth (to age 18) and their families.

CCRL – Thursday, October 17th 10:00-2:00pm
and
CCRL – Thursday, October 24th, 10:00-2:00pm

York Region is dedicated to providing parents with programs, services and information to help as their children grow and develop.


PBRL – Tuesday October 15th, 9:00-2:00pm
CCRL – Wednesday October 16th, 11:00-3:00pm
BCRL – Tuesday October 22nd, 9:00-2:00pm