Dialogue McGill supports initiatives to increase access to bilingual health and social services and build capacity in Quebec. Programs include free French- and English-language training, as well as bursaries for students committed to working in the public sector post-graduation and funding for research projects that examine relationships between language, access to health and social services, and health-related outcomes. Directed by Carmen G. Loiselle, Full Professor in McGill University’s Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology and Ingram School of Nursing, Dialogue McGill is funded by Health Canada’s Official Languages Health Program (OLHP).
From 2018 to 2023, a total of 309 bursaries were awarded to Quebec-based students studying health and social sciences, while 459 English-speaking CEGEP students participated in French-language training to assist them with securing health or social service positions in Quebec. In collaboration with partners across the province, Dialogue McGill created 325 internships and 120 placements, and funded 38 research projects at institutions across Quebec.
“We’re delighted that Dialogue McGill and our partners continue to serve the Quebec public thanks to renewed funding from Health Canada,” says Prof. Loiselle. The five-year grant of $20,673,314 (until March 31, 2028) includes new funding to expand Dialogue McGill’s bursary programs for Quebec-based students who commit to at least one year of public service upon graduation. This allows Dialogue McGill to continue to build on its longstanding strengths, providing support for professionals, intake staff, researchers, educators and students in the province’s health sciences and social services fields. “We look forward to continuing to enhance communication and dialogue among the many stakeholders in our communities,” she adds.
Professor Loiselle is also Co-Principal Investigator of a new CIHR Team Grant in the amount of $1,455,119 to support Quebec’s official language minority communities in health research. With a funding period from September 2024 to August 2030, the team is focusing on advancing equitable access to healthcare for Quebec’s English-speaking communities. “We are delighted that Dialogue McGill is part of this timely and important team grant, alongside local, national, and international colleagues,” says Prof. Loiselle. “On behalf of the entire team, I express gratitude to the CIHR for its commitment to supporting equitable access to health and social care.”
Further reading: Lynne Joseph one of 10 nursing students to win Dialogue McGill bursary