As one of the first programs of its kind to be offered in Mississauga, Adventures in Science at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (AIS MAM) is a community mentorship program that aims to assist local high school students in the development and delivery of engaging science outreach programs to elementary school students in the Mississauga community. Throughout this longitudinal mentorship program (typically from January-April) high school students attend a series of comprehensive workshops to build their leadership, project planning, interpersonal, and scientific skills under the guidance of the medical students at the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM). The longitudinal mentorship aspect for the high school students takes place at the MAM campus at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

Adventures In Science (AIS) St. George is a unique mentorship program in which we explore science communication together in its many forms. Grade 11-12 high school students with an interest in science from around Toronto are grouped with two mentors, who are U of T medical and graduate students. Through monthly sessions running from October to May (Wednesdays, 5:00 PM–7:00 PM), students will be exposed to a variety of guest speakers who employ scientific communication in their careers for the first half of each session. The second half of each session will be focused on preparing a Longitudinal Science Project, on a topic of the group’s choosing, to be shared with elementary students. This program is delivered in a hybrid format, with options for either online or in-person participation depending on mentee/mentor preference. We enroll roughly 200 high school students and over 20 mentors each year! The more, the merrier! We hope you will join us for another fantastic year of science and mentorship!

Altitude Healthcare Mentoring MAM is an initiative across Ontario aimed at empowering undergraduate students to pursue studies and careers in healthcare fields by partnering them with medical student mentors. The students selected to participate in this program are traditionally underrepresented in Canada’s healthcare workforce. The program includes one-on-one mentoring supported by monthly career development initiatives for the mentees. The events included an IHPSA panel, a "How to Survive Undergrad at U of T" presentation, a CV building workshop and mindfulness and time management sessions.

Altitude Healthcare Mentoring STG is an initiative across Ontario aimed at empowering undergraduate students to pursue studies and careers in healthcare fields by partnering them with medical student mentors. The students selected to participate in this program are traditionally underrepresented in Canada’s healthcare workforce. The program includes one-on-one mentoring supported by monthly career development initiatives for the mentees. The events included an IHPSA panel, a "How to Survive Undergrad at U of T" presentation, a CV building workshop and mindfulness and time management sessions.

The UofT Med Blood Drive club is a student-led group dedicated to raising awareness and recruiting volunteers to donate blood, working alongside Canadian Blood Services. We run at least 2 blood drives throughout the year for medical students to donate blood together. For students who are unable to donate during blood drive events, time slots for group donation can be arranged at the local clinic on College Street as well, where they accommodate groups of ~12 donors. We also run at least 1 stem cell donor registration and swabbing event to add students to the stem cell registry, supporting the effort to find a match for patients requiring stem cell transplants.

CHERI is a medical student-led community clinic focused on providing preventative health education and screening to newcomers in Mississauga without health insurance. There is a growing population of immigrants and refugees in Mississauga, many of whom lack health insurance for various reasons including the 3-month waiting period before OHIP coverage is provided to landed immigrants, temporary foreign workers unable to afford private medical insurance, and refugee claimants. In addition to lacking health insurance, many of these individuals experience a plethora of obstacles preventing them from accessing care for many preventable health conditions. Our goal at the CHERI clinic is to promote health literacy in this population by providing preventative health education in topics including cardiovascular health, diabetes management, women’s health, and mental health. Private Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/866896680668017/

Growing Up Healthy (GUH) is a student-run educational and outreach program for children within Medical Society, which aims to promote healthy living through interactive sessions. The MAM chapter partners with Peel District School Board elementary schools to provide health education workshops for students in Grades 1-3. We tailor session activities to these specific age groups, encouraging a greater appreciation and understanding of nutrition, physical activity, sun safety, mental health, etc. Throughout the school year, we run in-class workshops led by teams of 2-4 volunteers via coordination with our teachers to deliver lessons in person. We also embedded fun case competitions to reinforce the lessons taught in our class visitations. We collaborate alongside the St. George GUH chapter to build a database of lesson plans for volunteers to draw from.
This year, we also added an adolescent program entitled ""Girls Talk."" This co-segment of GUH MAM specifically focuses on fostering a safe environment for girls Grades 6-7 to learn about/build an understanding of taboo topics surrounding Health and Wellness. We piloted this program via coordination with a Peel Region school to deliver age-appropriate sessions about hygiene, puberty, menstrual cycles, building confidence and the physical, social and emotional changes expected during adolescence.

Growing Up Healthy is a student-run educational and outreach program for children and youth, which aims to promote healthy living through interactive workshops through partnerships with various tutoring programs and elementary schools in Toronto. These workshops tailor activities to specific age groups, encouraging a greater appreciation and understanding of topics such as nutrition, physical activity, mental health and positive body image.

Healing Tonics is a singing group for Med students! We meet weekly and rehearse songs of all genres, from Disney to Broadway to classic jams! We have a few concerts throughout the year for patients in various hospitals to liven their spirits. Join us at any time, no auditions necessary.

IMAGINE (Interprofessional Medical and Allied Groups for Improving Neighbourhood Environment) is an interprofessional, student-run community health initiative aimed at promoting and providing holistic health care to the core neighbourhoods of downtown Toronto. 1) To promote and provide health care services to marginalized populations in Toronto through our weekly Saturday clinic at Central Toronto Community Health Centre. 2) To offer students in Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy an opportunity to work with preceptors in an interdisciplinary team on real-life cases in the community that serve marginalized populations 3) Conduct outreach with community agencies through our Health Promotion and Community Partnerships committees 4) Provide a platform for critical discussions on inner city health through our Advocacy committee in the form of outreach sessions, panels, and an annual conference on a timely inner city health issue

Immigrant & Refugee Equitable Access to Community Healthcare (IREACH) St. George is an organization devoted to assisting immigrants and refugees in navigating the Canadian Healthcare system. We allow students to volunteer at various refugee shelters across the GTA and walking groups for longitudinal experiences. Students will have the opportunity to deliver presentations on health living, help out with the logistical needs of shelters, and advocate for refugee health in collaboration with the Crossroads Clinic.

Kids2Hear is a primary preventative health initiative ran by UofT medical students to conduct hearing screenings for hundreds of children across Toronto. We conduct an annual training session at SickKids and receive clinical support at our screenings from SickKids. We are particularly geared towards schools in underserved communities that may lack access to care. We also provide educational workshops for parents and teachers.

Kids2See is a pediatric vision screening program that runs approximately six screening sessions per school year at Toronto District School Board Model Schools. We train medical student volunteers to screen these kindergarteners for amblyopia, a common and easily-treated vision condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not diagnosed early. Each year Kids2See reaches approximately 200-250 children per year.

Kindler Arts Program aims to provide medical students with the opportunity to work with young adults (16-30 years old) with a range of physical and mental disabilities, allowing them to gain comfort and develop skills pertinent to working with individuals with special needs. The club also strives to provide and support quality recreational and respite programs for youth with disabilities and their families. The program takes place at Holland-Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, between the months of January-March for eight Tuesday evenings with 2 hours of programming each evening. Without the support and planning from University of Toronto medical students, this program would not be possible as Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital does not provide services to children transitioning from pediatric care to adult care (>16 years of age).

Through a thriving partnership between the Noteworthy Music Program (NMP) and the volunteer departments at Mount Sinai Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital, volunteer musicians provide musical performances to interested patients at each hospital site. Noteworthy has 3 main goals: To improve the experience of bed-bound patients by playing music for them on a weekly basis. To provide student volunteers a chance to use their musical talents to brighten patients’ hospital visits. To foster relationships between volunteer musicians and patients and to encourage active engagement in the local community.

SPM Mississauga is a mentorship program that runs on weekly Saturday mornings for 10 Saturdays from January to April at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus, in the Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Centre. High school mentees from Peel district schools are matched with mentors in subjects of math, English and science. Following the tutoring sessions, workshops are run that engage the students in interactive learning experiences, such as team-building exercises, debating, scavenger hunts and learning how to use medical equipment.

The Saturday Program is a non-profit initiative established in 1996 by University of Toronto medical students in partnership with the Office of Student Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, and TDSB. Since then, it has expanded its outreach to all of UofT, with a newly formed collaboration with Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE). The program is designed to provide academic support and mentorship to middle and high school students in the Toronto area.
Through 10 sessions, middle and high school students (tutees) who are struggling academically, and lack the financial or social means to receive educational support are paired with a UofT undergraduate, graduate, medical and other professional student tutors. Tutees receive tutoring, mentorship, and attend workshops that explore various skills and careers. Our goal is to equip Toronto's youth with the necessary tools to succeed in their studies and to empower them to continue their academic growth and development.
Since the program’s return to in-person sessions, it has brought numerous benefits, including enhanced engagement, stronger tutor-tutee relationships, and more interactive and hands-on learning experiences.
In summary, the Saturday Program offers invaluable experience for both our high school students(tutees) and tutors, fostering academic success and personal growth.

The Scadding Court Mentorship Program (SCMP) pairs up inner-city children (aged 6-12) with volunteer mentors who are students and alumni from U of T’s Faculty of Medicine. Alumni and students are keen to make a noticeable difference in our local community by supporting the mission of this program to promote positive relationships with children in a high-risk neighborhood. To accomplish these goals, volunteers and children team up to engage in a variety of physical, educational, and professional endeavors that bring out lots of laughter and fun. Some examples of activities enjoyed by volunteers and students from previous years include: hands-on science programs at the Ontario Science Centre, and culture-promoting field trips to sites in the city like the Gardiner Museum. The SCMP runs annually from November to April and consists of approximately 20 two-hour mentorship sessions at the Scadding Court Community Centre 707 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario (Bathurst & Dundas). The growth of this program has gathered tremendous attention from children and families within the community, allowing it to be recognized as a pinnacle initiative with the community center. Due to its popularity, children actively enroll in the program to gain access to mentors and experiences that would not be available due to their current financial or family situations. The structure of the program is as follows: two mentors are assigned to a mentee based on common interests (i.e., in arts, sports, science, etc.). Mentors and mentees meet weekly on Saturday for two hours and participate in the scheduled activity (activity schedule is provided at the start of the program).

Seniors Outreach promotes community engagement between healthcare professional students and isolated seniors in the community. Our club aims to improve the quality of life of seniors while providing students opportunities to improve their teamwork skills and foster interprofessional learning. Healthcare professional students will also be eligible for 2 IPE credits for participating! Working with our community partner, we match 3 students from diverse professional programs with a senior in the community with shared interests or who could benefit from your particular set of skills. Our club offers programs that promote social connection through phone/video calls and other virtual activities such as online bingo, art classes, and more! This year, we will also address practical issues associated with isolation and community integration such as getting groceries, technology help, pharmacy pick up and more! Join us at Seniors Outreach to work with your peers and create meaningful connections with isolated seniors in our community.

N/A

The Smiling Over Sickness (SOS) team does monthly visits – usually on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon (from 2:00pm to 4:30pm) – to Marnie’s Lounge, a play area in the Hospital for Sick Children that gives paediatric patients and their families a chance to relax and engage in leisurely activities. Our group specifically will always provide an activity to do during our visits to Marnie’s Lounge, such as crafts (examples from this year include: creating lanterns from mason jars, painting flower pots and planting seeds), baking (examples include cupcake decorating), and special activities (such as “Science Day”).

The Student Senior Isolation Prevention Partnership (SSIPP) started as a collaboration between University of Toronto medical students and the Family Health Team at the UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital. We partnered medical and undergraduate students to visit an elderly person within the Toronto community. During COVID-19, SSIPP quickly adapted to a virtual model, with health professional students providing phone calls to older adults, all while expanding nationally across 10 Canadian university campuses. Our program enables students to be a part of fostering a society that promotes the well-being of older adults, while helping older adults feel valued and included.

Sun & Skin is a group that has been dedicated to promoting sun safety for several years through interactive workshops at elementary schools and after-school programs in Toronto. We conduct interactive workshops on sun safety, educate children about the importance of protecting their skin, and foster a culture of health and wellness. Through Sun & Skin, students are able to gain valuable experience in teaching and public health outreach and work alongside passionate individuals in a supportive environment. Most importantly, Sun & Skin allows students to have a meaningful impact on children's health and well-being.

Swimming With a Mission Toronto is a not-for-profit student initiative founded as a registered chapter of Swimability Canada in 2011. The program’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible one-on-one swimming instruction to children with intellectual & physical disabilities. There are 2 seasons each year, with 8 sessions each held at Beverley School Pool. With an expanding volunteer base now encompassing undergraduate and PT/OT students, SWAM continues to move towards expanding its reach and strengthening its impact in the community.

​

The WoodGreen Child Mentorship Program is a student-led initiative at the University of Toronto in partnership with WoodGreen Community Services, one of Toronto’s largest social service agencies. This program operates as a subset of WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound initiative, which supports single mothers and mother-led families experiencing housing insecurity as they pursue postsecondary education and long-term self-sufficiency.
Our program pairs U of T students pursuing careers in healthcare with children aged 6–12 from Homeward Bound families. Through regular in-person sessions, mentors develop meaningful, long-term relationships with their mentees while leading fun, engaging, and educational activities—ranging from arts and crafts to sports, scavenger hunts, and field trips. Each session offers a safe, supportive environment for children to play, grow, and learn, while also giving their mothers time to focus on their personal and academic goals. Lunch is provided for both children and mentors at the end of each session.
Overall, the WoodGreen Child Mentorship Program is deeply committed to health equity, community empowerment, and social responsibility through consistent mentorship and meaningful engagement with equity-deserving communities.
Sessions are held on Saturday mornings at the WoodGreen Community Centre in East York, with approximately 11 sessions held throughout the academic year.