Connecting
Through Care
Belonging &
Community in Action
FCO TOUR MAY-JUNE 2026
The FCO Tour 2026: Connecting Through Care – Belonging & Community in Action brought Family Councils Ontario (FCO) across the province for a series of conversations focused on strengthening relationships, building community, and creating meaningful connections in long-term care.
Held during Family Council Week 2026, the Tour brought together Family Council members, residents’ families, long-term care professionals, community partners, and sector leaders to explore how we can work together to create environments where residents, families, and care partners feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Through in-person and digital events, participants engaged in meaningful discussions, learned practical strategies, and shared experiences about building stronger Family Councils, improving communication, and fostering collaborative relationships within long-term care homes.
Special thanks to our corporate sponsor
Jackson Therapeutic Recreation
for providing the meals during this tour.
Tour Highlights & Engagement
The 2026 Tour travelled to communities across Ontario, including Kingston, Oakville, and Sudbury, alongside a province-wide digital event. Each stop created space for local connection, sector collaboration, and conversations about the future of family engagement in long-term care.
Across the Tour, participants explored themes including:
- Building trust and strengthening relationships between families and care teams
- Creating welcoming and inclusive communities within long-term care homes
- Supporting effective Family Councils through practical tools and strategies
- Understanding different perspectives and experiences within the care environment
- Finding opportunities to collaborate and create positive change together
The Tour provided opportunities for participants to connect with the FCO team, meet peers from across the sector, share ideas, and access resources to support their ongoing work.
Family Council Week Proclamation in Sudbury
As part of the FCO Tour 2026: Connecting Through Care – Belonging & Community in Action event, Deputy Mayor Al Sizer officially recognized the importance of families and care partners in long-term care by proclaiming June 10, 2026, as Family Council Day in Sudbury. The proclamation celebrated the vital role Family Councils play in bringing residents, families, caregivers, and long-term care teams together to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and support a greater sense of belonging within long-term care communities. This special recognition highlights the City of Greater Sudbury’s commitment to acknowledging the contributions of Family Councils and the meaningful impact they have on the lives of residents and their families. Attendees were invited to celebrate this milestone as part of a shared commitment to creating more connected, compassionate, and collaborative care environments.
Tour Resources
Following each event, FCO developed resources to help participants continue the conversations and bring ideas back to their communities. Explore the resources from the FCO Tour 2026:
Next Steps Document
Whether you attended an in-person event or joined us digitally, this resource is a guide to turning inspiration into action by strengthening connections, encouraging collaboration, and supporting a greater sense of belonging within long-term care communities.
Presentation MaterialS
PowerPoint Slides:
CLRI - Building Capacity to Support PCC and Culture Change in Long-Term Care
PowerPoint Slides:
Holding Space Halton - Death as part of life Anne Stewart
PowerPoint Slides:
Ashley Flanagan - Building Belonging Together
PowerPoint Slides:
FCO - What can your council do to support inclusion and belonging?
Video Resource
Building Belonging Together: Partners in Creating Inclusive Long-Term Care Homes
Learn practical strategies and tools for fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in long-term care by building partnerships, strengthening relationships, and creating cultures where diverse experiences are recognized, respected, and supported.
Video Resource:
The Relational Approach: A New Way to Care Together
Explore how Deborah Bakti’s Relational Approach™ helps families and care teams build trust, improve communication, and strengthen relationships by understanding and addressing the emotional challenges that arise in senior living transitions.
Video Resource:
What Can Your Council Do To Support Inclusion and Belonging?
Explore how Family Councils can support inclusion and belonging in long-term care by building connections, embracing diverse perspectives, and creating welcoming communities where residents, families, and care partners feel valued and respected.
Kingston
The Kingston stop launched the FCO Tour 2026 with a focus on building stronger connections between families, residents, and long-term care teams. Participants gathered to discuss how relationships influence the experience of care and how communities can work together to create welcoming environments where everyone feels valued and included. The event featured interactive discussions, a Family Council-focused session from the FCO team, and a featured presentation exploring the importance of relationships and trust within long-term care.
Event Guest Speaker:
Lindsay Passfield-Leu is the Vice President of Clinical Care and Quality at Osgoode Care Centre. She has supported the home’s journey toward becoming an Eden Alternative® home, focusing on culture change, person-centred care, and creating environments where residents feel valued, connected, and supported.
Event Guest Speaker:
Michelle Fleming is a Senior Knowledge Broker with the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI) at Bruyère Health. She supports long-term care teams in creating inclusive, affirming, and person-centred environments through education, research, and knowledge sharing.
Event Guest Speaker:
Rachel Lithopoulos is a Knowledge Broker with the Ontario CLRI at Bruyère Health. She works with partners to develop resources and share knowledge that supports person- and caregiver-centred care, collaboration, and improved quality of life in long-term care.
Oakville
Hosted at Post Inn Village, the Oakville event brought together Family Council members, long-term care professionals, and community partners for a day focused on connection, learning, and shared purpose. Participants explored practical approaches to strengthening Family Councils and creating stronger partnerships between families and care teams. The event included a featured presentation focused on relationships, trust, and creating meaningful engagement within long-term care.
Event Guest Speaker:
The Oakville event featured a compassionate and community-focused session led by Frauke (Anne) Stewart of Holding Space Halton, exploring approaches to supporting individuals and families experiencing grief, loss, or navigating life-limiting illness.
Sudbury
The Sudbury stop of the FCO Tour 2026 brought together families, care partners, long-term care professionals, and community leaders at Pioneer Manor for a special celebration of Family Council Week. The event highlighted the importance of community partnerships and meaningful relationships in creating stronger long-term care experiences. Participants engaged in conversations about trust, collaboration, and practical approaches to supporting effective Family Councils. The event was honoured by the presence of local leaders, including opening remarks and a special proclamation recognizing June 10 as Family Council Day in Sudbury.
Event Guest Speaker:
Deborah Bakti is an author, speaker, educator, and Relational Approach Strategist with over two decades of experience in seniors’ care. Through The Relational Approach™, Deborah helps individuals and organizations build trust, strengthen relationships, and create more connected care environments through curiosity, understanding, and meaningful conversations.
Digital Webinar Event
The FCO Tour 2026 Digital Event provided an opportunity for participants from across Ontario to join the conversation virtually. The online session explored key themes from the Tour, including relationship-building, effective Family Councils, and creating stronger connections between families, residents, and care partners.
Event Guest Speaker:
Dr. Ashley Flanagan is a Senior Knowledge Broker with the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI) at Bruyère Health, where she leads equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives across the long-term care sector. With expertise in aging, health equity, and the experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ older adults, Ashley works to advance more inclusive, affirming, and supportive care environments through research, education, and policy.
Bring the FCO Tour to Your Community
The conversations started during the FCO Tour 2026 are only the beginning. FCO is committed to continuing to connect with communities across Ontario and creating opportunities for families, care partners, and long-term care professionals to learn, share, and grow together.
Would you like your community to be part of the next FCO Tour?
We are looking for communities interested in hosting a future Tour stop. If you would like to bring Connecting Through Care: Belonging & Community in Action to your area, we would love to hear from you. Contact the FCO team to learn more about becoming a future Tour location.