Leadership Training That Changed the Conversation
One of our most significant achievements this year was the delivery of leadership training designed to strengthen the capacity of Family Councils to effectively fulfill their role within long-term care homes. The training gave participants a deeper understanding of governance, collaboration, and transparent communication — the kind of foundation that helps councils build stronger, more productive relationships with licensees and home leadership.
We saw the impact firsthand: many homes reported improved collaboration and fewer conflicts between Family Councils and licensees. The reach was significant — more than 650 long-term care home management staff completed the leadership training this year, helping build a shared understanding of effective partnership, transparency, and resident- and family-centred engagement across the sector.
What Education Taught Us
If there's one thing that stood out to us this year, it's the value of education in strengthening relationships between Family Councils and long-term care home management. When we provide home management with a clearer understanding of their role in supporting Family Councils — while also helping Family Council members better understand how long-term care homes are funded, governed, and managed — we create the foundation f for shared knowledge.
This shared knowledge has practical value. Family Councils are now better equipped to distinguish between decisions that are within a home's control and those that fall under provincial legislation or Ministry direction. That clarity helps them navigate the long-term care system with more confidence, advocate more effectively, and work collaboratively with home leadership to support residents and their families.
Milestones We're Celebrating
This year marked a milestone we're especially proud of: the Programs Department was formally established in the fall of 2025. This was an important step in FCO’s s continued growth and our ability to support Family Councils across the province.
[Pic] That growth came with new faces on our team. We welcomed Heather Webster as our Southwestern Outreach Coordinator, increasing our capacity to provide coaching, training, consultations, and ongoing support to more Family Councils throughout the region.
[Pic] We also welcomed Tiffany Chiang as our Intake Coordinator — drawing on her background in social work, Tiffany brings compassion, expertise, and a family-centred approach to helping individuals navigate concerns, understand available resources, and connect with the right supports.
Looking Ahead
Our priorities for the coming year are focused on strengthening the capacity of Family Councils and fostering collaborative partnerships across the long-term care sector. We'll be introducing monthly coaching sessions designed to deepen participants' understanding of long-term care, share leading practices, and highlight successful approaches used by effective Family Councils across the province.
We are aware of the many demands family caregivers face. By expanding opportunities for coaching, education, guidance, and mentorship, we're aiming to help Family Councils become confident, well-structured, self-led, and effective advocates for residents and their families. We'll also continue supporting long-term care licensees through leadership training and forums where home leaders can exchange ideas, share successful best practices, and build stronger partnerships with Family Councils.
A key priority for us this coming year is strengthening our relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, families, and care partners. Through the newly established Indigenous Relations Coordinator role, we'll work collaboratively to provide culturally responsive support, education, and resources that have often been limited or unavailable in the past. By building trust, listening to community priorities, and fostering meaningful partnerships, we aim to better support Indigenous families and help ensure that all care partners have equitable access to the information, guidance, and resources they need to advocate effectively within the long-term care system.
Together, these initiatives are helping to foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, transparency, and continuous improvement across Ontario's long-term care sector.
REQUESTS WE RECEIVED
Every consultation, coaching session, and conflict resolution call this year started with a real question from a real person — a council member unsure of their authority, a home leader unsure how to support a council without overstepping, a family trying to understand a system that wasn't built to be intuitive. Looking across the year's requests, clear patterns emerged on both sides of the relationship. Here's what Family Councils and Long-Term Care Homes most often asked us for, and how the Programs Department responded.
FROM FAMILY COUNCILS
Common request: Understanding roles — what is the Council's role, what is the Licensee's responsibility, and what is governed by the Ministry
How we responded: We delivered education to both Family Council members and home management on how LTC homes are funded, governed, and managed, so councils could better distinguish between decisions the home controls and those set by provincial legislation or Ministry direction.
Common request: Help with governance basics — Terms of Reference, meeting minutes, and member recruitment strategies
How we responded: 69 coaching sessions across 60 councils, giving in-the-moment, practical support on the fundamentals of running an effective council.
Common request: Support resolving conflict — within the council, or between the council and the home
How we responded: Formal conflict resolution support to 11 homes, ranging from a handful of email exchanges to sustained multi-week correspondence and in-person visits for the most complex cases.
Common request: How to start a new Family Council
How we responded: In-person visits to homes without an active council (including 5 homes in Thunder Bay), and targeted "Why Family Councils Matter" presentations and Town Halls.
Common request: Understanding Ministry inspections and what powers a council has under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act
How we responded: Family Council fundamentals sessions and presentations including "Harnessing Your FC Powers Through Collaboration," to clarify, educate, and empower Councils on their legislated powers FROM LONG-TERM CARE HOMES & LICENSEES
Common request: How to work effectively with an existing Family Council
How we responded: Supported 680 home management staff in completing leadership training across 27 sessions — the single most in-demand offering this yearfor multiple licensee groups including Extendicare, Southbridge, PeopleCare, and AgeCare regional teams.
Common request: Starting a council where one doesn't exist yet How we responded: Administrator forums (6 held, against a target of 2) specifically designed to walk home leaders through how to start and sustain a council.
Common request: Conflict resolution — both between council and staff, and staff supporting a council through internal conflict
How we responded: Facilitated 11 joint conflict resolution sessions with homes and councils,
Common request: How to make a council more effective and self-led
How we responded: 193 consultations with licensees and home staff (more than double the target of 90) — largely ongoing phone, email, and video support helping staff understand their role as a supportive "Assistant to Council" rather than a directive one.
THE THROUGH-LINE
Across nearly every request — from either side — the underlying issue was the same: confusion about roles and responsibilities.t. Family Councils expressed that they were unsure of what fell under the home's control or what fell under provincial guidance. Homes lacked guidance on how to support a council without overstepping into it. FCO's response this year leaned hard into education as the fix: helping both sides understand the system well enough to collaborate inside it, rather than around it. The result showed up directly in the numbers — many homes reported improved collaboration and fewer conflicts between councils and licensees following this year's leadership training.
CTA FORUMS 2026
Looking for a space to connect with others who understand exactly what you're going through? FCO's forums bring together families, caregivers, and Family Council members from across Ontario to share experiences, ask questions, and support one another.