Backgrounder: Funding Recipients for Phase II of the Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, highlighted an investment of $485,000 through VCIC 2022/2023 to support 38 community-based projects. Seven recipients were each awarded $25,000, and 31 others have each received $10,000.

May 30, 2023

The Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge (VCIC) recognizes that community-driven initiatives are fundamental to fostering confidence in vaccination.

Investments through the VCIC are one way the Government of Canada is helping to build and maintain vaccine confidence in Canada. The projects funded through this initiative support organizations that work directly with people who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as well as underserved groups who experience health and social inequities.

The 38 projects being funded through VCIC 2022/23 are:

Lead organization: African Society for Culture, Economic Development and Arts
Project Name: Straight Talk: COVID & Our People - Lets Boost Up!
Description: The project connects Black African communities across Alberta through community programming. The project hosts a series of six 6 online recorded COVID-19 panel conversations on topics such as boosters, vaccine hesitancy, and accessing accurate information.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Brampton Focus Community Media INC.
Project Name: HealthBrampton.ca
Description: The project aims to increase vaccination in the Peel region through video updates on healthcare and public health initiatives.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Indian Society of Calgary
Project Name: Boosting fight against COVID-19: A booster shot for life
Description: The project creates a series of educative and interactive online videos that dispel myths, discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, highlight the benefits of public health measures.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre
Project Name: Unidos
Description: The project aims to remove barriers that cause low vaccine uptake through a community-driven information and support campaign tailored to Spanish-speaking communities in Northwest Toronto.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Seven Oaks School Division
Project Name: Together we can do this-2nd chapter
Description: This multilingual Winnipeg-based project works with community leaders to help provide relevant and culturally appropriate COVID-19 vaccine information to new residents of Canada and Indigenous families.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: South Asian Canadians Health & Social Services
Project Name: Understand COVID Vaccine
Description: The project tailors and distributes culturally relevant multilingual messaging about COVID-19 vaccines through ethnic media, religious channels, social media influencers. The project also uses workshops, brochures, and video and audio ads.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society
Project Name: North Okanagan Newcomer Community Vaccine Booster Campaign
Description: The project uses short videos with evidence-based messaging to build awareness and confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among newcomers in Canada. The project is designed and delivered in partnership with social media influencers, Interior Health Authority, Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society.
Funding: $25,000

Lead organization: Access Alliance - Multicultural Community Health Centre
Project Name: Boosting the uptakes of booster vaccines through multilingual Community Health Ambassadors
Description: The project aims to increase access to booster vaccines, reinforce public health measures on social media platforms in a relatable way, make it easier to share multilingual vaccine information among hard-to-reach newcomer populations.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: African Communities of Manitoba (Africa Pavilion) Inc.
Project Name: We Belong -Vaccine Booster Advocate Project
Description: The project aims to educate, engage and mobilize community leaders to promote the importance of COVID-19 booster shots within the African and Black communities in Manitoba.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Afrique au Féminin
Project Name: Campagne de promotion de la dose de rappel du vaccin contre la COVID-19 auprès des Aînés immigrants allophones.
Description: The project aims to break down the language barrier to encourage immigrant Montreal seniors who speak neither French nor English to get their booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Alberta International Medical Graduates Association
Project Name: Booster Shots Matter! A collaborative multilingual response for increased uptake among ethnic communities in Alberta
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 boosters by creating multilingual social media videos for newcomers from all cultures and age groups.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Aspire for Higher Elite Basketball
Project Name: Get Back in the Game, Part 2
Description: The project aims to increase confidence in COVID-19 boosters in Black and racialized communities in Brampton by providing vaccine information and resources through trusted community members.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services (BCS)
Project Name: Get the booster to boost your immunity & uphold social responsibility
Description: The project aims to communicate the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines among parents, youth, adults and seniors in racialized and newcomer communities.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Brain Injury Canada / Lésion cérébrale Canada
Project Name: Accessibility Enabled: Providing Clarity and Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters for the Brain Injury Community
Description: The project aims to deliver a targeted and accessible vaccine education campaign for people with cognitive impairments. The initiative works with provincial brain injury associations to provide clear, accessible and engaging evidence-based information on COVID-19 boosters.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Canadian Latin Heritage Association
Project Name: V Together - (change the B for V)
Description: The project aims to provide information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses to the Latin American communities in Peel, Halton, Niagara Region, the Greater Toronto Area.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Canadian Lebanese Academic Forum (CLAF)
Project Name: Let Us Bust The Myth That COVID-19 Booster Shots are Unneeded!
Description: The project aims to raise awareness of the importance of staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines in the Lebanese communities of Montreal and surrounding areas. Messages will be shared using methods including infographics, culturally relevant videos, brochures, and social media.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Centre for New Immigrant Well-Being
Project Name: Let vaccine protect you and your loved ones
Description: The project aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy within the Chinese communities in the Greater Toronto Area with the use of online interactive tools and a targeted education campaign.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
Project Name: Why should I get a(nother) booster dose this year?
Description: The project aims to inform South Asian communities in Canada about the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The project will use social media and ethnic media platforms to provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based information to target audiences.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Folk Arts Council of St. Catharines
Project Name: Knowledge in your Language, Vaccine in your Arms
Description: The project aims to combat vaccine hesitancy among newcomer populations in Niagara using culturally appropriate multimedia and educational tools.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Global Village Centre
Project Name: Health Literacy for Newcomers
Description: The project aims to inform newcomers in Southeastern Alberta of the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters doses, using social media, community TV and trusted messengers.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Hassan Ouali
Project Name: La COVID-19: pour en finir!
Description: The project aims to raise awareness among religious leaders (mosque imams) and community center workers in Montreal about the importance of the booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Healthy Muslim Families Inc.
Project Name: Protecting Newcomer Muslim Community through Booster shots
Description: The project aims to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosters within the Winnipeg Muslim communities by providing accurate information and resources.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Healthy Start, Healthy Futures Inc.
Project Name: Information for Parents to Keep Kids Healthy
Description: The project aims to help keep children safe and healthy during respiratory illness season by communicating the importance of public health measures and staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Latincouver Cultural & Business Society
Project Name: Comunidades Informadas un Canadá más Saludable - Informed Communities, Healthy Canadians
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in Latin American communities in Canada by providing vaccine education, promotion and outreach activities.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Les volontaires de la sensibilisation et de l'action humanitaire
Project Name: Amélioration de la 1ère campagne de promotion dans la confiance des vaccins : Deuxième (2e tour)
Description: The project aims to build trust in COVID-19 vaccines among immigrant and English-speaking communities in the Estrie region, by promoting the importance and necessity of booster doses, providing targeted information, and improving access to vaccination sites.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: LetsStopAids
Project Name: HeyCOVID19 Booster
Description: The project aims to use and expand the HeyCOVID19 online platform to encourage youth and their families to stay up to date with get their COVID-19 boosters. The initiative works with volunteers and ambassadors who are members of racialized communities.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: MPC Foundation
Project Name: Book n' Boost
Description: The project aims to address vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable immigrant seniors in the Calgary North and Northeast region, communicate the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The initiative uses culturally sensitive and senior-friendly strategies.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: North York General Hospital
Project Name: Peers & Professionals: Vaccine Support in the Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese Communities in North York
Description: The project aims to increase confidence in COVID-19 boosters in Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese-speaking newcomer senior groups in North York. It does so by developing community ambassadors and creating and sharing language-specific and culturally appropriate information materials.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre
Project Name: We Can Do It: WeChat for Vaccine Booster
Description: The project aims to use the WeChat platform to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines within the Chinese communities. It will provide culturally relevant interventions and strategies that promote individual health choices.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Scarborough Cares Community Network Inc.
Project Name: Booster with Bhangra
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in the racialized newcomer population in Scarborough. It will communicate the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: St. James Town Family Literacy Services
Project Name: Boost St. James Town
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 boosters and address barriers to access experienced by newcomers living in St. James Town and the surrounding area in downtown Toronto.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: The Immigrant Education Society (Ties)
Project Name: Vaccination - Protecting You and Your Community
Description: The project aims to work with childcare centres in Calgary and the surrounding area. It will communicate the importance of staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to newcomer populations.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: The Iscream
Project Name: If you're a man, get vaccinated
Description: The project aims to use the power of Canadian music to create a video campaign. It will encourage racialized men from 18 to 60 years old to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: TNO - The Neighbourhood Organization
Project Name: Our community matters. Let's protect it together!
Description: The project aims to increase uptake of COVID-19 boosters in low-income, racialized communities in Toronto.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Tracy Wanyama
Project Name: Break the chain – get your booster
Description: The project aims to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in Black and racialized communities in the Greater Toronto Area through culturally relevant messaging.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: United Cultures of Canada Association
Project Name: Boosting Vaccine Confidence in Ethnic Communities
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to these communities in and around Edmonton; Refugees, Immigrants and Racialized groups. The project will deliver targeted, informed, culturally relevant messaging through channels that they most frequently use and trust.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration
Project Name: Targeted Social Media: promoting the importance of COVID-19 booster shots among South Asian Canadians
Description: The project aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines in Canada's South Asian communities by generating quality, informed, compelling, shareable content; and sparking intergenerational conversations.
Funding: $10,000

Lead organization: Vietnamese Association, Toronto
Project Name: Bivalent Covid-19 and You
Description: The project aims to communicate the importance of staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines to underserved Vietnamese communities in the Greater Toronto Area. It will provide support to improve access to vaccines and information on booster doses in languages spoken by these communities.
Funding: $10,000