Every person's experience with health care is different, and every voice matters. By sharing your experiences, you can help identify the priorities, barriers, and successes that people across the Rainy River District have in common — whether you're in one of our municipalities, a remote setting, or one of our First Nation communities. Those shared themes will help guide future planning and help the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team (RRDOHT) advocate for health system improvements based on local needs.

This campaign is about listening to the people who live in the Rainy River District. We want to better understand what health care looks like in our communities — what is working well, what could be improved, and what matters most to the people who use it. The survey is one way to share your voice, along with community Town Halls and future engagement opportunities.

Yes. We encourage everyone in the district to participate in every way possible. The Town Halls in every community are open to all residents of the district and you do not have to attend in your closes municipality, and can take in multiple if you choose. These are opportunities for community members to expand on their personal experiences in an organized and safe environment.

The campaign is being led by the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team (RRDOHT), in consultation with Western Management Consultants (WMC). The RRDOHT brings together leaders and representatives from Indigenous and non-Indigenous health care organizations across the district to improve how care is planned, coordinated, and delivered. By working together, these organizations can better understand community needs and help shape future health care planning.

If you currently live in the Rainy River District, we encourage you to participate. Whether you use health care often, occasionally, or rarely, your experiences are important. Seasonal residents are also welcome to share their perspectives.

The survey asks about your experiences with health care, including accessing services, finding information, travelling for care, and navigating the health system. It also asks about the services and supports that matter most to you and what improvements you would like to see in the future. Some questions help us understand who is participating so we can be sure we're hearing from people across the district.

Once the survey closes, responses will be analysed by a consulting company hired by the RRDOHT. Before those findings help guide future planning, we'll share them with the public and ask communities to help confirm that we've accurately captured what people told us. This helps ensure the voices of residents remain at the centre of the process.

The common themes, priorities, and barriers experienced across the district will be shared anonymously with the RRDOHT and its partners, and ultimately with local health care providers across the district. These findings will help inform future planning by local health care organizations and support the RRDOHT's work to advocate for improvements based on the needs identified by our communities.

Taking part in the survey is voluntary. Your responses will be kept confidential and survey findings will only be shared broadly in summary form. If you choose to provide your contact information, it will only be used for the purposes described in the survey and will never be included in public reports.

The demographic questions help us understand whether we're hearing from people across the Rainy River District. They allow us to see if experiences are different between communities and groups of people, helping ensure future planning reflects the needs of the entire district. Some demographic questions are required, while others are optional, and you may skip any optional question.

Providing your name, phone number, or email address is completely optional. If you choose to share this information, it may be used to contact you about future stages of this engagement or, if requested, to help connect you with the district's primary care provider waitlist or to get future updates from the RRDOHT. Your contact information will not be published or included in any public reporting.

Many people across the Rainy River District do not currently have access to a family doctor or primary care provider. If you do not have one, we can help connect you to the district's primary care provider waitlist by filling out this question.

The survey will remain online and paper copies can be returned until November 20, 2026, with an understanding that some may be received later depending on delivery times.

If you have questions about the survey or the public engagement campaign, please contact the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team. We're happy to help and appreciate you taking the time to share your voice.