A dynamic and inclusive community of practice focused on the climate crisis as an inherently global health and equity issue — uniting theory with action since 2017.
The Equity Science Lab is a proud member of and honoured to host the Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024 · equityscience.caThe Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network (PHEN), formerly known as the British Columbia Coalition Institute (BCCI), is a dynamic and inclusive community of practice, focused on the climate crisis as an inherently global health and equity issue.
The Equity Science Lab is a proud member of and honoured to host PHEN — committed to evolving global health research as a model of collaboration, partnership, and equity in the creation and translation of knowledge.
Our purpose is to provide a way for researchers and practitioners to share tips and best practices, ask questions of colleagues, and provide support for each other — ultimately helping to solve the fragmentation that can often be the case in global health research.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024We recognise the interconnectedness of people and multi-species around the world — a nimble, adaptive community responding to the problems we create.
Global and Planetary Health — the intersection of human health, ecological systems, and the climate crisis.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024Diverse and aspiring researchers, students, faculty, and active practitioners across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024Workshops and presentations · Creating opportunities for early career researchers · Collaborating on research and publications · Working with local partners to engage community through learning hubs.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024Based in the Pacific Northwest, we are a courageous Community of Practice that boldly advances health equity through local action on global issues.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024We aim to cultivate a strong network and support system, grounded in learning together and embracing our collective agency to act locally while thinking globally, towards more equitable and sustainable futures.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024The values that guide every initiative, dialogue, and collaboration within PHEN. View the 2024 Strategic Plan →
Shortly after the 2003 launch of the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR) — now Canadian Association for Global Health — the CCGHR organised its first summer institute in Halifax in 2004. This led to a series of eight similar events held globally, with an overarching theme of research to action. After a pause of several years, during which the institute was formally evaluated, a local collaborative version, the Ontario Coalition Institute (OCI), was tested.
Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research · 2003–2004Based on the success of the OCI, a provincial version, the British Columbia Coalition Institute (BCCI), was held in Kelowna in 2017, followed by BCCI-2 in Victoria in 2019, and a hybrid model (BCCI-3) in 2021.
British Columbia Coalition Institute · 2017–2021A key feature of the BCCI model was the addition of a Community of Practice (CoP) component. In July 2022, the BCCI leadership organised a 2-day workshop in Vancouver, an output of which was a 3-year strategic plan.
British Columbia Coalition Institute · 2022–2023In response to members' feedback, our Leadership Team proposed a name change at the end of 2023. Evolving into the Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network (PHEN), this reflects our dynamic nature. The "Coalition" became part of the Canadian Association for Global Health (CAGH), our events diversified beyond specific events, and our collaborators expanded beyond BC. Today, the PHEN community is comprised of a leadership team and hubs across the Pacific Northwest.
Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024Find the PHEN Strategic Plan: 2024–2026 updated version, supported by the Equity Science Lab.
Download Strategic Plan → Pacific-northwest Health Equity Network · 2024This project took shape during the BCCI Strategic Planning workshop in July 2022, emerging as a powerful example of "scholar activism." A dedicated working group of university and community members developed a work plan centred around advocacy/action, education, and research — focused on forestry practices in BC. Collaborations flourished with the Shawnigan Basin Society (SBS) and eight environmental groups in the Cowichan Valley.
Contact us for access British Columbia Coalition Institute · 2022–2023Building on the September 2023 Colloquium on "Youth Leadership for Global Health Equity in an Era of Climate Crisis," this program is an initiative of PHEN, the Center for One Health Research (COHR), the University of Fairbanks Alaska, the Institute for Global Solutions (IGS), and Claremont Secondary School, Victoria.
The 2024 Youth Leadership Program builds upon the success of the fourth British Columbia Coalition Institute (BCCI-4) held in Vancouver in September 2023, which focused on "Youth Leadership for Global Health Equity in an Era of Climate Crisis."
This event brought together a diverse group of participants from five universities across British Columbia, alongside the Centre for One Health Research from Alaska, young professionals from provincial health services authorities and engineering industries, as well as high school students. At BCCI-4, this diverse group of people from our CoP came together to explore the complexities of youth leadership amidst our rapidly changing climate.
The focus was: "One Health Community and Strength-based Approaches to Engaging and Supporting Indigenous and Rural Youth in Research and Education." The main audience was an engaged group of Grade 12 students in Victoria's Claremont Secondary School (Institute for Global Solutions — IGS) program.
Since the program was launched at the beginning of the year, activities have featured both the education system ("Climate Education") and the health system ("Climate Change and Wellness"), with three activity areas underway:
A. Events. The first of a monthly series of events began with a February 21st webinar presented by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Centre for One Health Research (COHR) team including Arleigh J. Reynolds DVM (Director), Alisa Alexander MD (Deputy Director), and Kelly Nicholson MPH (Program Administrator).
B. Resources. Relevant publications and other resources (such as websites) are being collected under both major themes and will be shared with program participants. Another example is an interdisciplinary course designed for high school students on the theme: "Climate and Health."
C. Dialogues. Reflecting the overall program goal "to identify and support youth leadership," we plan to conduct a series of dialogues (focus groups) with "youth leaders" located in the various locations ("hubs") that are participating in the program. Guided by questions such as: "How are you currently engaged in climate action? What are you learning about leadership? Are you encountering specific challenges or gaps — if so, what are they? What supports do you need?", the insights from each dialogue will be captured. The intent is to integrate key insights into a resource (reports, presentations) that will be progressively shared with program participants, likely leading to planned events later in the year.
New initiatives and collaborations are always emerging within the PHEN community. Check back for updates, or get in touch to learn more about how you can get involved.
Get in touch →If PHEN's work resonates with yours — whether you're a researcher, practitioner, student, or community member — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to learn more about membership and how to get involved.