What's Up @ HDRN Canada? The May edition of Data Points is out!

What's Up @ HDRN Canada?

Headshots of smiling women and men of various skintones. Text reads: HDRN Canada celebrates our Public Advisory Council. National Volunteer Week. April 19-25

Celebrating our Public Advisory Council!

HDRN Canada was proud to celebrate our incredible Public Advisory Council (PAC) members during National Volunteer Week in April. Their insights help ensure that everyday perspectives are reflected in important conversations about health data to help advance more equitable, people-centered health data practices.

Jamie Goltz, a white woman with long light brown hair. Ali Anis, a brown man with short dark hair.Text reads: HDRN Canada at CAHSPR 2026. May 25-28. Ottawa. Logos for Health Data Research Network Canada and CAHSPR are at top.

HDRN Canada goes to CAHSPR 2026

The Canadian Association of Health Services and Policy Research conference takes place May 25-28 in Ottawa and HDRN Canada will be there! Jamie Goltz and Ali Anis from the Data Access Support Hub (DASH) Team will share new work on the DASH user experience as well as requirements for data access across Canada.

Health Data for All of Us - that's a wrap!

Our fourth annual public forum, held last month in Ottawa and online, was an incredible day of learning—and unlearning! Health Data for All of Us: Our Health Data Journey was a powerful reminder of our shared commitment to using health data ethically and responsibly to improve how care is delivered. Stay tuned for recordings.

Upcoming Events

No significant visuals. Text reads CRDCN 2026 Conference. May 21-22, 2026. University of Lethbridge.

Evolving the Data Landscape MAY 21-22 | Alberta

The Canadian Research Data Centre Network, an HDRN Canada partner, will bring together researchers, students and data leaders for two days of knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation at CRDCN 2026. Based on this year’s theme, Evolving the Data Landscape, sessions will explore emerging developments in data, highlighting research and policy applications from across Canada.

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Stylized photo of a woman. Text reads: MSSU presents Accessing data

Accessing Data in the Maritimes MAY 27 | Virtual

This Lunch and Learn explores the data services provided by HDRN Canada members Health Data Nova Scotia, DataNB and the Prince Edward Island Secure Island Data Repository for researchers, trainees and data partners, including new data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and Atlantic PATH. Participants will learn how to submit a data access request and next steps.

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Accessing Data through DASH JUNE 11 | Virtual

Are you a researcher seeking administrative health data from more than one province or territory? Join us for Accessing Data through DASH with Carrie-Anne Whyte to learn more about how HDRN Canada can support your multi-regional project through the Data Access Support Hub (DASH). DASH offers coordinated services, resources and tools to help researchers navigate the data access process and access multi-regional administrative health data.

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e-Health26 JUNE 14-16 | Halifax

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is co-hosting e-Health26, and CIHI experts will be on hand to discuss their work on health data stewardship, digital health experiences and establishing core data interoperability. As Canada's largest congregation of digital health professionals, e-Health26 offers proactive learning and the opportunity to network with organizations and people working to make a difference in Canadian health through information and technology.

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Job Alert

We're hiring! Senior Project Manager, Partnerships

HDRN Canada is hiring an experienced project management professional to help lead strategic initiatives and strengthen collaboration across our pan-Canadian network of members and partners. Apply now for this role, based in Toronto at ICES, and help shape the future of health data collaboration in Canada.

In the Media

Census data reveals the impact of poverty

HDRN Canada Executive member Dr. Nathan Nickel spoke to the Winnipeg Free Press about how census data reveals the socio-economic status of different neighbourhoods, enabling researchers to explore the impacts of poverty on health and social outcomes, and helping planners make evidence-based decisions.

News from Across the Network

Ask An Expert: What is hospital data transformation?

The latest in CIHI's Ask An Expert video series features Juliana Wu discussing CIHI's work with health system partners to transform hospital data into real-time, actionable insights that strengthen Canada's health systems by supporting emergency preparedness, system planning and decision-making.

What you study can impact career outcomes

A new study from Data NB, co-authored by HDRN Canada Executive member Dr. Ted McDonald, examines how education pathways influence employment and earnings in New Brunswick. Using PSIS and 2016 Census data, the study shows that outcomes vary significantly across fields and levels of study, offering insights for workforce planning.

No significant visuals. Text reads: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Bringing research to life and inspiring new knowledge for a thriving society.

Using admin data to inform needs-based planning

The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy has released a new report drawing on adminstrative data to better understand mental health and substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment, as well as access to health care services. Results support a needs-based planning model to improve access across the health system.

Canadian patient perspectives on health data sharing

Have you interacted with the Canadian health system, either as a patient, a caregiver or participant in a clinical trial? The Ottawa Heart Institute is conducting a survey to understand how people in Canada feel about sharing personal health and research data collected during clinical care or participation in research studies, eligible to 18+.

Torso of a pregnant person holding a pill bottle. Logos for ICES and Population Data BC are at left.

Assessing opiod use in pregnancy

Population Data BC will link health and demographic administrative data for the British Columbia component of a multi-regional study led by research scientists at ICES in Ontario. The study will assess the needs of people who use opioids in pregnancy and children with prenatal opioid exposure to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

StatCan & CIHI to host data linkage workshop

Statistics Canada and CIHI are teaming up to present a workshop on the value and challenges of health data linkages at CAHSPR 2026. Bridging the Data Gap: Using Health Data Stewardship Core Components, Practical Tools and Shared Solutions will explore how linked data can support research, policy and health services planning.