Indigenous Literature as a Tool for Healing
What is this idea of reconciliation that we speak so much about, if not the act of making visible what has long been rendered invisible—and working to repair it? Literature, as a tool that reveals truth as it is, as it is imagined, and as it is projected forward, is at the heart of this presentation. What if inclusion were genuine and complete, even if it meant challenging existing knowledge systems, worldviews, and structures? Indigenous literature is one of the paths that helps trace the way forward. Drawing on the personal experience of author Isabelle Picard, this conference will explore how reclaiming one’s voice can foster healing and build bridges.
Ethnologist, author, speaker, and columnist specializing in First Nations realities, Isabelle Picard is a graduate in ethnology and museology, originally from Wendake. She has contributed to major projects such as the revitalization of the Wendat language and the creation of Kiuna, the first Indigenous college in Québec. A columnist for La Presse, she is a regular guest on radio and television. As a consultant for cultural productions, she has also served as an advisor on Indigenous affairs at Radio-Canada. Author of the youth series Nish and several works for adults, she is committed to building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples for better coexistence.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Health Libraries Association (CHLA), this plenary panel brings together founding leaders, current practitioners, and emerging professionals to reflect on the association’s past, present, and future. Panelists explore the evolution of CHLA, its support for members across diverse settings, the value of service and connection, national advocacy, and the profession’s ongoing adaptation to technological and systemic change. Historical milestones are interwoven with personal stories and reflections from retired members, highlighting the collaborative spirit that has sustained the association for five decades. The panel concludes with a call to action, inviting members to be inspired by this shared history and to actively carry CHLA forward through engagement, leadership, and collective vision as it continues to shape the future of health librarianship in Canada.
Lee Anne Bourke
Associate Librarian, Strategy, University of Ottawa; President, CHLA/ABSC 2014–2015.
David S. Crawford
Founding president of CHLA in 1976 and active member for many years. Emeritus Librarian at McGill University (2002) and CHLA/ABSC Honorary Life Member since 1999.
Kristy Hancock
Division of Medical Sciences Librarian, University of Northern British Columbia.
Recipient of the CHLA/ABSC Emerging Leader Award 2023.
Martine Gagnon
Consulting Librarian, Université Laval. President, CHLA/ABSC 2026.
Janice Thompson
Manager, Library and Research Services, William Osler Health System, Brampton Civic Hospital
Preparing to Meet Challenges in Digital Health Research
What are digital health research’s main challenges in the coming years? How can AI be used in a responsible and equitable way? This presentation will address various issues from the perspective of a digital health researcher, highlighting the central role of librarians in research. Drawing on examples from projects on digital health literacy for patients and from the use of AI in knowledge syntheses to support healthcare system decision-makers, this session will discuss librarians’ role in supporting different stages of research, underscoring their contribution to digital health literacy.
Full Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval and Chairholder of the Canada Research Chair in Health Technologies and Practices.
She is a researcher at VITAM - Centre for Sustainable Health Research and at the Research Centre of the CHU de Québec–Université Laval. She holds a PhD in Community Health from Université Laval and completed postdoctoral training at the Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment in Spain, as well as at the Health Telematic Unit at the University of Calgary.
Her research program focuses on the evaluation of digital health technologies; the organizational, professional, and individual determinants of the adoption and integration of digital health within the healthcare system; patient and public involvement in healthcare decision-making; systematic reviews; and best practices in knowledge application and transfer.
