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Sex and Gender


Canadians working together to modernize Canada’s sex and gender information practices in digital health.
Members: 156
Type: Open
Access: Public
Canadians working together to modernize Canada’s sex and gender information practices in digital health.

About

Infoway Sex and Gender Working Group

Infoway’s Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) has been convening since 2019 to advance the modernization of gender, sex, and sexual orientation (GSSO) information practices across Canada’s digital health ecosystem. Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month for one hour, from 12:00 ET / 9:00 PT.

The SGWG was established with the support and participation of Canada Health Infoway, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA), the University of Victoria, and multiple Canadian jurisdictions, including Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario, and others. The group has since grown to more than 100 registered participants, who contribute through ongoing collaboration, research exchange, standards alignment, and implementation-focused discussion.

In early 2021, the SGWG released A Proposed Action Plan to Modernize Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Practices in Canadian EHRs. This Action Plan articulates seven core aims that continue to guide the group’s work, including equity-oriented data practices, culturally safe and gender-affirming care, interoperability, education, and system accountability.

The SGWG provides a national forum to:

  • Examine and advance inclusive, respectful, and clinically meaningful GSSO data practices

  • Support implementation of pan-Canadian and jurisdictional standards in EHR systems

  • Address structural inequities, including Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination against gender-diverse, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people in healthcare

  • Share emerging research, implementation lessons, and policy-relevant insights

Participants are invited to bring their expertise and lived or living experience to help shape practical, implementation-ready strategies for modernizing sex and gender information practices in Canada.

Additional Details

  • Meeting notes and related materials are available in the group’s Documents folder.

  • Registration is required and remains valid for all future sessions.

  • A draft agenda is typically posted to the group forum approximately five days prior to each meeting.

  • Participants are encouraged to register for an InfoCentral account and subscribe to receive forum notifications and updates on SGWG activities.

Note: The current group icon represents diversity in sex and gender but is not fully inclusive; this is acknowledged as an area for future improvement.

    Activity

    Kelly Davison replied to a discussion in Sex and Gender

    Good morning, Documents from this week's meeting can be found in the 2026 documents folder. https://infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/resources/docs/sex-gender/2026-sessions-sex-gender Thanks for all your work, Kelly

    Sanjin Sabljakovic created a new discussion in Sex and Gender

    Hello, Ontario Health will be hosting an Open Review webinar on Thursday January 29, 2026, @ 12:00-1:00pm (EST) to provide details on the Ontario Clinical Report Exchange (OCRE) HL7® FHIR® Implementation Guide v1.0.0 -ballot, explain the process of providing coordinated comments during the Open Review period, and answer questions. Ontario Clinical Report Exchange (OCRE) will be a new report delivery solution for the province. The Ontario Clinical Report Exchange HL7® FHIR® Implementation Guide supports implementers of digital health assets that will use HL7® FHIR® to enable submission of health reports to OCRE and defines the structure of the reports for consumption. OCRE will leverage the Ontario Health Enterprise Publish and Subscribe (Pub/Sub) solution. Existing products such as Health Report Manager (HRM®) will leverage OCRE to enable clinicians to securely receive patient reports electronically from participating hospitals and specialty clinics. HRM® is a digital health solution that enables clinicians to securely receive patient reports electronically from participating hospitals and specialty clinics. A Limited Product Release (LPR) will be conducted to test out the new OCRE Implementation Guide. OCRE will seek participation from a few sending facilities (Hospitals and Integrated Community Health Services Centres) as well as recipients (EMR vendors). Future use cases for OCRE will include report delivery expansion to additional healthcare sectors as well as bi-directional report exchange. Key Dates: Open Review Period: January 29 – February 26, 2026 Join us by following this link: ... Please share this information with your team and colleagues to encourage participation in this important process. Thank you, Digital Health Interoperability Standards Committee Secretariat Ontario Health _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Bonjour, Santé Ontario tiendra un webinaire d'examen ouvert le jeudi 29 janvier 2026, de 12 h 00 à 13 h 00 (HNE) afin de présenter le Guide de mise en œuvre HL7® FHIR® de l'Échange de rapports cliniques de l'Ontario (OCRE) - v1.0.0-bulletin, d'expliquer le processus de soumission de commentaires coordonnés pendant la période d'examen ouvert et de répondre aux questions. Échange de rapports cliniques de l'Ontario (OCRE) sera une nouvelle solution provinciale de diffusion de rapports. Le Guide de mise en œuvre HL7® FHIR® de l'OCRE appuie les responsables de la mise en œuvre d'outils de santé numérique qui utiliseront HL7® FHIR® pour permettre la soumission de rapports de santé à l'OCRE et définit la structure des rapports aux fins de consultation. L'OCRE tirera parti de la solution d'entreprise de publication et d'abonnement (Pub/Abo) de Santé Ontario. Des produits existants, tels que Health Report Manager (HRM®), utiliseront l'OCRE pour permettre aux cliniciens de recevoir de façon sécurisée des rapports de patients par voie électronique provenant d'hôpitaux et de cliniques spécialisées participants. HRM® est une solution de santé numérique qui permet aux cliniciens de recevoir de façon sécurisée des rapports de patients par voie électronique provenant d'hôpitaux et de cliniques spécialisées participants. Une version préliminaire du produit (PPL) sera menée afin de mettre à l'essai le nouveau guide de mise en œuvre de l'OCRE. L'OCRE sollicitera la participation de quelques établissements expéditeurs (hôpitaux et centres de services de santé communautaires intégrés) ainsi que de destinataires (fournisseurs de DME). Les futurs cas d'utilisation de l'OCRE comprendront l'élargissement de la diffusion des rapports à d'autres secteurs de soins de santé ainsi que l'échange bidirectionnel de rapports. Dates clés : Période de l'examen ouvert : 29 janvier – 26 février 2026 Rejoignez-nous en cliquant sur ce lien: ... Veuillez partager cette information avec votre équipe et vos collègues afin d’encourager la participation à ce processus important. Cordialement, Secrétariat du Comité des normes d'interopérabilité de la santé numérique Santé Ontario

    Kelly Davison created a new discussion in Sex and Gender

    Hi everyone, Happy New Year, and welcome back! We’re looking forward to starting 2026 together and continuing our shared work on equity-oriented modernization of sex and gender information in digital health. This is a friendly reminder that the next Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) meeting will be held on: Tuesday, January 27 9:00–10:00 am PT / 12:00–1:00 pm ET Draft agenda: 1. Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement 2. Ground Rules for Respectful Dialogue 3. Setting the 2026 agenda: equity-oriented GSSO modernization in digital health 4. Pan-Canadian GSSO updates 5. HL7 Anatomical Inventory & Person Characteristics update 6. Jurisdictional standards updates 7. GSSO Digital Health Hub 8. Schedule review 9. Adjournment The session will be co-facilitated by the SGWG co-chairs, with contributions from Canada Health Infoway. If you have agenda items or suggestions, please send them to: Kelly Davison ([email protected]) or Shannon O’Connor ([email protected]) New to the Sex and Gender Working Group? You’re very welcome to join. Please register here: infoway-inforoute.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqf-yoqjIpGtFrqu1R8-9WMY1j8oDWjXZl Guidelines for respectful dialogue: 1. Express disagreement with ideas, not people 2. Share airtime 3. Stay on topic and build on what others have said 4. Listen to understand, especially when you disagree 5. Acknowledge what you’ve heard 6. Leave rank at the door—we are all equal here 7. Look for common ground 8. Identify and test assumptions We’re grateful for the care, expertise, and generosity you bring to this space, and we’re excited about the year ahead. Warm regards, Kelly and Shannon SGWG Co-Chairs

    Events



    Upcoming events:

    Tue Feb 24 @12:00PM - 01:00PM
    Sex-Gender Working Group
    Tue Mar 24 @12:00PM - 01:00PM
    Sex-Gender Working Group
    Tue Apr 28 @12:00PM - 01:00PM
    Sex-Gender Working Group

    Forum

    SGWG January 27, 2026 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm ET 01/30/26

    Good morning, Documents from this week's meeting can be found in the 2026 documents folder. https://infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/resources/docs/sex-gender/2026-sessions-sex-gender Thanks for all your work, Kelly

    Open Review Webinar: Ontario Clinical Report Exchange (OCRE) HL7® FHIR® 01/22/26

    Hello, Ontario Health will be hosting an Open Review webinar on Thursday January 29, 2026, @ 12:00-1:00pm (EST) to provide details on the Ontario Clinical Report Exchange (OCRE) HL7® FHIR® Implementation Guide v1.0.0 -ballot, explain the process o...

    SGWG January 27, 2026 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm ET 01/22/26

    Hi everyone, Happy New Year, and welcome back! We’re looking forward to starting 2026 together and continuing our shared work on equity-oriented modernization of sex and gender information in digital health. This is a friendly reminder that the ne...

    SGWG November 25, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 11/20/25

    Hi everyone, A friendly reminder that our next Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) Meeting will be held at 9:00am PT/12:00pm EST on Tuesday, November 25th. Here is the draft agenda: 1. Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement 2. Ground Rules...

    Open Review Webinar: Ontario Subscription HL7® FHIR® Interoperability Guide v1.0 11/14/25

    Hello, Ontario Health will be hosting an Open Review webinar on November 27, 2025, @ 12:00-1:00pm (EST) to provide details on the Ontario Subscription HL7® FHIR® Interoperability Guide v1.0.0-ballot, explain the process of providing coordinated c...

    SGWG seeking co-Chair for 2026 10/29/25

    Canada Health Infoway’s Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) is seeking a Co-Chair with lived and living experience related to gender, sex, and sexual orientation to help guide the next phase of work beginning January 2026. The Co-Chair will share lea...

    SGWG October 28, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 10/29/25

    Hello, The slide decks from this month's meeting are now posted to the Documents folder here: infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/resources/docs/sex-gender/2025-sessions Thank you, and see you in November. Kelly Davison, RN, CTSS

    SGWG October 28, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 10/24/25

    Hello folks, A friendly reminder that our next Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) Meeting will be held at 9:00am PT/12:00pm EST on Tuesday, October 28th. Here is the draft agenda: 1. Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement 2. Ground Rules...

    Release of the Pan-Canadian Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Data Standard 09/24/25

    Hello SGWG members, CIHI is excited to announce the release of the Pan-Canadian Gender, Sex and Sexual Orientation Data Standard! The Standard and Guidance document were released in ... and include: • Pan-Canadian GSSO data standard – ... P...

    Open Review Webinar: Ontario Provincial Health Service Directory (PHSD) HL7 FHIR 09/12/25

    Good morning, Ontario Health will be hosting an Open Review webinar on September 25, 2025, @ 12:00-1:00pm (EST) to provide details on the Ontario Provincial Health Service Directory (PHSD) HL7 FHIR Implementation Guide - v1.0.0 TU, explain the pro...

    SGWG - No Meeting on September 23, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 08/26/25

    Hi Folks, a gentle reminder that will not be holding the September 2025 meeting. Our next meeting is October 28. Best, Kelly

    SGWG August 26, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 08/26/25

    Hello everyone, The slide decks from this month's meeting are now posted to the Documents folder here: infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/resources/docs/sex-gender/2025-sessions Thank you for your dedication. Kelly Davison, RN, CTSS

    SGWG August 26, 2025 Meeting: 9am PT/12pm EST 08/21/25

    Hello folks, A friendly reminder that our next Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) Meeting will be held at 9:00am PT/12:00pm EST on Tuesday, August 26th. Here is the draft agenda: 1. Welcome and Land Acknowledgement 2. Ground Rules for Resp...

    SGWG July 22, 2025 9 am PT/Noon ET meeting reminder 07/18/25

    In support of Tuesday's meeting a new document "Towards Affirming Intersex Health Communication in Canada" has been uploaded to the 2025 Meeting Presentations folder. https://infocentral.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/resources/docs/sex-gender/2025-ses...

    SGWG July 22, 2025 9 am PT/Noon ET meeting reminder 07/17/25

    Hello everyone, A friendly reminder that our next Sex and Gender Working Group (SGWG) Meeting will be held at 9:00am PT/12:00pm EST on Tuesday, July 22nd. Here is the draft agenda: 1. Welcome and Land Acknowledgement 2. Ground Rules for Res...

    Documents

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    2020 Sessions ( 38 Documents )

    2021 Sessions ( 36 Documents )

    2022 Sessions ( 30 Documents )

    2023 Sessions ( 27 Documents )

    2024 Sessions ( 20 Documents )

    2025 Sessions ( 30 Documents )

    2026 Sessions ( 3 Documents )

    Action Plan ( 4 Documents )

    CIHR Planning Project ( 20 Documents )

    ISO Documents ( 0 Document )

    This folder holds working and in-progress research and documentation which outlines outdated GSSO content that is considered harmful.

    MSFHR REACH Project ( 20 Documents )

    Publications & Reports ( 3 Documents )

    Working Documents ( 6 Documents )

    Video

    This Group has no videos.

    Members

    Krista Balenko
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    Canada Health Infoway
    OFFLINE
    Contact
    Shannon O'Connor
    Picture of Shannon O'Connor
    Canadian Institute for Health Information
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    Kelly Davison
    Picture of Kelly Davison
    University of Victoria
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    Admin
    Lori Newman
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    Public Health Ontario
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    Megan Brydon
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    Government of Nova Scotia
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    Clara Tardif
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    Université de Montréal
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    Natalie Cardinal
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    Cornwall Community Hospital
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    Jessica MacDougall
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    NS Department of Health
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    Shangjucta Das Pooja
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    Canadian Institute for Health Information
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    Sonja Vergeer
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    N/A
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    mariyam malik
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    CIHI
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    Nisha Ganeswaren
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    Canadian Institute for Health Information
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    Cristina Rayman-Herries
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    Northern Health
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    Simon Minshall
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    University of Victoria
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    Bashar Kabd
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    University of Victoria
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