The Anne Johnston Health Station

Speak Up is operated by the Anne Johnston Health Station. The Health Station provides accessible, holistic, multi-disciplinary primary care, health promotion, education, advocacy and community development. Our team, comprised of individuals from different backgrounds and disciplines, works six days a week, with on call availability for our clinical clients 24 hours per day 7 days a week.

We envision a safe community free of barriers where ALL people are valued, have access to health care, and opportunities to achieve and contribute to the best quality of life for everyone.

Our mission is to enhance and advocate for the health and well being of individuals and to promote healthy communities, particularly for those who are under served and / or face individual and systemic barriers to accessing health-related services.

Our work incorporates individual and community experiences, diverse perspectives, sensitivity to and respect for broad health issues, e.g., housing, poverty, transportation, the changing needs of the community, collaboration with relevant services and agencies and accessibility of care and integrated team approaches to health care delivery.

The Health Station was started in 1990 to respond to community needs for tertiary care services for seniors (55 years of age and older) and youth (13 years - 24 years). The Health Station was incorporated in 1992 with a focus on health promotion, prevention and education. Over the years, the focus has expanded to provide primary health care services for seniors, particularly frail and isolated seniors and a broad range of sexual and reproductive health for youth.

In 1996 the Health Station began offering a full range of primary health services for persons with disabilities involving the spine (i.e., multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury). This program provides supportive counseling, advocacy and educational workshops.

The Health Station program for people with disabilities is a one of a kind program. These services were established as a result of consumers identifying the physical and attitudinal barriers in health care settings available to them. The Health Station has also been able to undertake advocacy and community development, using a multi-disciplinary team approach to specific issues. This multidisciplinary approach in addressing the broader determinants of health in the community puts us in a unique position, improving access for those who face barriers to obtaining health services and health promotion programs.

For more information about The Anne Johnston Health Station, contact:

Brenda McNeil
Executive Director
2398 Yonge Street
Toronto ON M4P 2H4
Telephone: 416-486-8666 ext. 224