Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence is one of the Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health supported by the Women's Health Contribution Program of Health Canada. The Centres are dedicated to improving the health status of Canadian women by supporting policy-oriented, and community-based research and analysis on the social and other determinants of women’s health.

PWHCE’s goal is to improve the health of women in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in particular by making the health system and social systems more responsive to women’s and girls’ health and well being.

PWHCE's founding partners are:

Fédération provinciale des fransaskoises
Prairie Region Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Saskatchewan
University of Regina
University of Manitoba
University of Winnipeg
Women's Health Clinic

In addition to these six partner organizations, PWHCE is supported by many organizations from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

PWHCE’s Board members are:

Manitoba members

Darlene Beck
Donna Chow
Joan Dawkins
Maya Fontaine
Judith Huebner
Freda Lepine
Paula Migliardi
Dawn Ridd (Ex Officio)

Saskatchewan members

Lil Sabiston, Chair
Lesley Biggs
Judy Hughes
Bonnie Jeffery
Noreen Johns
Jocelyne Lavergne

PWHCE’s Program Staff members include:

Margaret Haworth-Brockman
Executive Director

Roberta Stout
Researcher - Aboriginal Women's Health

Harpa Isfeld
Senior Researcher

Yvonne Hanson
GBA Coordinator

Carla Simon
Director of Communications

PWHCE’s Students and Contract Employees

Health is more than just the absence of disease. PWHCE is committed to fostering a better understanding of what determines women's health by:

GENERATING NEW KNOWLEDGE through identification, of issues and research on women's health issues.

PROVIDING POLICY ADVICE, analysis and information to governments, health organizations and non-governmental organizations, and by helping to define a women's health research program for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada.

ANALYSING DATA and resources on women's health.

COMMUNICATING KNOWLEDGE promoting further discussion on women's health through publications, various media, workshops and conferences.

BUILDING and STRENGTHENING NETWORKS of individuals and organizations. PWHCE is associated and linked with organizations, individuals and policy makers at community, regional and national levels.

We value different viewpoints and approaches that women of diverse backgrounds and life experiences bring to health issues, and recognize the importance of involving women in all aspects of health research.

We are a partnership of women's groups, researchers, policy makers, service providers and individuals dedicated to women-centred, participatory, action-driven policy research.

Currently, our focus is on the following priority areas:

• Aboriginal women's health issues
• Women, poverty and health
• Health of women living in rural, remote & northern communities
• Gender and health planning.