Saskatchewan Blue Cross expanded its community investment initiatives in 2025, focusing on health literacy, Indigenous reconciliation, and support for vulnerable populations across the province.
The organization released its 2025 Health Literacy Report, coinciding with the Government of Saskatchewan’s proclamation of October 2025 as Health Literacy Month. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill announced the declaration.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross identified four key populations requiring health literacy support: youth and educators, Indigenous communities, newcomers and new Canadians, and the actively aging, according to the report.
The Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan received funding in 2025 to train 19 individuals across nine communities in Mental Health First Aid certification. The week-long training program introduced participants to core principles of mental health support designed specifically for First Nations individuals and families.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross also renewed its commitment to the Indspire Scholarship Program with a four-year agreement extending from 2025 to 2029. The Indigenous bursary supports First Nations, Inuit and Métis students pursuing social work degrees in Saskatchewan.
The Regina and Saskatoon Open Door Societies received funding for their Empowering Newcomers Program, which served 86 clients through weekly sessions for adults aged 55 and older. The program offered health information, cultural activities, and interpretation services in languages including Dari, Somali, Amharic, and Arabic.
Global Gathering Place’s PATH program provided 1,250 hours of support to 315 refugees through Cultural Health Navigators in 2025, according to Kennedy Owen, Ride for Refuge Saskatoon event lead.
Saskatchewan Blue Cross contributed $50,000 to St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation’s By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign, supporting early screening equipment for chronic kidney disease. The organization also donated $50,000 to the Regina Urgent Care Centre, which provided care to more than 20,000 patients in its first six months of operation, according to Hospitals of Regina Foundation president and CEO Dino Sophocleous.
Royal University Hospital’s Epilepsy Program also received funding for its Integrated Wellness Project, which will add epileptologists, a social worker, a research coordinator, a physiotherapist, and a mindfulness coach to enhance patient care.
The organization has invested $225,000 in rural hospital foundations since 2020, supporting equipment purchases including blanket warmers, phlebotomy chairs, and safety bed alarms across Saskatchewan communities.
In 2025, Saskatchewan Blue Cross supported a range of initiatives, from health literacy programs and Indigenous bursaries to newcomer services and hospital equipment funding, reflecting ongoing engagement across multiple areas of community health in the province.
