Humanity First Canada’s Windsor Chapter hosted the inaugural Unity Summit on 28 June 2026, at the Giovanni Caboto Club in Windsor, Ontario. The Summit promoted public health education, disaster preparedness, volunteerism and community resilience. Throughout the day, the atmosphere reflected Humanity First’s motto, “Serving Humanity,” together with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat’s guiding principle, “Love for All, Hatred for None.”
The event attracted numerous civic, political and healthcare leaders, reflecting the broad support that Humanity First continues to enjoy within the community. Among those in attendance were Kathy Borrelli, Member of Parliament; Harb Gill, Member of Parliament; Lisa Gretzky, Member of Provincial Parliament; Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament; Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor; Crystal Meloche, Mayor of LaSalle; Michael Akpata, Deputy Mayor of LaSalle; Joe Bachetti, Deputy Mayor of Tecumseh; Kristen Kennedy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Windsor Regional Hospital; together with Windsor City Councillors Angelo Marignani and Renaldo Agostino.
Support for the Summit also extended beyond those able to attend in person. Prior to the event, several elected representatives, healthcare leaders and emergency service officials recorded video messages encouraging community participation and expressing their support for the Summit’s vision of unity, collaboration and humanitarian service. These included messages from Harb Gill, Lisa Gretzky, Mayor Drew Dilkens, Kristen Kennedy, James Waffle, Fire Chief of Windsor Fire & Rescue Services and Andrew Dowie. A central feature of the Summit was its educational programme, which offered practical information on health, emergency preparedness and personal wellbeing. Presentations delivered throughout the day addressed a wide range of subjects, including emergency medicine, trauma response, children’s oral health, colon cancer awareness, mental wellbeing and resilience and leadership through sport.
The distinguished presenters included Kristen Scott, Director of Emergency Services at Windsor Regional Hospital; Dave Thibodeau of Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services; Emily Bertram, Emergency Planning Officer with Windsor Fire & Rescue Services; Dr Alexandria Meriano; Dr Nouman Hassan; Chris Gevaert, Registered Psychotherapist and Archit Singh, sports trainer and cricket coach. Each presentation highlighted practical ways in which individuals and families can contribute to building healthier and more resilient communities.
Beyond the lecture programme, the Summit placed particular emphasis on equipping participants with practical skills that could directly benefit their families and neighbourhoods.
One of the highlights of the Summit was its series of interactive learning sessions, which enabled visitors to acquire practical, lifesaving skills through hands-on demonstrations led by experienced healthcare professionals and emergency responders. Among the most popular attractions was the Basic Life Support (BLS) training programme. Volunteer instructors, including nurses from Windsor Regional Hospital, paramedics from Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services, physicians and Humanity First volunteers, provided practical instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other essential emergency response techniques. Hundreds of visitors participated enthusiastically, gaining valuable knowledge that could one day help save lives within their own families and communities. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about disaster preparedness through an interactive exhibition organised by the Humanity First USA Disaster Relief Team, led by Dr Naeem Lughmani. The demonstrations introduced visitors to emergency preparedness planning, disaster response procedures, temporary shelter deployment and the important role that trained humanitarian volunteers play during natural disasters and other emergencies. The session illustrated Humanity First’s ongoing commitment to serving vulnerable communities during times of crisis, both locally and internationally. Preventive healthcare also featured prominently throughout the day. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Medical Association (AMMA) Canada organised a basic medical assessment clinic where visitors received complimentary blood pressure screening, blood glucose testing, body mass index assessments and general health education. The clinic encouraged participants to adopt healthier lifestyles while emphasising the importance of early detection and preventive care. Complementing these educational activities was an extensive community exhibition that showcased the remarkable breadth of organisations dedicated to serving Windsor-Essex.
Nearly 50 charities, healthcare providers, educational institutions, businesses and community organisations participated in the Summit, providing visitors with opportunities to learn about the services available throughout the region and to establish meaningful connections with local service providers. Among the participating organisations were Humanity First Canada, the Humanity First USA Disaster Relief Team, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Medical Association Canada, Windsor Regional Hospital, Windsor Fire & Rescue Services, Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services, Canadian Blood Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ronald McDonald House Charities Windsor, the Salvation Army Windsor Centre of Hope, the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County, Community Living Essex County, the University of Windsor, St Clair College student organisations and numerous cultural, charitable and community organisations representing the diversity of Windsor-Essex.
Visitors also had the opportunity to engage directly with representatives from organisations specialising in settlement services, mental health support, housing assistance, youth development, seniors’ services and volunteer opportunities. The exhibition reflected the Summit’s overarching objective of fostering collaboration among organisations that share a common commitment to improving the wellbeing of the wider community.
The spirit of hospitality further contributed to the welcoming atmosphere throughout the day. Tim Hortons generously sponsored tea, coffee and Timbits for attendees, while a complimentary buffet lunch provided additional opportunities for networking and fellowship among participants, volunteers and exhibitors.
The significance of the Summit was also recognised by local media. Coverage by CTV News Windsor, AM800 CKLW Radio, MTA Canada and the Windsor Star helped extend the Summit’s message of humanitarian service and community collaboration to a wider audience, highlighting Humanity First’s growing role in strengthening partnerships across the region. The Humanity First Unity Summit received an overwhelmingly positive response from elected representatives, participating organisations and members of the wider community, many of whom later shared messages of appreciation recognising the event’s contribution to strengthening community partnerships and promoting humanitarian service.
Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament, described the Summit as an inspiring demonstration of community service, noting that the practical sessions on CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) training, disaster preparedness and community health education were equipping participants with valuable lifesaving skills.
Kathy Borrelli, Member of Parliament, praised the Summit for bringing together charities, volunteers and community leaders in the spirit of service, observing that the event highlighted the important work being carried out by humanitarian organisations throughout Windsor-Essex and demonstrated the positive impact that can be achieved through collaboration.
Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor, commended Humanity First for creating a forum that encouraged volunteerism, charitable giving and cooperation among organisations working to strengthen the local community.
The Summit welcomed more than 450 attendees, including approximately 350 non-Ahmadi guests. Nearly 50 charities, healthcare institutions, educational organisations, community groups, sponsors and exhibitors participated, making it one of the largest humanitarian outreach initiatives organised by Humanity First Canada’s Windsor Chapter.