2025-08-27 Today we sent the following email update to petition signatories regarding our campaign

A Chinese version of this letter can be found at the following link:
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Dear RE-AIM Supporter,

We are writing with deep gratitude. In just a short time, more than 1,200 of you have signed our petition to reinstate the Asian Initiative in Mental Health (AIM). This incredible response reflects not only the urgent demand for culturally and linguistically appropriate services, but also the strong, united voice of service users, families, professionals, and allies across our communities.

Every signature represents a personal commitment to equity and inclusion in mental health care. Many of you also shared your own experiences—stories of care received through AIM, of loved ones who relied on its services, and of frustrations with a system that too often overlooks cultural realities.

Your voices are powerful. A service user described AIM as “a lifeline and a culturally safe space for our community,” while a social work professor emphasized that “culturally specific and culturally appropriate services are necessary for those navigating multiple systems of marginality and vulnerability.” These combined voices of patients and service providers show the depth and breadth of support for reinstating AIM. We cannot thank you enough for standing with us.

On August 20, the RE-AIM Coalition delivered the open letter and petition signatures to Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO of the University Health Network (UHN). Earlier this week, we also met with members of UHN management. While they acknowledged that patients were not duly informed when AIM was closed, their responses were inconsistent and fell short of addressing our three clear demands. Most importantly, they gave no commitment to reinstate AIM and continue to frame the closure as an “integration.”

Following this meeting, we issued a formal response letter expressing our deep disappointment with the way the community was engaged and reiterating our three original demands: (1) a direct meeting with Dr. Kevin Smith, (2) immediate reinstatement of AIM to its full capacity, and (3) a meaningful cross-sector consultation forum. We continue to stress that a direct dialogue with the CEO is essential, and we will not relent in this demand.

The petition will remain open until September 4. After it closes, we will keep all signatories updated through email and our website. We will also be launching a subscription list shortly so that community members and supporters can continue to follow and support the campaign.In addition, we encourage supporters to write directly to Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO of UHN, to share your experiences with AIM and your concerns about its closure. Your personal voices will add strength to the demand for reinstating AIM.

Our next step is to bring this conversation back to the community. 

The Coalition is planning to host a Community Forum on AIM and Mental Health Equity in September. This gathering will:

• Share the urgent mental health needs identified by patients, families, and service providers.
• Explore how a collaborative service model—involving health professionals, community partners, and service users—can be established to properly meet the needs of diverse communities in the GTA.
• Build cross-sector solidarity to advocate for lasting solutions beyond short-term fixes.

We believe that only through genuine collaboration can we create a model of care that is inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.

How You Can Help

• Share the petition link https://re-aim.ca/sign-petition/  with your network before September 4
• Download our email template and write to Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO of UHN (kevin.smith@uhn.ca). Please copy his Executive Assistant, Grace Ivo (Grace.Ivo@uhn.ca), and the Coalition (info@re-aim.ca).
• Stay tuned for details about the September forum and plan to join us.
• Continue spreading the word about why culturally appropriate mental health care matters.

Your solidarity is the reason we have reached this milestone. Together, we will continue to demand accountability from UHN and work toward re-establishing services that truly meet the needs of our communities.

With gratitude and determination,

The RE-AIM Coalition