Improving BC’s Pandemic Preparedness and Strengthening Public Health It’s essential to draw lessons from our pandemic experiences in public health to better prepare for the future. To support this, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, we’re funding a project that is enabling a number of voices to share their experiences, including the BCCDC, the Provincial Health Services Authority, the First Nations Health Authority, the regional health authorities, and the Of昀椀ce of the Public Health Of昀椀cer, to build on the current Pandemic Preparedness Plan. This work will help to ensure that our province will be equipped to respond when, and if, needed to protect the health and safety of British Columbians. Further, in a collaborative effort co-funded by the Foundation, Michael Smith Health Research BC, and Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences, we came together to orchestrate a special gathering—a dialogue event held in partnership with the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. The dialogue aimed to extract valuable lessons, enhance ties between public health and research partners, and identify the structures needed to support evidence-based practices, inform policy decisions, and provide community-centered public health resources. Attendees expressed appreciation for the gathering and a shared enthusiasm for strengthening connections in emergency response, prompting a re昀氀ection on how these insights could bridge the gap between research and practical policymaking in the future. 14 2022-23 ANNUAL REPORT