Who We Are
Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils’
Founded in 1981 by residents living in long-term care homes, Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils’ (OARC) is Ontario’s only organization dedicated to supporting Residents’ Councils and amplifying the voices of people living in long-term care.
Created by residents, for residents, OARC continues to engage residents in its governance, advisory work, consultations, and educational initiatives, ensuring lived experience informs and guides our work.
Today, OARC works with residents, long-term care homes, government, researchers, and sector partners across Ontario to support resident-centred long-term care.
Mission, vision and values
Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide every aspect of OARC’s work. They shape how we empower residents, amplify lived experience, educate stakeholders, and collaborate to create positive culture change.
OARC’s mission statement
We empower Ontario long-term care residents to understand their rights, share their lived experience, and inspire a better tomorrow. We do this by working together with our partners to educate stakeholders, build a collective voice, and create positive culture change.
OARC’S vision
Every long-term care resident in Ontario shapes the place they call home.
OARC’S values
Compassion
We demonstrate compassion by developing caring relationships that are built on acceptance, trust, and honesty.
Dignity
We embrace the inherent dignity of all people, and respect their right to be valued and accepted without judgement.
Inclusion
We are committed to ensuring that all residents are engaged and heard.
Collaboration
We know that we can accomplish more when we work together to achieve shared goals.
What we do
We support Residents’ Councils across Ontario by providing education, resources, coaching, and consultation that help residents understand their rights, share their experiences, and participate in decisions that affect their daily lives.
We also work with long-term care homes, government, researchers, and sector partners to elevate resident perspectives and advance improvements in quality of life for people living in long-term care.
How we are funded
OARC is funded by the Ministry of Long-Term Care, membership dues and sponsorships. The views expressed in this website and publications are the views of OARC and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province. We are grateful for the Province of Ontario’s ongoing commitment to resident engagement, quality of life, and the important role Residents’ Councils play in long-term care homes across Ontario.
Additional support is provided through OARC’s annual Residents’ Council Membership Program and the Confidence in Culture Change Supporter Program. While OARC supports all Residents’ Councils in Ontario, these contributions help extend and enhance our programs, resources, education, and provincial initiatives.
Together, these investments enable OARC to empower residents, strengthen Residents’ Councils, and advance resident-centred culture change throughout Ontario’s long-term care sector.