Since 1998, the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce has championed family physician recruitment as a critical priority for our region. Access to primary care is essential not only to the health and wellbeing of our residents, but also to the economic vitality of our business community. As our population continues to grow, so too does the urgency to attract and retain family physicians and other healthcare professionals.
What began as a volunteer-driven initiative led by committed Chamber members evolved into a dedicated, staff-supported program with the launch of the Chamber Health Care Resources Council (CHCRC) in 2006. With sustained financial investment from local municipalities and the corporate community, the Chamber has been able to significantly expand and strengthen its physician recruitment and retention efforts.
Our Focus
Through the work of the CHCRC, the Chamber’s physician recruitment program is guided by four key objectives:
Learn More & Find a Doctor
The Chamber’s physician recruitment program is supported by KW Physicians, a dedicated platform that showcases our community, practice opportunities, and local supports for physicians and their families.
Visit kwphysicians.com to:
What We’ve Accomplished
A cornerstone of the Chamber’s recruitment efforts is the Annual Family Medicine Resident Weekend. This signature initiative connects family medicine residents with our community, highlighting the region as a welcoming, innovative, and leading-edge place to build a practice. The weekend also supports physicians’ partners by introducing them to local employment and networking opportunities.
For more than 27 years, this initiative has played a meaningful role in physicians’ decisions to establish their practices locally.
Since 1998, over 300 family physicians have been recruited to our community.
While progress has been made, the need remains significant and the Chamber remains firmly committed to this critical work.
Why This Matters to Business
Access to primary healthcare is a key economic driver. When employees and their families cannot find a family physician, it impacts workforce attraction, retention, productivity, and overall quality of life. Businesses are increasingly competing not just on jobs, but on community readiness, including access to healthcare.
A strong family physician network supports:
By leading physician recruitment efforts, the Chamber is helping ensure Kitchener-Waterloo and Woolwich remains a competitive, attractive place to live, work, and do business.
We Need Your Support
Meeting the primary healthcare needs of a rapidly growing community requires sustained leadership and investment from the business community. Physician recruitment is not a short-term challenge, it is a long-term, that directly impacts workforce stability and economic growth.
The Chamber’s physician recruitment program is made possible through the financial support of municipalities and the business community who recognize healthcare access as a business imperative. Continued success depends on businesses stepping forward as partners and sponsors.
By supporting this program, Chamber members help:
Your investment helps secure a healthier workforce and a stronger, more competitive community.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or how your business can support physician recruitment, please contact Jenna Petker.
