Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC)

What Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC) does

OARC is a non-profit association founded in 1981 by residents of Ontario long-term care homes to strengthen the collective voice of LTC residents through their Residents' Councils. Operating from Markham, Ontario, the organization serves approximately 630 LTC homes across the province, where Residents' Councils are mandated under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021. OARC delivers education, advocacy, tools, and peer-support services tailored to the Ontario LTC sector.

Its core product portfolio comprises webinars, a tools-and-templates library (including bylaw templates and the Virtual Visits Toolkit), the Through Our Eyes co-facilitation program, the Resident Engagement Toolkit launched in 2026, weekly Resident Forums, monthly Residents' Council Assistant Forums, the annual Residents' Council Week celebration, and the Sharron Cooke Legacy Award. Research products include the 2022 Residents' Voices Survey (1,000+ submissions across 300+ homes) and the 2025 Resident Food Service Survey (1,300+ responses). The technology stack is web-based, relying on Zoom for webinars and forums, Constant Contact for newsletters, SurveyMonkey for award applications, and YouTube for archived content. OARC sub-brands include the REAL (Resident Expert Advisors and Leaders) advisory group and the Confidence in Culture Change Supporter Program.

The business model combines annual provincial government funding from the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care (primary), tiered membership dues from Residents' Councils ($75-$225 CAD depending on bed count), corporate memberships for LTC operators, and corporate sponsorships at $500+. Distribution is delivered through four regional Home Support Coaches (Central, East, West, North) and virtual channels. OARC is governed by a working Board of Directors that includes LTC residents and sector professionals, and is led by an Acting Executive Director alongside a 13-person staff team.

Name

Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC)

Legal name

Ontario Association of Residents' Councils

Website

https://ontarc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OARC is a non-profit association founded in 1981 that empowers Ontario long-term care residents through Residents' Councils by delivering education, tools, webinars, forums, and advocacy services to roughly 630 LTC homes province-wide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Long-Term Care Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLACAEAH

Patient Feedback, Surveys, Reputation & Experience Measurement (VoC)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Patient Engagement, CRM & Experience Platforms

Keywords

• Long-term care advocacy
• Resident council support
• Nonprofit healthcare association
• LTC education resources
• Senior care policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Markham

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Provincial Government Funding: Annual provincial government funding through the Ministry of Long-Term Care constitutes the primary funding source for OARC's operations and programs.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Residents' Councils and Corporate Members based on home size (1-99 beds: $75, 100-199 beds: $150, 200+ beds: $225). Membership cycle runs April 1 to March 31.
3. Sponsorships: Sponsorships and support through the Confidence in Culture Change Supporter Program where organizations contribute $500+ to support resident leader opportunities, educational tools, and outreach capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OARC is a non-profit association that strengthens the voice of residents living in Ontario long-term care homes by supporting their Residents' Councils. It delivers education, tools and templates, webinars, peer forums, advocacy resources, and research, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, annual membership dues, and corporate sponsorships. The organization operates across four Ontario regions with dedicated Home Support Coaches and a Resident Expert Advisors and Leaders (REAL) network.

Product overview

OARC is a non-profit association providing a network to strengthen the voice of residents living in long-term care through their respective Residents' Councils. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs and resources including webinars, tools and templates (such as the Virtual Visits Toolkit and Resident Engagement Toolkit), and the Through Our Eyes program for educating about Residents' Bill of Rights. OARC facilitates community building through weekly Resident Forums and monthly Residents' Council Assistant Forums, and celebrates the sector through annual Residents' Council Week and the Sharron Cooke Legacy Award. The organization conducts research including the Residents' Voices Survey and the Empowering Residents Research Project. Publications include Seasons magazine (biannual) and OARC in Action newsletter (monthly). Membership is available at tiered levels based on long-term care home bed count.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REAL (Resident Expert Advisors and Leaders): An advisory group comprised of resident leaders living in LTC homes across Ontario who bring their diverse lived experiences to elevate and amplify realities to educate and guide the LTC home sector.
• Confidence in Culture Change Supporter Program
• Through Our Eyes

Products and services

• Webinars Free interactive webinars on topics of interest to Residents' Councils and their supportive partners, covering LTC funding, resident rights, council operations, and quality improvement.
• Tools and Templates Comprehensive suite of tools including communication templates, fact sheets, bylaw templates, agenda and minute templates, resource guides, and the Virtual Visits Toolkit for long-term care homes.
• Through Our Eyes Program A co-developed education program where long-term care home team members and residents co-facilitate education sessions about the Residents' Bill of Rights from the perspective of residents.
• Resident Engagement Toolkit A co-designed research-informed toolkit supporting meaningful resident engagement in home operations and decision-making, with practical tips, tools, and guides for transforming home culture.
• Resident Forums Weekly virtual forums held every Thursday at 2 PM ET for long-term care residents across Ontario to connect for peer support, ask questions, share concerns and successes, and stay informed.
• Residents' Council Assistant Forums Monthly virtual forums for Residents' Council Assistants facilitated by OARC's Director of Education, held on the last Tuesday of each month.
• OARC Membership Program Annual membership connecting Residents' Councils with a province-wide network, providing access to programs, resources, education, networking opportunities, and support. Available at three tiers based on bed count.
• Confidence in Culture Change Supporter Program Corporate sponsorship program allowing organizations to support OARC's initiatives including resident leader opportunities, educational tools, and special projects for Ontario LTC homes.
• Residents' Bill of Rights Resources Educational resources and translations of the 29 Residents' Bill of Rights under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, available in multiple languages including ASL and Indigenous languages.
• Residents' Voices Survey Province-wide environmental scan surveying the state of Residents' Councils in Ontario's long-term care homes to identify roles, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Empowering Residents Research Project Two-year co-design research project developing resources supporting meaningful resident engagement in home operations and decision-making, funded by Canadian Frailty Network and CIHR.
• Seasons Magazine Biannual magazine containing stories of innovative programming and quality initiatives, as well as pertinent news for those living and working in long-term care homes.
• OARC in Action Newsletter Monthly communication containing timely news, updates, and information of interest to those living and working in long-term care homes.
• Residents' Council Week Annual celebration (September 14-20) recognizing the contributions of residents to their communities and helping others learn about Residents' Councils, with activities, posters, templates, and awards.
• Sharron Cooke Legacy Award (SCALA) Annual award recognizing long-term care homes engaged in collaborative grassroots projects where residents and team members work together to shape and enhance their home community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,300 completed surveys received in 2025 Resident Food Service Survey
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdvantAge OntariocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Supporting OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program, which provides opportunities for resident leaders to share lived experience, extends outreach, and enhances educational tools and resources.
• ExtendicarecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate supporter of OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program, demonstrating commitment to culture change and resident engagement in their LTC homes.
• Java Group ProgramscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Supporting OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program, contributing to extended reach and enhanced educational tools and resources.
• peopleCare CommunitiescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate supporter of OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program, investing in resident voices and culture change initiatives.
• Sienna Senior LivingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate supporter of OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program, supporting enhanced outreach and dissemination of educational tools.
• S&R GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Supporting OARC's Confidence in Culture Change Program and culture change initiatives in long-term care.
• Ontario Seniors Nutrition & Advocacy Committee (OSNAC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint conducting of the 2025 Resident Food Service Survey to identify opportunities to enhance dining experience and support advocacy for increased resources.
• Canadian Frailty NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-funding partner (with Perley Health) for OARC's two-year research project 'Empowering Residents to Shape the Places They Call Home' through Springboard Grants Program.
• Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Funding partner for OARC's research project through Patient-Oriented Research grant, supporting the co-design research on resident engagement in LTC home operations.
• Perley HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-applicant with Canadian Frailty Network for OARC's research project. Also co-funded the two-year co-design research project on resident engagement.
• Ontario CLRI (Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on supporting LTC homes with resources. OARC presented at Ontario CLRI events and received support for translation of Residents' Bill of Rights.
• Family Councils OntariominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborated on creating LTC Menu and Mealtime Planning resource guide for dietary teams to increase collaboration with Residents' Councils and Family Councils.
• Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnering to spread awareness of OARC's Through Our Eyes program and its fit with RNAO's Person and Family Centered Care Clinical Best Practice Guidelines.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AdvantAge Ontario: Provincial association representing not-for-profit seniors' care providers, including LTC homes. Comparable Ontario non-profit association model serving the LTC sector; a current OARC corporate supporter under the Confidence in Culture Change Program.
• Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO): Provincial professional association that drives best-practice guidelines in LTC, including Person and Family Centered Care—directly relevant to OARC's Through Our Eyes program, with which RNAO already partners. Comparable as an Ontario non-profit association influencing LTC practice.
• Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA): The provincial association representing Ontario's for-profit and not-for-profit LTC home operators. Comparable as an Ontario-wide membership association in the LTC sector, though it represents operators rather than residents—making it an adjacent peer that OARC engages with rather than competes against.
• Family Councils Ontario: Provincial non-profit supporting Family Councils in Ontario LTC homes—the direct sibling organization to OARC. Highly comparable mandate, funding model, and member structure, just oriented to families of residents rather than residents themselves; the two organizations already co-publish resources.

Others

• Canadian Health Coalition: National non-profit advocating for public health care, including LTC reform. Comparable as a Canadian advocacy organization influencing LTC policy debates, though broader in scope than OARC's resident-council focus.

Emerging players

• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA): National non-profit policy research organization that frequently publishes on long-term care in Ontario, including the CCPA-Ontario office. Comparable as a research and advocacy organization shaping LTC discourse, though not a membership association for residents.
• Canadian Frailty Network (CFN): National research network focused on frailty and care of older adults, including LTC. Already a co-funding partner of OARC's research; comparable as a funder/research network serving the same LTC and seniors population.
• Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging: Ontario-based research institute focused on older adult care and aging, including LTC quality improvement. Comparable as a research partner for OARC's resident engagement work, with overlapping networks in Ontario LTC research and education.

Regional players

• BC Care Providers Association: British Columbia's provincial association for seniors' care and LTC providers. Comparable as a sector association in another province, with similar advocacy and education remit but operating in a different provincial policy environment.
• Alberta Continuing Care Association (ACCA): Alberta's association representing continuing care operators, including LTC and supportive living. Comparable as a regional sector association in continuing/LTC care, with similar member-driven model in a different province.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OARCnews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9zqu513DgytE8UBLjWo05w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-association-of-residents-councils

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC)