National Infection Control Week 2026: IPAC is Powered by You

A diverse long-term care team stands together, representing the many people who make infection prevention part of everyday care.

This week, from October 19 to 23, care teams across Canada are celebrating IPAC Canada’s National Infection Control Week. And this year’s theme has our whole heart: “IPAC: Powered by You”, or, in French, “PCI : propulsée par vous.”

We love this theme because it says out loud what we’ve always believed: safer care isn’t powered by policies sitting in a binder. It’s powered by you — by cleaning your hands before you enter a room, the gentle reminder offered with a smile, the quiet pride in a job done with care. If you’ve ever wondered whether the small things you do matter, they do. This week is for you.

Powered by People, Not Just Policies

Infection prevention and control (IPAC) is sometimes associated with specialists, binders and checklists. Those things can help guide good practice. But the work truly comes to life through people: the team member who notices a resident seems “just not themselves” and speaks up, the colleague who offers a gentle reminder instead of a sigh, the staff member who takes an extra moment to make sure the next person walks into a space that’s ready.

We see you, every one of you:

  • Personal support workers and nurses build trust through daily care, notice when someone may be unwell and follow the practices that help protect residents and colleagues.
  • Housekeeping teams help maintain clean, welcoming spaces through their careful work across the environment.
  • Dietary teams support safe meal service while helping mealtimes remain comfortable and meaningful.
  • Maintenance staff help keep the building and its equipment in good working order, supporting the spaces where care happens.
  • Recreation teams create connection and engagement while helping activities fit the needs of residents and the setting.
  • Leaders and managers shape the systems, resources and workplace culture that help teams make safe practice part of the day.
  • Families and visitors are valued partners. Their questions, cooperation and care for others can support a safer visit for everyone.

And, of course, IPAC professionals bring essential guidance and expertise, translating evidence into practical steps teams can use. But none of it happens without the whole care community bringing those steps to life, shift after shift, with warmth and good humour.

A caring interaction between a healthcare worker and an older adult, reflecting the human purpose behind infection prevention.

Small Actions, Meaningful Protection

“Powered by You” is a reminder that IPAC is woven into the moments that make up a regular shift. A hand hygiene moment before care. A symptom noticed and shared early. A surface cleaned as part of routine work. A clear, kind reminder when someone needs one.

These actions may seem small on their own. Together, they’re everything. They’re how residents stay well, how colleagues look out for one another, and how families know their loved one is in caring hands.

That’s why IPAC training for staff matters most when it connects evidence with the realities of people’s roles. Practical, relevant education gives teams a chance to understand not just what to do, but how the practice fits into their work. A short refresher or team conversation can help make expectations clearer and give staff space to ask questions.

For long term care infection control, that everyday understanding matters. Care homes are busy, human places, where routines, relationships and changing needs meet. Thoughtful infection prevention and control training can support consistent practice without losing sight of comfort, dignity and connection.

A Week of Thanks, A Year of Practice

Here’s the truth about IPAC work: when it’s going well, it’s invisible. The outbreak that never happened. The resident who stayed well. The room that was ready. No headlines, no fanfare — just quiet, steady care that deserves far more thanks than it usually gets.

So this week, let’s change that. Recognition doesn’t need to be elaborate. Often, a sincere, specific thank-you — “I saw you clean your hands before you even reached Mrs. Smith’s door. Thank you.” — is enough to make someone’s whole day. And people who feel seen keep showing up with heart.

A colleague adds a thank-you note to a staff recognition board while another team member looks on.

Simple Ways to Celebrate Together

Here are a few practical ways to mark National Infection Control Week in your home or organization:

  • Create a recognition board where staff can name a colleague’s helpful action or share a short thank-you.
  • Choose a brief huddle topic for the week, such as a practical reminder, a frequently asked question or a team tip.
  • Write thank-you notes to teams whose work is often behind the scenes, including housekeeping, dietary and maintenance.
  • Make time for a leadership walk-through focused on listening and saying thank you in person.
  • Share small reminders of appreciation in staff areas, handover spaces or team communications.

Keep it manageable. One meaningful moment of connection beats a packed schedule of activities. And make sure recognition reaches the people behind the scenes — housekeeping, dietary, maintenance — who rarely hear how much they matter.

A multidisciplinary care team takes part in a short, friendly huddle in a bright care setting.

Strategy and Heart, Side by Side

Good IPAC practice relies on evidence, clear communication and systems that support people. But what makes it stick is heart. Teams do their best work when they have room to ask questions, to learn, and to raise a concern without feeling like they’re being tested.

That’s the spirit we bring to everything we do. We walk beside care teams — we listen first, we understand the realities of a full shift, and we help make safe practice feel like a shared commitment rather than one more thing on the list.

This week offers a chance to celebrate. It also offers a useful reminder to carry forward: everyone has a part to play, and every contribution deserves respect.

Powered by You, Today and Every Day

The week runs through October 23, but the heart of it carries on all year: in care homes, clinics and community settings across Canada and beyond.

To everyone who takes a moment to clean their hands, notices a change, supports a safe meal, keeps an environment welcoming, updates a policy so it actually works, or offers a kind reminder: thank you. Truly. Your work makes care safer, and more human. And that matters more than you know.

How is your team marking the week? And what does “Powered by You” mean to you?

For more about the week and this year’s theme, visit IPAC Canada’s National Infection Control Week page and Public Health Ontario’s NICW 2026 update.