EDI Newsletter: March 2025
 
 

Welcome to the 12th edition of the Ontario CLRI’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) newsletter! These quarterly newsletters feature updates, news and highlight educational resources to support your EDI journey. If you missed any of our previous editions, you can check them out here.

Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  
Join us online!

Follow and tag us using #EDIinLTC
 

Over 300 learners from 64 LTC Homes reached through EDI Workshops!


Thank you to everyone who participated in the equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging workshops that we have been hosting! We appreciate your engagement, your questions and your curiosity. 


Our Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action workshops reached a total of 164 learners, from 38 LTC homes from across Ontario! This half-day, virtual workshop provides an introduction to key EDI-related concepts, a deep dive into case studies and opportunities to engage with other learners how to bring these ideas into practice in LTC homes. Here’s what some of our learners are saying:

We look forward to delivering the next round of this training program in 2025-26 - please stay tuned for news about when registration will be opened!


We are also pleased to share that through our partnership with Rainbow Health Ontario, we were able to support 154 learners from 38 LTC homes in participating in our 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Care in LTC Training Program in February and March. These learners participated in a unique blended-delivery which included a mix of live virtual group learning and self-directed eLearning. Here is some feedback we’ve received from learners:

Interestingly, although the number of LTC homes (38) reached by both of these training programs is the same, there were only 12 LTC homes that participated in both programs, meaning that between the two programs, we reached a total of 64 LTC homes in Ontario! 


We are grateful to these LTC homes for their commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and we were pleased to hear the numerous wonderful steps that homes are taking - such as starting EDI Committees, engaging with local communities to host learning events for their teams, modifying policies, hosting special events like drag bingo and guest speakers in honour of Black History Month, incorporating inclusive language on assessment forms, implementation of RNAO’s 2SLGBTQ+ Health Equity Best Practice Guideline, hosting Human Library programs, and more. Some tremendous work is happening to support everyone who lives at, works in or visits these LTC homes to feel a sense of belonging, inclusion and affirmation. Thank you for this important work.



Another Opportunity to Participate in Training!

Did you miss out on the 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Care Training program described above? We are pleased to share that we do have some additional spaces available in the eLearning stream for our 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Care in LTC Training Program! We are providing FREE TUITION to participate in two of Rainbow Health Ontario's eLearning Courses: 2SLGBTQ+ Foundations and 2SLGBTQ+ Older Adults and Inclusive Care! These eLearning courses may be completed on learners' own time/schedule. Please note, there is NO wage support available for this particular offering. We are offering up to a maximum of 20 learners per LTCH.


To apply for spaces for your LTC home, please complete this Form. This offering is available on a first come, first served basis, so sign-up soon if you're interested!
 
 

Resources to Explore

New Resource

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Halton Healthcare: Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain (IHTR): Disability-Inclusive Employment Resource for Health Care Organizations

  • Are you interested in fostering and supporting a more inclusive workforce in your long-term care home? Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Halton Healthcare, alongside 10 other Ontario organizations, have partnered on “Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain” (IHTR), a free training-in-a-box online resource that helps health care organizations develop disability-inclusive employment practices. 


Podcasts

AMS Healthcare: Indigenous Medicine Stories: Anishinaabe mshkiki nwii-dbaaddaan

  • Episode 22 (Part 1): N’doo-owe Binesi: Voices of Anishinaabe Healing with Paul Francis Jr. This episode features an exploration of how N’doo’owe Binesi (Healing Thunderbird) at St. Joseph’s Care Group is bringing Anishinaabe healing practices into mainstream care. By weaving traditional knowledge into healthcare, Paul’s work is creating culturally safe, holistic spaces for healing. Learn about how Indigenous healing, ceremony, and cultural spaces can transform the way healthcare serves Indigenous communities.


Rainbow Health Ontario: 2SLGBTQ Health in Focus


Recorded Webinars

Healthcare Excellence Canada: Black Health and Addressing Anti-Black Racism (February 11, 2025)

  • In this webinar, we’ll discuss the historical and ongoing presence of anti-Black racism in medicine and healthcare, including its impact on patient safety and equity for Black people and communities. Participants will explore actionable strategies that healthcare leaders, organizations, and the broader system can implement to create safer, more equitable healthcare environments. Topics explored in this session will include successful initiatives that have effectively addressed anti-Black racism and practical steps to apply these lessons within health and care settings. Join us in this important conversation to ensure that all patients receive care that is safe, respectful and equitable.


McMaster Collaborative for Health and Aging: Collaborating for Change: A Co Design Approach to Resident Engagement in Long-Term Care Homes (January 27, 2025)

  • This session highlights the resident-oriented process and key learnings from a three-part project that identifies and promotes ways for residents to be engaged in the organizational design and governance of their homes. The project brings together the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils (OARC), people living and working in LTC homes, and researchers to synthesize knowledge through a scoping review of existing research literature, explore community capacity for engagement (from the perspectives of people who live and work in LTC homes) and co-design a toolkit/resource to enable meaningful resident engagement in LTC home organizational design and governance.


Reports

Alliance for Healthier Communities: Implementing Health Equity for Change: A Guide for Policy Makers and Health System Leaders in Ontario (June 27, 2022)

  • To support policy makers and health system leaders in Ontario in their understanding of health equity and to drive change and action; the Alliance for Healthier Communities has developed a white paper "Implementing Health Equity for Change" in order to act as a guide. It focuses on 5 key actions to implement in order to set about achieving the health equity:
  1. Strengthen Primary Health Care
  2. Mandate the Collection of Socio-demographic Data Across the Health System
  3. Embed Health Equity into definitions and MEtrics of Success and Quality Improvement
  4. Enhance Social Supports and Mental Health and Addictions Supports
  5. Confront Historical and Systemic Barriers


Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and World Education Services: Bolstering Pathways to Practice: Empowering Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) in Canada (February 19, 2025)

  • This recently launched report outlines key recommendations to break down barriers for IENs living in Canada to practice nursing and excel within the profession. Despite the sacrifices IENs make to relocate their lives and families to Canada, only 42% of those who are employed are working as nurses. The report includes detailed recommendations, including a standardised route to licensure for IENs across Canada, wrap-around supports for IENs and effective workplace integration for IENs. This report was authored by Dr. Makini McGuire-Brown in partnership with the CFNU and World Education Services (WES).
 
 
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
 
 
 
 
Logo with text "Ontario CLRI Centres for Learning, Research & Innovation in Long-Term Care"
 
RIA logo with text "Research Institute for Aging: Schlegel, UWaterloo, Conestoga"

The Ontario CLRI is funded by the Government of Ontario and hosted at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Bruyère Health Research Institute, and the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. The collective expertise, resources, and partnerships of the host organizations help advance the Program’s provincially mandated goals.
Send us an email
Received this email as a forward? Subscribe to the Ontario CLRI EDI newsletter to receive your own quarterly edition!
Subscribe to EDI newsletter
Digital Diversity Calendar
 

Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care | 879 Hiawatha Park Rd. | Orléans, ON K1C 2Z6 CA

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

Constant Contact