EDI Newsletter - December 2025

Welcome to the 16th 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.

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EDI in LTC Advisory Committee visits Hogarth Riverview Manor

In September, the Ontario CLRI’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in LTC Advisory Committee took a transformative trip to Animikii Wiikwedoong (Thunder Bay) for their annual in-person meeting, hosted by St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG). This visit was part of our ongoing commitment to build and strengthen relationships with Indigenous partners, and within the North West Region. The group was invited by Committee member Paul Francis, Jr, the Vice President of N’doo’owe Binesi, SJCG’s Indigenous Health Division, and included the opportunity to participate in the ceremonies in the week leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including the deeply moving Sunrise Ceremony, the 4-day Sacred Fire, teaching lodge, sharing circles and sweat lodge.

Additional highlights included a tour of Hogarth Riverview Manor (HRM), which demonstrated how culturally responsive practices, like a dedicated Indigenous Health Team, and a smudging policy that provides flexibility in spaces where this important ceremony can be performed throughout the LTC home (including resident rooms), are embedded into daily operations. The EDI Advisory Committee members also participated in the half-day Repairing the Sacred Circle: An Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Education Primer, a powerful education session developed and delivered by an Indigenous Elder and N’doo’owe Binesi team members. The group also had the distinct pleasure of getting to participate in a book talk with Ma-Nee Chacaby, author of A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Elder. Our sincere gratitude to Committee member Tanya Neumeyer from Rainbow Health Ontario for facilitating that connection and the book talk!

The visit offered space for reflection, shared learning, unlearning, and a deeper understanding of what collaboration, reconciliation, and equity look like in practice. It has deepened our commitment and dedication to ensure our EDI Program leads to lasting, systemic changes that truly support all individuals in our communities.

Miigwech Paul and the N’doo’owe Binesi team for your warm hospitality!

Stay tuned for more detailed reflections coming in a blog post soon.

Launch of our 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Calendar!

Our 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Calendar is now available. The holiday season is a moment to pause, reflect, and recognize the many cultures, faiths, and traditions that shape our long-term care communities.

Explore the printable version or visit the digital calendar to access links and learning resources for key dates throughout the year. You are invited to discover days of significance you may be less familiar with and deepen your understanding of the communities we serve and work alongside.

The printable French version is also available. The first six months are available now, with the remaining months to follow soon.

2026 Diversity and Inclusion Calendar

Creating a Culture of Belonging workshops are filling up fast, secure your spot!

The Creating a Culture of Belonging workshops are filling up fast! Don't miss out, secure your spot today!

Our Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action workshop is a 4-hour virtual workshops that explore key strategies for advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) in the LTC context. With sessions running from July 2025 to March 2026, these workshops offer LTC team members and leaders the tools and knowledge needed to foster more inclusive and affirming environments for residents, care partners/caregivers, and fellow team members.

Thanks to the PSW Education Fund, backfill pay is available for any team member, working in an Ontario-based LTC home. Learn more about the fund and program training by visiting the website.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Enroll my LTC home in Creating a Culture of Belonging workshop

Embracing Diversity Toolkit Revamp:

Thanks to everyone who participated in focus groups, interviews, and survey!

Your input is invaluable for the Embracing Diversity toolkit update. We are currently analyzing all the feedback you provided and will share more updates soon.

Inclusive Holiday Celebrations in Long-Term Care:

The holiday season is honoured in many different ways across long-term care. Residents and families bring diverse traditions, memories, and cultural practices that shape how they honour this time of year. While Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are highlighted here, many other celebrations take place during this season, each carrying its own meaning for the people who observe them. Creating space for these traditions in resident-centred ways supports comfort, belonging, and connection. The tips and insights below offer gentle reminders to approach each celebration with curiosity, cultural humility, and an awareness of individual preferences.

Hanukkah

(Evening of December 14 - 22)

Tips for supporting residents:

• Ask whether a resident observes Hanukkah and what traditions matter most to them.

• Be mindful of dietary needs, find out if residents enjoy traditional foods like latkes or sufganiyot.

• Use electric menorahs or battery-operated tea lights instead of candles to support safe celebration.

Did you know?

• Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew and lasts eight nights.

• The Hanukkiah has nine branches, including the shamash, which lights the other candles.

• It is customary to place the Hanukkiah in a window so the light can be shared with others.

Christmas

(December 25)

Tips for supporting residents:

• Ask residents if and how they observe Christmas, since traditions vary across cultures, families, and faith backgrounds.

• Support sensory needs by offering quiet spaces during busy holiday activities.

• Consider dietary needs for festive meals and offer culturally familiar options.

Did you know?

• Many well-known Christmas traditions, including decorating trees and exchanging gifts, trace back to ancient winter solstice practices, when various cultures celebrated with feasting and rituals to welcome the return of longer days and sunlight.

• The word Christmas comes from the Old English Cristes Maesse, meaning “Mass of Christ.”

• Santa’s modern red-suit image became popular in the 1930s through Coca-Cola advertisements.

Kwanzaa

(December 26 - January 1)

Tips for supporting residents:

• Ask residents what parts of Kwanzaa they connect with, such as music, storytelling, or the daily principles.

• Create opportunities for cultural expression through art, reflection, or shared meals.

• Honour the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa: unity, purpose, and creativity in ways that align with individual preferences.

Did you know?

• Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration honouring African heritage, family, and community.

• The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits.”

• The greeting “Habari Gani?” is a Swahili term meaning “What’s the news?”, inviting people to share the principle of the day.

Resources to Learn More

Frameworks:

Healthcare Excellence Canada: Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Health Equity Framework

The HEC Health Equity Framework is an action-focused resource grounded in an understanding of systemic inequities in healthcare. It identifies eight priority areas to guide organizations in their equity journey, including building inclusive workplaces, using equity-informed data, strengthening staff capacity, improving accountability, partnering with communities, enhancing service delivery, supporting policy change, and creating space for communities to lead. Together, these actions offer a practical pathway toward more equitable and responsive healthcare systems.

Webinar Recordings / Videos:

BrainXchange: Strengthening Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in BSO

Recorded on September 17, 2025

Presented by: Dr. Ashley Flanagan, Michelle Fleming, and Courtney Stasiuk-Mohr

This webinar explored ways to strengthen and build the capacity of Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) teams in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to foster welcoming and affirming environments across care settings. Session explores tools, resources, and educational offerings that support inclusive practices. It also highlights practical strategies that teams can use to create or enhance a culture of belonging for residents, care partners, and team members. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your EDI efforts, this session offers actionable insights to support your journey.

Alzheimer Society Ontario: Dementia in the Afro-Caribbean Community (3-part series) - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Premiered September 27, 2025

This powerful series amplifies the voices of Afro-Caribbean families, caregivers, and health professionals as they share experiences of dementia, care, and resilience. It invites reflection on culture, stigma, and access to support, while advancing understanding of how dementia affects this community. An important watch for anyone committed to equitable and culturally responsive care.

Perley Health Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care: The changing characteristics of Chinese-speaking LTC residents in Ontario from 2018 to 2023 Webinar Recording

Recorded on October 28, 2025

Presented by: Dr. Amy Hsu and Dr. Mabel Ho

Chinese-speaking residents represent the largest visible minority group in Canadian LTC homes, but their experiences remain significantly understudied. In this presentation, we will share findings from a study that analyzed population-level health administrative data to examine changes in the sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, and health care use of Chinese-speaking and non-Chinese-speaking residents in publicly funded LTC homes in Ontario between 2018 and 2023. We will also explore the potential implications related to care provision in LTC homes, provision of linguistically appropriate care, staff training, and future research directions.

Reports:

Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network (CADeN): Decolonizing and Indigenizing Medication Appropriateness in Canada: Recommendations for a Network Action Plan

This March 2024 action plan outlines CADeN’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through culturally safe, holistic medication use and research that centres Indigenous ways of knowing. It proposes a five-year strategy to build respectful relationships, promote culturally responsive prescribing practices, and support health equity for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.

Kensington Health: Kensington Health Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy - 2025/26-2028/29

This strategy reflects a clear commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive organization. It focuses on strengthening culture, improving care experiences, and embedding equity into everyday practices from hiring to service delivery. A meaningful read for anyone interested in how Kensington Health is turning values into action.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

December 17, 2025: BrainXchange: Transforming Care Through Meaningful Engagement: Evidence-Based Activities to Support Older Adults in All Care Settings Webinar - 12-1 PM EST Cost: Free

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.

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