Niagara Health is proud to celebrate National Pride Month and demonstrate our commitment to a kind, accepting and inclusive culture.
We are using this year’s Pride Month to learn more about issues and experiences of the 2SLGBTQQIA community, which stands for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual."We work to ensure that all staff, physicians and community members are valued and feel a sense of belonging when they come to our sites," said Niagara Health President Lynn Guerriero. "Our CORE value of Compassion in Action states that we treat each other well. Celebrating the identity and contributions of the 2SLGBTQQIA community is one way we foster an organizational culture that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve."
There are Pride displays across all our sites in June, which include Pride Niagara Health decals for patients, visitors, staff and physicians. These decals, based on the iconic rainbow flag, symbolize our support for the Pride community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all displays are designed to incorporate the appropriate infection prevention and control protocols, including physical distancing and hand hygiene. By publicly displaying our support with Pride displays, digital signage, stickers, and resources at all our sites, we are living our CORE value of Compassion in action.
Pride at Niagara Health
Along with our Pride displays and visual representation of support, we work to learn about issues, raise awareness of challenges and successes, and to educate people about how to better support the 2SLGBTQQIA community. Our Workplace Relations team will be sharing helpful resources, such as How to be an Ally.We have an Inclusivity and Diversity Committee, Co-Chaired by Robert Cosby – Clinical Manager in the Outpatient Mental Health and Addictions Program and Manager of the COVID-19 Assessment Clinic at our St. Catharines Site. The Inclusivity and Diversity Committee helps to educate staff and physicians and establish best practices to ensure Niagara Health is a supportive, safe and welcoming place for all.
“It’s been great to see the support of our Inclusivity and Diversity Committee across all departments, from Senior Level Administration to our staff and physicians,” said Robert. “It takes a collaborative effort to support a respectful and inclusive culture, which is demonstrated by the ongoing commitment of the Niagara Health team to provide extraordinary care to every patient.”
A Safe Space for Everyone at Niagara Health
“We’ve done a lot of great work to educate staff and promote acceptance and inclusion, but we recognize there is always more we can do to provide a fully supportive environment for the Pride community,” Robert said. “Our How to be an Ally resource reminds us to learn, reflect and practice understanding and compassion to uphold a culture where everyone feels welcomed, comfortable and cared for at Niagara Health and in the community.”Be kind – it helps to support a safe space for everyone.
