Celebrate: Honouring Diversity and Belonging at BCHS

Black History Month is a time for both celebration and education - dedicated to recognizing the incredible achievements of the Black community and celebrating its profound impact on society including in our health care system.

As an organization, BCHS will continue to address the challenges faced by the Black community and work towards equity. Our success relies on the diverse perspectives and contributions of our Black colleagues.

How We Celebrated:

• Feb 6: Socacize Dance Class with AIM Studios
• Feb 26: We hosted our first ever Black History Month Cultural Fair. This event included local vendors sharing a variety of black cultures, a live west African drum and dancer performance along with a panel discussion focusing on black health in Canada.
• Jamaican patties and Caribbean-inspired meals were available for purchase in the cafeteria throughout the month.
• Cultural snacks were featured on the Wellness Wagon.
• Our "I Belong" campaign launched by spotlighting 4 features as part of Black History Month recognition.
• We also launched our Black Employee Resource Group (ERG).

2024

In February 2024, we celebrated Black History Month (BHM) for the third time at BCHS. It was a time to honour the significant contributions of the Black community and reflect on the theme, “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; Future to Build.” This theme encouraged us to acknowledge both the rich history and the ongoing journey toward a more inclusive future. Black History Month serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and achievements of the Black community. At BCHS, we are proud of our Black colleagues, whose contributions play a vital role in fostering inclusivity and driving positive change. How We Celebrated: Feb 9: We showcased films featuring Black actors and storylines and offered cultural snacks from the Black diaspora. Feb 16: We supported a local Black-owned business by providing staff with the opportunity to purchase lunch orders. Feb 23: We hosted a celebration event in the Brantford General Hospital (BGH) Cafeteria with a live discussion on the barriers faced by Black employees and patients, as well as systemic issues. The event was followed by coffee, tea, and snacks from a local Black-owned business. We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate and learn together, and we look forward to continuing this important tradition in the years ahead.

In March, we celebrated Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting and spiritual reflection for Muslims around the world. Throughout Ramadan, Muslims fasted from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food, water, and indulgences. The fast is traditionally broken with iftar at sunset, often beginning with dates and water. At BCHS, we were proud to support our colleagues and patients during this important time.

How We Celebrated and Supported the Community:

• We updated our Ramadan guide and resources to assist patients and colleagues observing the fast.
• We created a temporary prayer space.
• On March 18th, nearly 100 attendees gathered at Brantford General Hospital for our 2nd annual Iftar Dinner — a special meal observed by Muslims at sundown to break their daily fast during Ramadan. Hosted by the Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation, the evening featured meaningful remarks from leaders across the Brant Community Healthcare System, the BCHS Foundation, and local dignitaries.
• Cultural snacks were featured on the Wellness Wagon.
• We featured 2 BCHS employees and 1 Patient and Family Advisor as part of our "I Belong" campaign.

2024

How We Celebrated and Supported the Community: Guidance for Patients and Colleagues: We provided resources and a helpful guide to assist patients and colleagues observing the fast, ensuring that their needs were met with respect and understanding during this period. Inaugural Iftar Dinner: On March 20, 2024, we hosted our first-ever Iftar Dinner at BCHS, a special event organized by the BCHS Foundation. The dinner brought together our Muslim colleagues, community members, and allies to share the experience of breaking the fast in unity. The evening included a meal, heartfelt conversations, and a chance to connect with one another.

For the second year in a row, BCHS celebrated Pride Month, honouring the journey for equal rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, which includes Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Pride Month is a time to reflect on the progress made while recognizing the challenges the 2SLGBTQIA+ community still faces. The 64% increase in hate crimes reported in 2021 and the mental health impacts of discrimination highlight the ongoing need for support and advocacy.

At BCHS, we are committed to human dignity and inclusivity, striving to be a place where everyone is welcomed, celebrated, and supported. This year, we launched two pronoun identification initiatives to foster a more respectful and inclusive environment. Additionally, staff participated in a special day by wearing PRIDE shirts to show our support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

We also celebrated Pride Night on June 12, 2024, at the Rope Factory. This free event was presented in partnership with Big Cityyy Arts.

This National Day of Recognition is an opportunity to join Indigenous peoples in reflection and celebration and for us to all deepen our understanding and awareness of the adversities Indigenous communities face and have overcome.

We continue the work of building relationships with Indigenous communities, developing strong partnerships and a culturally safe environment. Recognizing that we have more work to do, we remain committed to further strengthening these relationships and deepening our engagement with Indigenous communities.

On Thursday, June 27, 2024, we hosted an Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration in the BGH Cafeteria, featuring a vendor fair, performers, and speakers.

Learn more about our efforts to enhance Indigenous health and well-being.

In May 2024, we came together to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month through a variety of exciting activities that honoured these vibrant cultures!

Here’s how we celebrated:

• Food unites us! Our South Asian and Asian staff shared cherished recipes, bringing us together in joy and flavour. We were excited to offer downloadable recipes through our weekly thePulse staff newsletter, allowing everyone to try a taste of these rich cultural traditions.
• Bollywood Dance Lesson: On May 30th, from 12-1pm, we hosted a lively Bollywood Dance lesson with AIM Dance Studio, where staff had fun learning new moves and celebrating the beauty of Bollywood dance.
• Wellness Wagon: On May 27th, our Wellness Wagon featured South Asian and Asian snacks for everyone to enjoy, giving us all a chance to indulge in some delicious treats.

In October 2024, we were thrilled to celebrate Diwali at BCHS, a festival symbolizing new beginnings, the victory of good over evil, and light over darkness. It was a wonderful opportunity to embrace our community's diversity and share these meaningful traditions.

Here’s how we celebrated:

• Wellness Wagon: On October 29th, we offered a selection of South Asian snacks for everyone to enjoy.
• Diwali Celebration: On October 30th, we hosted our first-ever Diwali Celebration in the BGH Cafeteria, featuring traditional dance performances and delicious Indian snacks provided by Rangoli Restaurant. We also lit diyas to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.
• Diwali Gala: The BCHS Foundation hosted the inaugural Diwali Gala, celebrating the festival and supporting a great cause.

At BCHS, we embrace the diversity of the holiday season (Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, among others) recognizing and honouring the various traditions and celebrations that take place in December. We create a welcoming atmosphere for all by decorating our spaces, hosting staff holiday meals, and organizing our 5 Days of Giving initiative. Additionally, we partner with our local Christmas Angels Program to bring joy and support to those in need. Through these activities, we celebrate the spirit of togetherness, generosity, and inclusivity that defines the holiday season for our entire community.

As part of our annual BCHS Recognition and Awards night, we launched our first ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI-B) award. The BCHS Awards are focused on the mission, vision and values of BCHS, and recognize those who live out our core values of compassion, accountability, respect, and equity, while demonstrating a commitment to working together to build a healthier community.

In 2024, Lebené Numekevor, Director, Medical Affairs, was the first recipient of BCHS’s DEI-B award for her ongoing work on inclusion, advocacy for innovation, excellence, mentorship, and diversity in health care leadership.

This award will continue to be awarded to individuals who exemplify exceptional efforts of creating inclusion both within and beyond the walls of BCHS.

We commissioned a mural to reflect the diversity and unity of our community. Created by First Nations artist Alicia-lynn Morin, the mural celebrates the universal language of food and its power to bring people together. Here is the text for the mural:

Food is the universal language that binds us together. It nourishes our bodies, sustains our spirits, and unites us across all borders. No matter where we come from or what language we speak, the act of sharing a meal has the power to bring us closer, fostering community, understanding, and a deep sense of belonging. As we gather around the table, we celebrate not only the abundance on our plates but the richness of our shared humanity. Through the simple joy of food, we honour the diversity that makes us who we are—woven together in shared understanding. 

This mural captures the beauty of the foods cherished by people from all walks of life. The message is simple yet profound: "Enjoy Your Food." This phrase is translated into the languages that reflect the vibrant tapestry of our community: 

Arabic | Chinese | Dutch | English | French | Gayogoho:no | German | Hindi | Hungarian | Italian | Kanienʼkéha | Polish | Portuguese | Punjabi | Spanish | Tagalog | Urdu | Vietnamese

Date: December 2024

First Nations artist Alicia-lynn Morin