Kourtney Reich: Respecting What Was, Creating What Will Be

Kourtney Reich has been a driving force in shifting the culture at Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), with a strong focus on inclusivity, compassion, and creating space for every voice to be heard. Through her thoughtful leadership and ongoing dedication, she has helped shape the I Belong series and bring others’ stories to life.

This time, we chose to turn the tables and invite Kourtney to step into the spotlight by asking her the same kinds of questions she often helps others explore.

“The fact that I am willing to open up and share this part of my story is a testament to the culture that is being built at BCHS and my desire to be a part of something greater,” she says.

The Threads that Bind Us

Born in Hefei, China, Kourtney spent the first few months of her life being raised in an orphanage before being adopted by a Canadian family just before her first birthday.

“My parents were always honest about where I came from. They never shied away from telling me the story and I think that made all the difference as I grew older,” she shares. Her arrival just before Thanksgiving weekend made that time of year especially significant for her family. It became a season of reflection and gratitude, forever tied to the story of how they became whole.

One of the pieces of her identity that she will never lose is her name. The name given to her at the orphanage, Ying Min, believed to mean wise and intelligent, was kept by her parents as part of her middle name. By honouring and preserving a link to her early life in China, “it’s a reminder of where I’ve come from, and bridges that part of my identity,” she reflects.

Holding on to Heritage

In 2008, Kourtney and her family returned to China. The journey was not simply a vacation, it was a way to reconnect with the culture and places that shaped the beginning of her life.

They explored cities including Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai. They visited the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. She experienced tea houses, silk factories, and even holding a panda, but one of the most emotional parts of the trip came when her family visited the orphanage in Hefei and the village of Wagang, where she had been found as a baby.

“I was young, but to walk through that space with my parents and sister gave my early journey a sense of place and grounding,” she says. “That trip overall, gave me a connection to something deeper. Not based in biology, but in belonging and the ability to share those moments with the people I love closest,” shares Kourtney.

At home in Canada, her parents found ways to connect their daughters to Chinese culture. She remembers going to Chinese New Year celebrations in Toronto, walking through the neighbourhood with handmade lanterns for the Autumn Moon Festival, and making mooncakes for school.

Although she may not practice those traditions regularly today, they remain important memories and taught her the value of intentionality and inclusion at a young age.

“It just goes to show how impressionable kids can be and why we have a great responsibility to raise them with diversity and inclusion in mind."

Our Stories Shape Us

Today, Kourtney plays a central role in creating inclusive spaces at BCHS. She believes in the power of storytelling; knowing that every voice matters and that each person’s experience can help someone else feel seen. Now, by sharing her own, she continues to create the kind of space where everyone can feel that they belong.

“I think part of the magic of these I Belong features is that the more we tell stories and perspectives, the more people will be encouraged and willing to do the same. There is real value in sharing experiences. Not only for the person who finds the strength to speak, but also in the conversations that come afterward.”

This feature is part of the “I Belong” campaign, where BCHS employees, professional staff, and volunteers are given the opportunity to share their personal stories, strengthening a culture of belonging that empowers each individual and deepens our collective mission to provide exceptional care. Together, we’re creating a more inclusive, connected, and empowered BCHS.