Diversity & Inclusion

The Diversity and Inclusion team at Covenant Health continues to expand its recognition of diversity in patients, residents, families, staff, physicians and volunteers to make the organization more inclusive. Three advisory bodies and one council move this important work forward: the Diversity and Inclusion Council, Indigenous advisory body, LBGTQ2S+ advisory body and Black advisory body.

Covenant Health celebrated National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Opportunities to learn about Indigenous history and culture were provided, calls to action were shared with leadership and Indigenous meals were prepared. Covenant engaged with the Moosehide campaign to support missing and murdered Indigenous women and children.

The LBGTQ2S+ advisory body facilitated seminars to educate staff and physicians, supported PRIDE events including PRIDE month, created and shared pronoun stickers and PRIDE buttons for all sites, advice, shared information and perspectives on matters affecting LGBTQ2S+ people and reviewed patient and resident facing materials for programing. This group is working on a model of care in Covenant Health’s long-term care facilities for LGBTQ2S+ residents.

The Black advisory body embarked on initiatives aimed at promoting social justice within Covenant Health, including meeting regularly to explore new avenues for organizational growth and increasing awareness about the advisory body. It also reached out to several NGOs asking them to provide mental health resources for Black employees to help create a mental health safety net. Black History Month was also celebrated through cultural meals, and a story series featuring five Covenant family employees.