Posted on: June 3, 2024
Looking for more information about your local celebrations? Check out this list of 2024 Vancouver Island Pride Events.
June marks Pride Month across Canada – a time to recognize and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and honor queer history.
You have been heard. You have asked us to do more – to do better – as an organization. With intention and gratitude, we have reflected on your feedback. Island Health is committed to addressing the systemic challenges and prejudices that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experience in health care, and to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, and respect.
In the journey to do so, Island Health has made several significant changes within our organization:
-
New language was introduced within the 2022-2025 collective agreements, to promote cultural safety, gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This language includes general transition support, gender-affirming medical leave, gender-neutral bathrooms and an updated personal name change process for employees who use a first name different from their legal first name.
-
We are excitedly anticipating the launch of the Employee Identity Project, which will allow Island Health staff and medical staff to update their personal profile to ensure we are using their correct name and identity within our systems.
-
In November of 2023, we launched our first-ever 2SLGBTQIA+ Liaison Nurse Pilot Project, that seeks to reduce barriers for 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, clients and families and help facilitate their access to important health services.
-
In November of 2023, we established the Island Health 2SLGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group – a support network that meets monthly and offers Island Health staff the chance to participate in influencing organizational culture change and priority setting – now with over 70 members. Membership continues to be open and folks who are interested in joining can reach out to DEI@islandhealth.ca.
This Pride season, we celebrate the achievements made thus far and remind ourselves that the work is far from over. Throughout June, the IHDEI portfolio will be making site visits across the island with information and resources on diversity education and training. Look for us at the Pride Parade in Victoria, on July 7, where Island Health and the Midwives Association of BC will be walking together. Island Health will also have Nurses working at the Pride Festival in the Park medical tent, offering vaccines and harm reduction supplies to the public.
Keep an eye on the Employee Intranet this month, as we share exciting Pride news, updates, photos, celebrations, and ways to get involved across the organization.
Happy Pride!
Do you have Pride photos, event information or celebrations that you would like to share? Please email TheWeekly@islandhealth.ca