The month of February provides the opportunity to recognize the diversity and accomplishments of Black people in Canada. It is also a time to reflect on Canada's painful history and the distinct challenges that Black healthcare workers in Canada continue to face in their daily lives, such as systemic barriers, racism and discrimination.
Historical Systemic Oppression
Historical oppressions against Black health care workers have included Black women being denied the opportunity to join the Red Cross to support Canada's war efforts during World War I. This ban motivated female health care workers to form the Black Cross Nurses (modelled on the Red Cross) to aid wounded soldiers and work in the Black community.
Black Nurses were also denied admission to Canadian nursing programs. Toronto born Bernice Redmond became the first Black nurse to practice in public health. However, Redmond had to obtain her nursing diploma in the US, as Canada did not allow Black people to attend nursing schools. In the late 1940s, Black Canadian nurses were finally allowed to enrol in training programs, and by the 1950s we began to see Black nurses being employed in Canadian hospitals.
Beyond these barriers, Black healthcare workers faced limited career progression and unequal pay even after entering hospitals work settings. Many were restricted to lower-ranking positions or assigned to less desirable shifts, limiting their professional growth.
Furthermore, Black patients were often subjected to segregated care in some Canadian hospitals, receiving treatment in separate wards or being denied admission altogether. This systemic exclusion contributed to disparities in health outcomes and fueled the need for community-led healthcare initiatives.
Current Experiences of Black Healthcare Workers
The underrepresentation of Black healthcare professionals in leadership roles continues to be a challenge and a continual reminder of the effects of systemic racism. Today, efforts to promote equitable hiring, career advancement, and culturally safe care remain critical in addressing the long-standing impacts of these historical barriers.
While some progress has been made, Black healthcare workers continue to face racism and discrimination within our healthcare system. The video below is from the United States, yet it is also reflective of the experiences of many Black Canadians.
Black health care professionals experience racism.
In an effort to understand the current experiences of Black healthcare workers, SFU, Faculty of Health Sciences alongside Canadian Institute of Health Research is seeking participants for their study. To learn more, visit: Work conditions as a social determinant of health affecting Black workers in BC healthcare sector - PIPPS - Simon Fraser University.
Upcoming Events
The Accelerate Action Healthcare Leadership Summit is a one-night event dedicated to advancing gender equity and cultural safety in healthcare.
With 75% of Canada's paid care workers being women—many from racialized and underserved communities—this summit tackles systemic barriers to career advancement, representation, and equity.
SNIWWOC Healthcare Leadership Summit
Additionally, on February 6th Healthcare Excellence Canada is hosting a webinar to discuss the historical and ongoing presence of anti-black racism in healthcare. There will be discussion on actionable strategies to create more equitable healthcare environments.
Black Health and Addressing Anti-Black Racism
Join Island Health's Indigenous, Black People of Colour (IBPOC) Employee Resource Group
The IBPOC Employee Group is a network of Island Health employees who identify as belonging to racialized communities. The group comes together to connect, share experiences and inform/influence organizational priorities. By coming together, we hope to celebrate diverse perspectives, share resources, foster open and ongoing dialogues and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. Virtual meetings take place every 6 weeks. If you are interested in joining, please email dei@islandhealth.ca and we'll ensure you're invited to the next meeting on February 13th.
As we celebrate and reflect during Black History month, many feelings may arise regarding both past and current racial experiences. Thus, mental health and wellness supports might be needed during this time as well. Please reach out to certified counsellors through the Employee and Family Assistance Program at 1-844-935-4758. When you call the number, you can specifically request to work with a counsellor who identifies as Black if that is your preference.
Sources referenced:
https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-022-01673-w