At Heart & Stroke, we believe in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI); it’s embedded in who we are and the work we do to support all people in Canada to lead healthier lives. We are doing this by translating our beliefs into action and meaningful impact.
We know that a person’s health is impacted by social determinants, such as access to health care and systemic racism. And we are making progress in our work to beat health inequity for people in Canada at risk or living with a heart and/or brain condition by:
- supporting Indigenous organizations and communities in their efforts to achieve health equity and Indigenous sovereignty.
- advancing women-focused research and public education on women’s health inequities and specific risk factors
- improving sex and gender specific knowledge generation in Heart & Stroke funded research
- increasing Indigenous and Black representation in the heart and brain science research community
- forging new partnerships with groups from equity-deserving communities to inform our efforts
- advocating for health policies and system change that will benefit the most vulnerable
Driving change requires strategic thinking and dedicated resourcing: two things we’ve committed to do internally by embedding EDI into the organization’s operational plans and ensuring resources are allocated to delivering against plans. This plan will not only ensure the sustainability of our current work, but also the continued commitment to EDI at all levels of the organization.
Internally, we continuously strive to foster a culture of caring and belonging that keeps equity, diversity and inclusion at its core through programs, policies, practices and communications. Our people are our greatest resource. With ongoing learning already in place, we’re working hard to create an environment where EDI is essential. To us, it’s about taking a fresh look at our behaviours and how we communicate so that everyone feels welcome, supported and safe to contribute their unique talents to driving our mission forward.
But there is much more to be done.
We know we need to learn and grow as individuals and as an organization. We also realize that we’re not always going to get it right and that change takes time, collaboration, hard work and patience.
That’s why as best practices in EDI continue to evolve, so will we.
It’s up to us to take bold action to drive sustainable progress within Heart & Stroke and advance health equity in the communities we serve across Canada.
