Niagara Health celebrates fourth consecutive year as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers

Niagara Health is once again being counted among Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, marking the fourth consecutive year the organization has earned a spot on the national list.

The recognition highlights Niagara Health’s continued commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable and culturally safe environment for patients, staff and physicians – progress that’s visible across the organization, says Lydia Collins, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist.

“It’s exciting to watch the work around diversity, equity and inclusion expand at Niagara Health, and to be part of it,” Collins says. “Niagara Health has spent the last few years laying a lot of groundwork surrounding DEI, equipping team members with education around bias, privilege and power, and cultural humility. It is a privilege to not only facilitate this learning for our team members, but to learn alongside them.”

What the designation means

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers is an annual competition recognizing organizations with leading programs that support a wide range of communities, including women, racialized and Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ employees and others.

The ranking is part of the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project, which evaluates organizations on forward-thinking programs, meaningful policies and measurable progress in creating equitable workplaces.

“Being recognized again as a Best Diversity Employer is meaningful because it reflects the commitment of our teams to diversity, equity and inclusion every day at Niagara Health,” says Fiona Peacefull, Executive Vice-President of Human Resources. “DEI isn’t a standalone project for us. We integrate it into how we hire, how we support our people and how we care for our patients and families. I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made and of the team members who keep pushing the organization forward.”

This year's winners focus on programs that make their organizations demonstrably stronger and more resilient, says Kristina Leung, managing editor of Mediacorp, which organizes the annual list. Making a place at the table for everyone, it turns out, is good for business because it lets employees bring their authentic selves to work, she notes.

“By embracing inclusion, organizations are better equipped to draw on the full depth of Canada’s talent pool,” Leung says. “Consider the challenge of five
generations working side by side: designing benefits that serve everyone — from employees starting families to those navigating eldercare — requires exactly the kind of inclusive thinking these employers have made central to their culture.”

Continued progress on health equity

Building on its DEI Action Plan, Niagara Health is accelerating health equity work through its 2025–2028 Health Equity Plan, which takes a structured, evidence-based approach to reducing disparities in care. The plan prioritizes three populations – older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness and Black communities – and advances co-ordinated care pathways, community partnerships and data-informed decisions.

The Best Diversity Employer recognition reflects years of intentional work to embed equity across the organization, says Zainab Awad, Health Equity Manager and Niagara Health’s first DEI specialist.

“Since launching our DEI action plan in 2021, we have advanced meaningful organizational change, strengthening governance, building internal capacity and moving forward on key initiatives,” Awad says. “Last year, we expanded this work through our Health Equity Plan, further integrating equity into clinical quality improvement and system planning. This recognition affirms that diversity and inclusion are not standalone initiatives, but foundational to delivering safe, high-quality care for the communities we serve.”

A team effort

Niagara Health team members continue to drive the culture shift by contributing to committees, leading grassroots initiatives and participating in learning opportunities.

Here’s what some of them have to say about the Best Diversity Employer recognition:

Nicole Bindoo, Service Transition Specialist, Service Planning and Operational Readiness

“I’ve had the pleasure of being part of the DEI committee for the past three years, witnessing how it continues to evolve, grow, and create a safe, supportive space for all marginalized populations at Niagara Health. It’s clear that this continued commitment to inclusion and meaningful action is a major reason why Niagara Health has been recognized as a Best Diversity Employer for the fourth year in a row. It’s truly something to celebrate, knowing that our collective efforts are helping to build a workplace where everyone feels valued, represented and empowered to thrive.”

Isaiah Beardy, Indigenous Relations Specialist

“The DEI Committee is a great group that doesn’t let anybody or any equity-deserving community fall through the cracks. The DEI committee continuously puts plans into action when it comes to talent searching and onboarding to find the best people for the job. I believe this is how Niagara Health has maintained its title as Best Diversity Employer.”

Jacob Cashin, Clinical Pharmacist

“Serving on our DEI Committee has allowed me to witness firsthand the organization’s continued commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in meaningful ways. Having worked at Niagara Health for almost 10 years, I am proud to see a significant increase in open dialogue and educational opportunities surrounding Indigenous history and culture, as well as greater visibility and recognition of 2SLGBTQ+ persons across the organization. Being part of this committee has shown me how intentional efforts in learning, awareness and collaboration can enhance the experience of staff and physicians in the workplace and contribute to our recognition as a Best Diversity Employer.”

Shyann Jenkins, Indigenous Community Outreach and Engagement

“Being a part of the DEI committee has made feel like I am enhancing the culture at Niagara Health. I can be my full self and celebrate and honour my culture by attending staff events, learning opportunities and celebrations. I am proud to share my voice and be visible for other Indigenous staff members to reach out to."