An update on our Truth and Reconciliation efforts

For the past year, Unity Health Toronto has continued to lay a strong foundation for our growing Indigenous Health Program and Service, which guides our efforts to improve the care we provide to Indigenous patients and residents.

This progress builds on the listening sessions we held with Indigenous community members who gave feedback on the care they received at our hospitals, and provided recommendations that we are now working to implement to improve healthcare and health outcomes for Indigenous patients and residents.

Today, on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honor the generations of Indigenous survivors, families and communities impacted by Canada’s residential schools, and remember the thousands of children who never returned home. We also recognize that this systemic racism and discrimination continues to impact Indigenous communities, as evident in the slow progress being made on Indigenous health outcomes and overall wellbeing. As health care providers, our role is to continue to work in partnership with the Indigenous communities we serve to remove barriers and provide safe and culturally-appropriate care.  

Here is an update on our efforts to advance Indigenous health and reconciliation this year and our commitments for the year ahead.

What we accomplished in fiscal year 2024-25

  • Secured major donor funding to expand the Indigenous Wellness Team and support the Indigenous Health Program and Service.
  • Completed significant work on the Indigenous Wellness Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, a 650-square-foot space where the Indigenous Wellness Team will provide services and supports to Indigenous patients. The space will also be used to host education, training and ceremonial events.
  • Collaborated with the EPIC team to address how data is collected, stored and shared as it relates to Indigenous patients.
  • Worked with the ARESA office to co-lead the creation of a draft data governance framework which values and respects the realities of Indigenous people, families and communities and aligns with their visions of self-determination.
  • Collaborated with Human Resources to refine methods to recruit and hire Indigenous staff.
  • Continued to build supportive relationships with the Indigenous Cancer Program and the Oncology, Engineering and Security teams at Unity Health Toronto and encouraged team leaders to complete an Indigenous cultural safety course.
  • Made several Ontario Health modules on Indigenous health accessible on Unity Health’s online learning platform so that all physicians and staff can easily take the courses.
  • Held a Dance for Healing at all three hospital sites. The ceremonies, featuring Indigenous dancers wearing traditional Jingle Dresses, provided an opportunity to share Indigenous culture with the wider Unity Health community and promote prayer and healing.

Where we came up short

  • Due to construction and material delays, the Indigenous Wellness Space at St. Michael’s did not open in the fiscal year 2024-2025. After a short delay, we hosted an open house on Sept. 5 to welcome staff and community members and the space is now open. 
  • Although several Indigenous people were hired to critical roles on our Indigenous Wellness Team, we did not hire 10 new staff members in varied positions across the network.

Concrete actions that Unity Health is taking in 2025-2026

  • Continue to work with the Executive Committee to develop a roadmap on implementing changes recommended by Indigenous patients, residents and community members on how to improve care.
  • Complete significant work on the Indigenous Wellness Centre at Providence Healthcare and an accompanying outdoor ceremonial space.
  • Work with Education to develop a series of sessions for Indigenous patients, caregivers and hospital staff to learn more about critical issues in Indigenous health.
  • Develop new partnerships with Indigenous community groups and organizations to create employment pathways for Indigenous students interested in healthcare careers at Unity Health Toronto.

As you continue on your personal reconciliation journey, we encourage everyone to explore community events and resources to learn more. Staff and physicians can visit UnityNet for a list of local events.

We’d like to thank the First Nations, Inuit and Metis organizations, and community members who continue to lead and collaborate with us on this important work.

Sincerely,

Roberta Pike
Director, Indigenous Wellness, Reconciliation and Partnerships
Unity Health Toronto

Altaf Stationwala
President and CEO
Unity Health Toronto

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