Osler honoured with Diversity in Governance Award — Recognized as a leading example of an inclusive board of governance by DiverseCity onBoard

September 18, 2013 · 0 Comments

William Osler Health System (Osler) has been named a leader in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for embracing diversity in board governance and making it a priority to recruit board members from diverse backgrounds.
Osler was honoured with the 2013 Diversity in Governance Award recently as part of the DiverseCity onBoard initiative.
“When inclusion and equity is represented and demonstrated at the highest level, employees, patients and families are empowered and strive to live these values each and every day,” said Osler Board of Directors Chair Kay Blair. “This is an outstanding achievement for Osler and a testament to our innovation in diversity and inclusion, as well as our commitment to full integration within our organization.”
DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint initiative of Maytree and the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, funded in part by the government of Ontario. Osler was one of four organizations to receive the Diversity in Governance Award this year.
Osler Board member Gervan Fearon attended the awards event hosted by Maytree and accepted the honour on behalf of the organization.
“At Osler, diversity is part of our DNA. It’s embedded in our values and guides our decisions and the actions we take every day,” Fearon said. “Osler’s commitment to patient-inspired care is supported by a culturally-diverse atmosphere that allows Osler staff, patients and volunteers to better understand and appreciate the unique beliefs and values of one another, as well as those of patients and their families.”
Osler’s Diversity in Governance Award is just one of a number of recent achievements honouring the organization’s commitment to equity and inclusiveness. Osler was recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2013 and received a leading practice in Embracing Diverse Practices in Palliative Care as part of its Exemplary Accreditation designation.