Niagara Health Recognized as a Best Diversity Employer for Fourth Consecutive Year
Niagara Health has been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the fourth year in a row, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for patients, staff, and physicians. The recognition highlights the hospital system’s dedication to creating a culturally safe space and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Laying the Groundwork for DEI
“It’s exciting to watch the work around diversity, equity and inclusion expand at Niagara Health, and to be part of it,” says Lydia Collins, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist at Niagara Health. Collins notes that Niagara Health has been actively building a foundation for DEI, providing education to team members on topics such as bias, privilege, power, and cultural humility. She emphasizes the value of both facilitating this learning and participating in it alongside colleagues.
What Canada’s Best Diversity Employers Designation Means
Canada’s Best Diversity Employers is an annual competition that recognizes organizations with leading programs supporting diverse communities, including women, racialized and Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ employees. The ranking, part of the broader Canada’s Top 100 Employers project, evaluates organizations based on forward-thinking programs, meaningful policies, and measurable progress in creating equitable workplaces.
A System-Wide Commitment
Fiona Peacefull, Executive Vice-President of Human Resources at Niagara Health, emphasizes that DEI is not a separate project but is integrated into all aspects of the organization. “DEI isn’t a standalone project for us,” she stated. “We integrate it into how we hire, how we support our people and how we care for our patients and families.”
Focus on Health Equity
Niagara Health is accelerating its health equity work through its 2025–2028 Health Equity Plan, which utilizes a structured, evidence-based approach to reduce disparities in care. The plan prioritizes older adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, and Black communities, focusing on coordinated care pathways, community partnerships, and data-informed decision-making.
Building on Previous Successes
The current recognition builds upon the foundation laid by Niagara Health’s DEI Action Plan, launched in 2021. Zainab Awad, Health Equity Manager and Niagara Health’s first DEI specialist, highlights the organizational changes achieved since then, including strengthened governance, increased internal capacity, and progress on key initiatives. “This recognition affirms that diversity and inclusion are not standalone initiatives, but foundational to delivering safe, high-quality care for the communities we serve,” Awad says.
A Collaborative Effort
Niagara Health attributes its success to the contributions of its team members, who actively participate in committees, lead grassroots initiatives, and engage in learning opportunities. The hospital system employs 3,875 staff and physicians.