August 1, 2025
August 1, 2025, marks Emancipation Day and the 191st anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act coming into effect. Introduced in 1834, this act freed more than 800,000 enslaved people across the British colonies, including Canada.
This significant milestone represents a historical turning point for Black Canadians and serves as a call to continue the work of confronting the enduring legacies of slavery and anti-Black racism that persist in our society today.
Black individuals continue to face barriers to care, including racism, bias, discrimination, and systemic inequities that result in poorer health outcomes. Meanwhile, Black health-care professionals continue to experience racism and underrepresentation in their fields, and must often work in environments where they feel unsafe.
“At LHSC, we recognize that anti-Black racism is a public health issue,” said Cathy Wood, Interim Director of LHSC’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team. “Through LHSC’s Black Health team, we are striving to make our hospital a place where Black patients, families, members of the community, and Team LHSC feel safer, respected, and valued for who they are.”
To advance work in this critical area, the Black Health team is continuing to build collaborative partnerships with local Black communities and organizations. These partnerships are essential to developing health programs and care approaches that reflect and respond to the unique needs of Black individuals.
Recently, the team partnered with six local community organizations to host London’s first Black Health and Wellness Fair. Hundreds of people came to learn from local health experts, connect with community resources, and gain valuable insights on health issues that disproportionately impact them.
In 2023, the Black Health team launched the role of Black Health Navigators within LHSC to support patients along their care journey. The Navigators role is to assist Black patients and their families with navigating the complexities of the health-care system and communicate their needs with LHSC care teams.
Alongside this community-focused and patient-centred work, the Black Health team is also helping to build awareness and capacity within LHSC.
“Education plays a vital role in our efforts to transform the health-care system to better meet the needs of Black communities,” said Wood. “Recognizing Emancipation Day offers an opportunity for Team LHSC to deepen its understanding of the history of slavery and the ongoing realities of anti-Black racism. At LHSC, we are committed to building a more just and inclusive model of care, and education plays a big role in making progress in this area.”
As we mark Emancipation Day, we reaffirm our commitment to dismantling systemic barriers, advancing equity in health outcomes, and creating a care environment where every person feels seen, heard, and valued.