Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2026, reaffirming the hospital’s deep commitment to fostering an environment where every client, family, student, volunteer and employee feels valued, included and supported.

This national designation, awarded by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, highlights organizations that demonstrate excellence in inclusive culture, equitable practices and meaningful diversity initiatives. For Holland Bloorview, the honour reflects years of continued intentional effort, collaboration and community building across teams.

Tracey Millar, vice president, people and culture, reflects on what this recognition means for the organization and how it aligns with the hospital’s long-term commitment to equity and belonging: “This award reflects our commitment to building a thriving, diverse team. In alignment with our HB2030 strategic plan, Holland Bloorview is dedicated to elevating diverse voices and ensuring our staff and leadership reflect the communities we serve.”

She adds: Our employee resource groups, staff and partners continue to challenge and guide us as we continue to build a workplace where every person feels safe, welcomed and empowered to do their best work.”

Why Holland Bloorview was recognized

Here are some examples of why Holland Bloorview was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers:

• Holland Bloorview recently refreshed its mental health strategy, offering a wide range of supports from organization-level mental health promotion to individual-level intervention - the strategy includes encouraging professional growth and development through educational supports, wellness resources such as yoga and a lunch-hour swim program for staff, and providing stress first-aid training across the organization
• Following a recommendation from Dr. Notisha Massaquoi's Black Staff Experience Report in 2023, Holland Bloorview began employee sociodemographic data collection in 2024, with a view to better understand the hospital's current state and guide future improvements starting in 2025. Additionally, we seek to better understand the demographics of job seekers through an applicant demographic survey, conducted as part of the application process to identify and remove barriers to entry and improve the representation of equity-deserving groups
• Holland Bloorview and Halton Healthcare co-led the Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain project to support health care employers with disability inclusive hiring - now available to all Ontario health care organizations after extensive pilot testing, the training resource is intended to help employers address the health care labour shortage and the high unemployment rate for Ontarians with disabilities who want and are able to work
   

In recent years, Holland Bloorview has deepened its commitment to embedding equity into core systems across the organization such as the expansion of client, applicant, and employee sociodemographic data collection and the creation and rollout of disability-inclusive hiring and employment training. The hospital’s growing sociodemographic data insights reflect a workforce strengthened by diversity across identities, experiences and ways of thinking. This data continues to guide planning, resourcing and engagement strategies that promote fairness and representation across the organization. 

Across Holland Bloorview, employee resource groups (ERGs) continue to be catalysts for education, connection, visibility and advocacy. Here are some reflections from ERG co-leads:

“Holland Bloorview is a leader in recognizing and respecting how each child is full of beauty, strength and potential, regardless of their differences. As a former volunteer, student and now employee for the past 10+ years, it has been important for me to feel that the hospital equally respects and promotes the diversity amongst its staff members as it does for those we serve.” - Christina Weldon, music psychotherapist and co-lead, 2SLGBTQ+ ERG (Read full reflection)

“True inclusion is cultivating environments where people can show up authentically, safely and proudly. Initiatives like BERG, rooted in genuine listening and driven by community need, reflect the ongoing commitment to equity and belonging - a commitment supported by Holland Bloorview’s IDEAA office and its work toward fostering anti-racist, anti-oppressive and inclusive spaces for clients, families and staff.” - Iman Elzinie, divisional coordinator and senior executive assistant, experience, transformation and social accountability and co-lead, Black ERG (Read full reflection)

In the past few years, the Toronto Jewish community has faced a great deal of negativity, which impacts our ability to show up as our best selves at work. Having a space to share our experiences, seek guidance, educate the Holland Bloorview community on our culture and celebrate Jewish joy helps us feel comfortable, safe and motivated to support the healthy futures for all children, youth and families.” - Laura Bowman, project manager for research and evaluation on the employment pathways team and co-lead, Jewish ERG (Read full reflection)

"It has been wonderful to see Holland Bloorview recognized once again for its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. As co-lead of the Disability ERG, we have worked to create a space for employees with disabilities to connect, build community and engage in advocacy for accessibility and inclusion." - Holly Noon, communicative disorder assistant and co-lead, Disability ERG (Read full reflection)

As the hospital continues to learn, grow and listen the needs of its community this recognition serves both as a celebration and a call to continue advancing meaningful change.

About Canada’s Best Diversity Employers

This competition recognizes successful diversity initiatives in a variety of areas, including programs for employees from five groups: (a) women; (b) members of visible minorities; (c) persons with disabilities; (d) Indigenous peoples; and (e) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual (LGBT) peoples. To determine this year's winners of the Canada's Best Diversity Employers competition, Mediacorp editors reviewed diversity and inclusiveness initiatives at many employers that took part in this year’s Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

This award follows Holland Bloorview’s recent recognition as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for the 16th consecutive year and Canada’s Top Employers for Young People for the 14th consecutive year. 

If you are interested in joining the Holland Bloorview team, visit our careers webpage or follow us on LinkedIn.

Read about Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in The Globe and Mail.

Learn more about our IDEAA initiatives.

By Terry Mutuku