Women’s College Hospital named recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Award
The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has been named as the recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Award. This prestigious honor recognizing Women’s College Hospital’s long‑standing and deeply embedded commitment to advancing equity in both care delivery and the workplace.
For more than a century, WCH has challenged exclusionary systems and expanded access for equity‑deserving communities, and today that legacy is reflected in a disciplined, organization‑wide approach where IDEA is woven into governance, strategy, and accountability. Through the Office of Equity, WCH leads socio‑demographic data collection, equity education, and policy development, while integrated performance tools, such as the Equity, Quality, and Corporate Scorecards, ensure sustained visibility and measurable progress. This strategic foundation supports equitable clinical models that reduce barriers and improve patient experience, including the Ganawishkadawe Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health, the Crossroads Clinic serving thousands of refugee patients annually, and Canada’s first publicly funded Transition Related Surgery Program.
WCH’s leadership in IDEA is equally evident in its workforce and community partnerships. Through the People Plan 2025–2030, intentional recruitment, leadership development, and equity‑focused learning, WCH has significantly strengthened representation, most notably increasing racialized leadership from 25% to 45% in just four years. Employee affinity groups, recognition of days of significance, and structured efforts to dismantle anti‑Black racism, including the Black Health Plan and a widely adopted Anti‑Black Racism e‑learning module, foster a culture of belonging and shared responsibility. Community voices shape organizational priorities through programs such as EMPaCT, which engages community members as paid partners in decision‑making, and through ongoing studies like the 2025 Community Voices initiative.
The Excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Award recognizes a forward-thinking healthcare organization that has demonstrated leadership in creating and promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to improve the environment for its employees, and to better service their customers/patients, and the community.
The award is sponsored by Sodexo Canada Ltd. Sodexo delivers comprehensive and sustainable food services, valued experiences, and facilities management solutions that drive success by working to make every day a better day. Industries we serve include Business & Industry, Campus, Energy & Resources, Healthcare and Senior Living.
This award is part of our CCHL National Awards Program and will be presented at the Honouring Health Leadership event on June 14, 2026.
For further information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Christian Coulombe
Vice-President, Marketing & Membership
Canadian College of Health Leaders
613-235-7219, ext. 213
[email protected]