Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action
Publish Date:
Calling LTC team members and leadership! Enrollment is open for Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action.
This 4-hour virtual workshop explores key strategies for advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) in the long-term care (LTC) context. With sessions running from May 2026 to March 2027, this workshop offers LTC team members and leaders the tools and knowledge needed to foster a more inclusive and affirming environment for residents, care partners/caregivers, and fellow team members.
Since launching in May 2024, Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action has reached long-term care teams across Ontario and is already demonstrating meaningful impact. Our Impact Snapshot highlights early outcomes from the workshop, including participation and reach across regions and roles, participant feedback, and measurable changes in everyday EDIB practices within LTC homes.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
- Understand key EDIB principles and their relevance in LTC settings.
- Learn practical strategies and actions to foster inclusive, affirming, and belonging-centred environments in LTC homes through a range of scenario discussions.
- Identify tools and resources developed by the Ontario CLRI that can support your EDIB journey.
To see upcoming session dates, please visit the PSW Fund webpage.
Introducing Our Creating a Culture of Belonging Workshop Facilitators
Take a look at the exceptional team of educators supporting the facilitation of these workshops:
Dr. Amit Arya (he/him) is a Palliative Care Physician who works in hospital, home care, and long-term care homes. He holds various positions, such as Medical Lead of NY CAST (the North York Congregate Access and Support Team) and Medical Director of the Specialist Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Outreach Team at Kensington Health. He is also a lecturer for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University. He has an unwavering commitment to health justice and human rights advocacy, and frequently presents to medical students, physicians, interprofessional colleagues, and the public.
Dr. Ashley Flanagan (she/her) is a Senior Knowledge Broker at Ontario Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation’s (CLRI) at Bruyère Health. Ash works to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in long-term care. Ashley holds a PhD in Aging, Health, and Wellbeing from the University of Waterloo. Her research focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ ageing and old age with the goal of advancing comprehensive health and wellness policy, programs, and services for older adults with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Chelsea Lazar (she/her) is a Recreation Therapist with over 15 years experience supporting folks within healthcare and community settings including psychiatry, long term care, adult day programs, and housing first case management. She is a Registered Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Member with Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist designation and graduate of Niagara College and Brock University specialising in Inclusive and Therapeutic Recreation. Chelsea describes herself as an intersectional feminist and has engaged in almost 80 hours of continuing education dedicated to further her learning of inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and belonging for all persons.
Emily Edwards (she/her)is an expert in non-pharmacological interventions for Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. She has extensive experience as a Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant, Long Term Care Behavioural Supports Coordinator, and RN Team Lead for a specialized dementia care team. She is currently a Fractional Nurse Consultant, providing invaluable support to individuals, families, care teams, and healthcare settings. She excels at breaking down complex topics into manageable pieces, and fostering understanding with kindness and curiosity. Emily is dedicated to decolonizing her approach and embodying anti-racist activism within the healthcare system. Her lived experiences drive her commitment to creating inclusive and equitable care environments.
Dr. Kimberly Lopez (she/her/siya) works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Faculty of Health, at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. As a community-engaged qualitative researcher, Kim is interested in critically examining structures that (re)produce oppressions affecting experiences of long-term care, helping work, migration, and labourer well-being. Kim values working collaboratively to amplify individuals who identify with justice-deserving groups. Her primary research focus aims to work with care workers in LTC homes towards free-from-harm care labour.
Dr. Shraddha Chatterjee (they/she) is an independent researcher, and has a PhD from York University, Canada. Their research examines how LGBTQIA+ activisms in India are being shaped by, and responding to, contemporary forms of authoritarianism and nationalism. They have taught undergraduate students in India, Canada, and USA since 2016. When they’re not working, they enjoy watching bad TV, and taking care of animals.
Michelle Fleming (she/her) is a Senior Knowledge Broker at the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at Bruyère Health and is the project lead on the Ontario CLRI’s Supporting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative. She has been working in the long-term care sector since 2005 and has great capacity for bringing people together, producing opportunities for meaningful engagement, and tools for change in LTC homes. Michelle has a BA (psychology), Social Service Worker Gerontology diploma, Certificate in LTC Management, is a Certified Eden Associate, and has a Lean Green Belt.
We look forward to supporting you on your EDI journey. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact edi@bruyere.org.
For more resources to support your EDI journey, check out the Ontario CLRI’s EDI Resource Suite page. To receive quarterly updates about our EDI work and to be among the first to access new resources and learning opportunities, please sign up for our EDI in LTC Newsletter!
Acknowledgements
This workshop is led by the Ontario CLRI at Bruyère with support from Ontario CLRI at the RIA. This work is guided and informed by the Ontario CLRI’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Long-Term Care Advisory Committee. We express our humble gratitude to all of the individuals who have contributed to this work since 2017, for your guidance, wisdom and expertise.
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