Medavie, through the Medavie Foundation, invests in community initiatives and organizations that improve the wellbeing of Canadians. Check out our latest announcement:
Medavie, through the Medavie Foundation, proudly donated $100,000 to the New Brunswick Community College’s Going Beyond Campaign. The donation will help train more health care workers through NBCC’s School of Health & Wellness through a health simulation lab, now the Medavie Nursing Lab. Ginette Pellerin, VP, Extra-Mural Program Operations, Medavie Health Services New Brunswick was onsite in Fredericton to visit the lab and connect with the students, Dean of Faculty and College President. Read more here.
Research has shown that women have lower scores than men across all areas of financial wellbeing. Listen to one of CPA Canada’s on-demand webinars to help you gain the confidence, accountability and understanding you need to overcome the toughest obstacles and become a money-smart force to be reckoned with.
We joined millions around the globe to celebrate International Women’s Day. The theme for 2023 was Embrace Equity. Research has shown that women have lower scores than men across all areas of financial wellbeing1.
To further Embrace Equity, we’d like to share with you a series of on-demand webinars by CPA Canada Financial Literacy. We talk about accountability as one of our core values, these webinars are all about empowering women to become accountable for their finances.
Click hereto watch to one of the webinars listed below.
Owning your financial identity webinar series
What I would tell my younger self
The self-worth in net worth
Money for new moms
Time flies, and in our fast-paced world, many important lessons can go right over our heads. Establishing strong financial goals and habits early in life is key to avoiding a trip back in time to talk some sense into your younger self.
Rise up SHEroes! Get the facts and confidence you need to start your journey on the path to financial empowerment and success and understand how looking within yourself can help you find the answers.
So you’re going to have a baby! Learn everything you need to know to be on top of your finances before and after welcoming your bundle of joy.
Purposefully uncoupling
The strong woman investor
Just widowed
Divorce is not something we like to think about, but it happens. The question is, will you be ready if it happens to you? Preparing yourself financially can help ease the process.
Learn the ropes of investing and choose the most effective strategies to make your money work for you. With the right preparation and understanding, you can see for yourself how to become an investment superstar.
Losing a partner can create unexpected and difficult challenges, but it doesn’t have to hurt your financial confidence. Learn everything you need to know now to help you move forward when you are ready.
We want to hear from you! As always, we appreciate your feedback and if you have any questions or topics you’d like to learn more about, feel free to email us at WellnessNewsNouvellesMieuxEtre@medavie.ca.
Let us know in the comment section below which webinar you attended and your key takeaways.
Every day, Medavie’s team of more than 8,000 professionals work to improve the wellbeing of Canadians. Join us as they share their stories and show how we deliver on our mission and bring our values to life. These are the people who make Medavie what it is today.
When Sherry became a paramedic in 1998, she didn’t expect one day to be working alongside her daughter.
But that’s exactly what happened in January, when she looked over to see her oldest daughter, Lauren, sharing an ambulance for the first time.
Sherry and Lauren
Surreal experience
It was a surreal experience for them both.
“It was a little weird sitting next to her in the truck the first time,” said Lauren, a primary care paramedic who was hired in November. “I always thought about working with her since I got hired, but now it was real.”
The strangest part about the experience was calling her mother by her first name, something they had to get used to.
“It was kind of weird when she’d go in and try to introduce herself. I told her, ‘don’t go in there and say I’m Lauren, and this is my mom. You can’t say that’.” – Sherry
At Medavie, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace for all employees.
#EmbraceEquity pose
On International Women’s Day – and every day – we are proud to honour, celebrate, and support the women who make up Medavie. From our beginnings to where we are today, women have played a significant role in advancing our mission of improving the wellbeing of Canadians.
Eighty years ago this year, a trailblazing woman by the name of Ruth Cook Wilson helped form the Maritime Hospital Service Association (MHSA), the co-operative that would later become Medavie. She became the first executive director, and the first woman in North America to hold such a position.
For 15 years, Ruth led the association and was known for being a highly capable and innovative administrator. Her efforts to ensure that Blue Cross-Blue Shield protection and benefits were available to Canadians, in addition to creating the first prepayment plan for medical services in Atlantic Canada, helped shape Medavie and the health care system we have today.
As of a show of support for International Women’s Day, please submit photos striking the #EmbraceEquity pose as pictured above to medavie.news@medavie.bluecross.ca
We recently hosted a special Black History Month webinar with a focus on Health care in Black Communities, during which we discussed disparities and challenges that Black communities face in assessing health care. The webinar was a great opportunity to shed light on these issues and learn about challenges and the solutions that can help address them.
As a follow-up to the webinar, we want to highlight and recognize Black health care providers in Canada. These individuals are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our communities:
Dr. Naana Jumah, Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Women’s Health Advocate
Dr. Lisa Robinson, Pediatrician and advocate for Black maternal and child health
Dr. Onye Nnorm, Family Physician and Public Health & Prevent Medicine Specialist
Dr. Nadine Wong, Family Physician and Social Justice Advocate
Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of the Wellesley Institute and Mental Health Advocate
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass – Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
Dr. Mojola Omole, Surgical Oncologist and Munk Global Journalism Fellow, University of Toronto.
In addition, here are some valuable resources that are focused on serving the health care needs of Black communities:
Black Health Alliance: A community-led organization that provides a range of health resources programs aimed at promoting health equity for Black communities.
Black Physicians of Canada: This is a non-profit organization which promotes health education and awareness.
Black Mental Health Canada: A resource hub that advocates for culturally safe, accessible and affordable Mental Health Care to the diverse Black communities in Canada.
Black Women’s Imperative: This is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Black women and girls.
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario: They support individuals and families affected by Sickle cell disease, which primarily affects Black communities.
We hope that these resources will be helpful to you and your loved ones, and encourage you to share them with your friends and colleagues. Thank you for your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and in our communities.
At Medavie, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we say and do. We encourage and empower diverse voices knowing that varied perspectives fuel collaboration, innovation and service excellence that is central to our mission of improving the wellbeing of Canadians.
Each February, we participate in Black History Month events as an opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions Black individuals make to our country and to our workforce and to reflect on our conversations around racial equity and inclusion. It is in this spirit that each week, throughout the month, we shine a spotlight on three individuals who are raising their voices and contributing to our progress toward greater equality — and to our growth as a national health solutions partner.
This week, we shine a spotlight on:
Toyin Adetoro (she/her) – Delivery Lead, IT Command Centre, Medavie Blue Cross
What are your family’s roots and how do you honour your heritage?
I am a Black African of Nigeria descent who migrated to Canada in my adulthood. I honour my heritage by teaching my children about my cultural values, language, food, attire, and music, also by celebrating some cultural days and sometimes wearing some cultural outfits or accessories depending on the occasion.
How do you think your life differs from those of your parents and grandparents?
My grandparents and parents lived and raised the family in my home country without relocating like I have done. I believe they took less risks than me in that aspect. They also had less opportunities and access to technology than I do have now.
However, some of the positive values they instilled in me has helped in shaping me to be adaptable and optimistic enough to take the risks of starting life all over in a different country.
Who were your heroes growing up?
My late parents are my heroes of all time. They lived the values of integrity, accountability, care, hard work, faith, gratitude, love, and contentment. Late Nelson Mandela is also my hero; he exemplified focus, perseverance, peace, and forgiveness.
What makes you most proud about the legacy of Black Canadians?
I am proud of the legacy of Elijah McCoy, who invented the automatic lubricator for train engines and that of Mary Ann Shadd who was the first Black female newspaper publisher. She established a racially integrated schools for Black refugees and was also one of the first Black women lawyers. In addition, Lincoln Alexander, who made history three times as the first Black member of parliament, cabinet minister and provincial lieutenant governor of Ontario.
How important is Black representation in the workplace?
Black representation is important in the workplace to demonstrate commitment to diversity which can lead to increase productivity and profitability, innovation, better decision making and improve company reputation. There is more emergence of Black people in leadership positions in recent years and I believe it’s a mission that needs to be embraced by all strategic organizations who are envisioning growth and sustainability.
How can co-workers be better allies to their Black colleagues?
Co-workers can be better allies to their Black colleagues by empathizing with them on how much of a challenge it can be adjusting to a different culture, different environment, struggling to make people understand their accent and even learning a new language sometimes. Learning a bit more about their BIPOC colleagues’ culture can also help to understand their perspectives and become better allies.
From a Black perspective, what are the most important steps we can take as organization to achieve greater inclusivity?
An organization can achieve greater inclusivity by educating the entire workforce starting from the top, about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), making recruitment more inclusive and engaging with employees for feedback.
Volunteering to be a member of the DEI council with the goal of contributing to the inclusivity initiatives of the organization and see things from others’ perspectives are some of the steps I have taken to foster inclusivity in the workplace.
What is one fact of your life as a Black person that you would like others to know?
The content of anybody’s character is more important than their skin tone. We may never be able to realize the possibilities or discover the true beauty of the soul that dwells beneath the skin if we don’t remove the barriers of bias towards the skin colour.
How can Canada become a more inclusive country?
Canada can become more inclusive by increasing representation of the diverse communities in politics, media, and business, and by making communities more accessible to all, engaging more with the communities, and encouraging organizations to be more inclusive.
At Medavie, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we say and do. We encourage and empower diverse voices knowing that varied perspectives fuel collaboration, innovation and service excellence that is central to our mission of improving the wellbeing of Canadians.
Each February, we participate in Black History Month events as an opportunity to recognize the achievements and contributions Black individuals make to our country and to our workforce and to reflect on our conversations around racial equity and inclusion. It is in this spirit that each week, throughout the month, we shine a spotlight on three individuals who are raising their voices and contributing to our progress toward greater equality — and to our growth as a national health solutions partner.
This week, we shine a spotlight on Desirée Chernel – Disability Claims Consultant, Medavie Blue Cross.
What are your family’s roots? What are the cultural traditions that have shaped and enriched your life?
My parents are from Trinidad and Tobago. I grew up in Montreal and recall how important it was to show me, my brothers, and cousins the parts of their culture that have now become our favourite traditions. During holidays such as Christmas and Easter, Parang and Calypso music, is always playing. Both are genres of music that originated in Trinidad. Of course, we have all the Trini food you could imagine: roti, curry goat, oxtail, fry bake, to name a few. If you are on a diet, my family’s house is not the place for you!
The part that stands out the most for me, is seeing everyone dancing and feeling happy in the moment. This is a memory I will have forever, and I hope to pass on to my future children.
Attending Toronto Caribana (Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival) is a must. It’s like having a piece of Trinidad here in Toronto. My friends and I look forward to the festivities every year.
How do you think your life differs from those of your parents and grandparents?
I have opportunities they unfortunately did not have growing up in Trinidad or even when they came to Canada in the 1970s. I feel like I can become anything I want in this world due to the sacrifices my parents made for us. Their decision to leave their home and come to Canada was so their children could have a better life. There is no way for me to ever repay them for that. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on how different my life could have been if my parents hadn’t made that decision. I am very grateful.
Who were the role models or mentors that inspired you personally and/or professionally?
After my parents moved to Canada they worked in health care until they retired. Ideally, they wanted me to work in health care too, but that line of work was just not for me. When I made the decision to go on a different path, I had no idea of the steps I had to take to grow my career. This is when I realized the importance of having a mentor. I needed someone that could help guide and coach me and, more importantly, someone who understood the path I am on. My mentors are angels on earth in my eyes.
Very few in my family have worked in a corporate environment and couldn’t help me with my journey. But that’s ok. They support me other ways. My mom is one of my inspirations. Watching her raise my two brothers and me, working multiple jobs and doing the best she could with the cards she was dealt. They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade; that was my mom.
How important is Black representation in the workplace – and to see Black persons in leadership roles?
Representation is essential. When I was in my early 20s, I felt I was meant to do great things; but I put limitations on my aspirations as I did not see anyone that looked like me in leadership.
When we see others that look like you, you can identify and visualize yourself belonging in the role you aspire to. It’s exciting to know you can have your dream career but it needs to feel tangible. Having diversity in leadership can have a great impact on an organization. It will bring new perspectives, experience, and relatability to our teams. This can lead to attracting and retaining top talent, as well as new clients.
As I work towards my own leadership goals, I hope to be an inspiration for young women to show them what’s possible. I am fighting for the girls who never thought they could win or feel seen.
Our mission is to improve the wellbeing of Canadians.
Medavie, through the Medavie Foundation, invests in community initiatives and organizations that improve the wellbeing of Canadians. See what important causes we have been a part of so far in 2023:
Medavie, through the Medavie Foundation, was excited to kickstart the QEH Foundation’s Mental Health & Addictions Ignition Fund with a commitment of $100,000. The Mental Health & Addictions Ignition Fund will support medical equipment needs for upcoming expansions to the mental health services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, PE. Matthew Crossman, VP, Operations at Medavie Health Services was onsite to make the donation. Read more here.
Each February, we join people across Canada to participate in Black History Month events that honour the impact and legacy of Black individuals and communities.
Once again, our month-long celebration at Medavie will center around the theme “Stronger Together ― Celebrating Black Culture”, which reflects our commitment to foster a respectful culture of belonging, where our teams, patients, customers, partners and communities are valued for who they are and what they contribute.
As we continue our work toward building a more inclusive organization at Medavie, Black History Month provides a welcome opportunity to learn more about the contributions and accomplishments of Black individuals and communities, how they continue to help shape the story of Canada, and how we can become better allies — as individuals and as an organization.
Employee Spotlights
This year’s celebration will shine a spotlight on Medavie employees who will share what it’s like being Black in Canada and how we, as Canadians and colleagues, can support them.
Virtual Presentations
Equal access to health care will be the focus of two special online roundtables in English and French on February 22. Guest speaker will be Dr. Vanessa Prosper, a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience working with racially and ethnically diverse patients, including Haitian immigrants.
T-Shirts
In support of Black culture, we will again have t-shirts inscribed with our theme and artwork by visual designer Kyera Mapp. The shirts will be available for purchase on the Medavie Boutique (password: medavie) with all proceeds going back to the artist.
Learning Resources
Our DEI resource centre will have learning resources available that highlight the important contributions Black individuals and communities have made to Canada’s history and continued growth. We can all take this time to gain knowledge and be part of the conversation toward a more culturally diverse, equitable and inclusive country and workplace.
As we move through this celebration, we are mindful of the need to support Black individuals and communities in their ongoing pursuit of greater fairness and equality, especially in light of recent events.
