HARMONY JOHNSON AND BRIAN SIMMERS
VICE PRESIDENT, INDIGENOUS WELLNESS & RECONCILIATION AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND VICE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE & HEALTH INFORMATICS
As part of our commitment to reconciliation, and consistent with other public sector organizations across British Columbia, PHC will observe September 30 as a statutory holiday to honour the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to remember the children who suffered, the children who never returned home, their families and the communities who continue to grieve. This also responds to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Understanding this history and the continued impacts is essential to reconciliation.
We encourage all staff and medical staff to continue to take the time to learn about the hard truths of residential schools – a system of oppression and colonialism forced upon Indigenous Peoples – and reflect on how these measures shape our present-day realities and continuing inequities. All are invited to take personal and professional action to be part of social justice and positive change. At Providence, we remain steadfast in our commitment to embed reconciliation “in everything we do.”
To commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Providence, the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation (IWR) Team has organized several activities happening throughout the week of September 27. Staff, visitors and members of the public will notice orange lights on display at St. Paul’s Hospital until October 1. An orange ribbon campaign for staff and medical staff across PHC sites will raise awareness of the importance of September 30, and Indigenous patients will receive orange ribbons and prayer ties distributed by the Indigenous Wellness Liaisons and Peers.
Further information and communications from Providence leadership will follow, as well as resources to support your continued learning about Indigenous cultural safety, truth, justice and reconciliation.
A note on operations
PHC unionized staff who are scheduled to work on September 30 will receive statutory holiday pay and a lieu day, where appropriate, in accordance with the collective agreements.
Staff who work on rotation and are scheduled off on September 30 will receive another stat day.
People Staffing is working with managers directly to identify opportunities to schedule lieu and stat time by December 31, 2021. This work is almost complete.
PHC corporate non-contract staff will have the day off.
