Latest news with #BlackCanadians
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada holds launch party in Regina
The first Saskatchewan iteration of the Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada launched in Regina on Saturday. (Jacob Carr / CTV News) Inside The Studio at the Cornwall Centre on Saturday, the first Saskatchewan iteration of the Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada (MABIC) launched. The non-profit organization, which has been in operation since 2020, aims to raise awareness about injustice against Black people across the country, and enlightening Black Canadians about their rights. 'This launch was important because we have seen many rising cases of injustice against the Blacks, many important cases,' said Movement Against Black Injustice Executive Director Paul Omoyefa. 'Some of them are because they are not aware of their rights. And there are some situations where you can curb some things at the beginning, before it gets over bloated. So, what we are trying to do is create awareness for people, that this type of organization exists here,' he added. MABIC also say they work with mental health organizations across Canada to provide resources for Black Canadians who may be dealing with stress or depression.
Toronto Star
17-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
In a world of symbolic gestures, we challenged Canada to be better. Here's how we did
By Wes Hall and Dahabo Ahmed Omer, Contributors Wes Hall is the founder and chairman of the BlackNorth Initiative and founder & CEO of Kingsdale Advisors & Executive Chairman & Founder of WeShall Investments. Dahabo Ahmed Omer is the CEO of the BlackNorth Initiative. Five years ago, the world changed — and so did we. In the wake of George Floyd's murder and a global reckoning on racial injustice, we chose to act. In July 2020, more than 500 organizations across Canada joined us to say enough is enough: enough of looking the other way, and enough of a system that too often overlooks or sidelines Black Canadians while claiming to support progress. Opinion articles are based on the author's interpretations and judgments of facts, data and events. More details
Hamilton Spectator
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Halton District School Board's Free Summer Camp Celebrates Black Identity and Culture
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is once again demonstrating its commitment to equity and culturally responsive education through Exploring Us 2025, a free three-week summer camp hosted by the HDSB's Graduation Coaches for grade 6 to 8 students. The program strives to affirm the identities of Black-identifying students, foster relationships, unleash creativity, and create lasting memories. Shelita Walker, System Principal of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusive Education at HDSB, says, 'Through our HDSB Student Voices Report, Black students continue to tell us there's still work to do when it comes to addressing anti-Black racism in schools and creating spaces where they truly feel they belong, where their identities are seen, valued, and affirmed.' Exploring Us 2025 is a chance for students to connect with each other and with Graduation Coaches while learning about the diversity of the African diaspora — both its history and its ongoing contributions. 'There's always a bit of hesitation about giving up part of the summer, which is completely understandable, but every year, students who take part tell us they're really glad they did,' says Walker. Her words reaffirm why this camp is both timely and a much-needed resource for Black students growing up in Halton Region. The program, now at capacity, is led by HDSB's Graduation Coaches and offers a dynamic, engaging experience that centres Black identity, history, and joy. Running from July 8 to July 24, the camp features weekly themes that take students on an immersive cultural journey — from ancient African civilizations to the Caribbean diaspora and the histories of Black Canadians. Through hands-on workshops, field trips, games, storytelling, and art, students are invited to connect with their heritage, explore identity, and build community in a supportive space. In the first week, students delve into the innovation and legacy of ancient African civilizations through creative projects, collaborative activities, and cultural games that spark curiosity and connection. The second week celebrates the richness and resilience of Afro-Caribbean traditions. Through storytelling, music, and interactive arts, students explore language, folklore, and rhythms that reflect their heritage and inspire creative expression. The final week brings the focus closer to home, exploring the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians. Students engage in activities that highlight history, identity, and belonging, while also exploring connections between cultural heritage, beauty, and self-expression. Camp experiences are grounded in creativity and collaboration and further enhanced with experiential learning through field trips. 'Graduation Coaches have been such an important part of our board and a real support for the students they work with. The connections they build, during the school year and even through the summer, go a long way in helping students feel grounded in who they are. They really help students see what's possible and encourage them to go after their goals. It just shows how powerful intentional relationships can be,' says Walker. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
29-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Black Canadians have highest avoidable hospitalization rates: StatCan data
Treatment rooms in the emergency department at Peter Lougheed hospital are pictured in, Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh TORONTO — New data from Statistics Canada shows Black Canadians have had the highest rates of avoidable hospitalizations in the country — something experts say underscores the need for more equitable health services for the Black community. A report released June 18 shows that over an eight-year period, Black Canadians were admitted to hospital for treatable health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension at higher rates than other racial groups and non-racialized people. In the most recent data collected in 2023/2024, Black men and boys were admitted at a rate of 272 hospitalizations per 100,000 people while Black women and girls saw a rate of 253 per 100,000 people. Other racialized people including South Asian, Chinese and Filipino Canadians had significantly lower rates. The lowest was among the Chinese population, in which men and boys had 65 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, and women and girls recorded 52 per 100,000 people. Non-racialized people had the second-highest rate of avoidable hospital admissions in 2023, reaching 257 per 100,000 among men and 226 per 100,000 among women, the report states. Notisha Massaquoi, an assistant professor of health education and promotion at the University of Toronto, says the data shines a light on the health equity crisis for Black Canadians who face significant barriers to primary care. '(This is) a population that has experienced an enormous amount of racism in the health-care system,' said Massaquoi, who studies access to health-care services for Black Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area. 'There's a lack of trust in terms of going to a primary health-care setting or going to see a primary health-care provider, and when a community has experienced a lot of marginalization in the health-care system, what they do is avoid going until it's too late.' Black Canadians might avoid seeking routine care because there is also a lack of Black health-care providers, said Massaquoi, noting better survival rates and health outcomes when a Black patient has a Black primary caregiver. StatCan data shows that in 2023, the most updated information available, 72 per cent of Black Canadians had access to a primary health care provider. That's compared to 84 per cent of non-racialized Canadians. The Canadian Medical Association says it doesn't keep track of the number of Black physicians in the country, but data published in 2020 by the Academic Medicine Journal — the peer-reviewed journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges — estimated that 2.3 per cent of practising physicians in Ontario were Black in 2018. StatCan's report doesn't provide the specific reasons for hospitalizations, but a member of the senior leadership team at Women's College Hospital in Toronto says Black populations are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses. The reasons for that are complicated, said Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, a past-president of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario. Maxwell said chronic illnesses can sometimes be traced to hurdles navigating the health-care system. Some Black communities also have fewer grocery store options, making access to nutritious food difficult, or are in areas more exposed to environmental toxins, which can lead to higher rates of respiratory problems. Massaquoi and Maxwell both stressed the need for more Black health-care providers and Black-oriented clinics, saying many patients feel more comfortable visiting environments where there's less risk of racism. Such an increase could also help train other doctors on the specific needs of Black patients. 'We will likely never have enough Black health-care providers to provide access to all Black community members, so it is important for all allies in the health system to engage in and learn about cultural safety and competencies that will help drive better health-care outcomes,' Maxwell said. Maxwell linked less access to primary care to higher mortality rates of serious diseases, such as among Black women with breast and cervical cancer. 'We know Black women have less access to screening for conditions such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, which are major issues and have high morbidity and mortality in Black communities,' she said. 'A condition is identified typically in the primary care setting,' she said, noting that's where a patient is referred to a specialist for serious conditions. Maxwell said it was important to collect better race-based patient data in order to identify issues unique to each community. 'Without the … race-specific data, you can't really get to the nuances of what the particular issues are within a community and what it means for a community to be disproportionately affected, either by a health condition or by the outcome of treatment for a health condition,' Maxwell said. Massaquoi said Black health-care advocates have 'constantly' begged for better race-based data collection. 'What we want to see as members of the Black community are the interventions that are going to be developed and designed so we're no longer just getting this trauma type of data that keeps telling us over and over in every manner how badly we're doing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2025. Cassidy McMackon, The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
29-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Black Canadians have highest avoidable hospitalization rates: StatCan data
TORONTO - New data from Statistics Canada shows Black Canadians have had the highest rates of avoidable hospitalizations in the country — something experts say underscores the need for more equitable health services for the Black community. A report released June 18 shows that over an eight-year period, Black Canadians were admitted to hospital for treatable health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension at higher rates than other racial groups and non-racialized people. In the most recent data collected in 2023/2024, Black men and boys were admitted at a rate of 272 hospitalizations per 100,000 people while Black women and girls saw a rate of 253 per 100,000 people. Other racialized people including South Asian, Chinese and Filipino Canadians had significantly lower rates. The lowest was among the Chinese population, in which men and boys had 65 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, and women and girls recorded 52 per 100,000 people. Non-racialized people had the second-highest rate of avoidable hospital admissions in 2023, reaching 257 per 100,000 among men and 226 per 100,000 among women, the report states. Notisha Massaquoi, an assistant professor of health education and promotion at the University of Toronto, says the data shines a light on the health equity crisis for Black Canadians who face significant barriers to primary care. '(This is) a population that has experienced an enormous amount of racism in the health-care system,' said Massaquoi, who studies access to health-care services for Black Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area. 'There's a lack of trust in terms of going to a primary health-care setting or going to see a primary health-care provider, and when a community has experienced a lot of marginalization in the health-care system, what they do is avoid going until it's too late.' Black Canadians might avoid seeking routine care because there is also a lack of Black health-care providers, said Massaquoi, noting better survival rates and health outcomes when a Black patient has a Black primary caregiver. StatCan data shows that in 2023, the most updated information available, 72 per cent of Black Canadians had access to a primary health care provider. That's compared to 84 per cent of non-racialized Canadians. The Canadian Medical Association says it doesn't keep track of the number of Black physicians in the country, but data published in 2020 by the Academic Medicine Journal — the peer-reviewed journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges — estimated that 2.3 per cent of practising physicians in Ontario were Black in 2018. StatCan's report doesn't provide the specific reasons for hospitalizations, but a member of the senior leadership team at Women's College Hospital in Toronto says Black populations are disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses. The reasons for that are complicated, said Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, a past-president of the Black Physicians Association of Ontario. Maxwell said chronic illnesses can sometimes be traced to hurdles navigating the health-care system. Some Black communities also have fewer grocery store options, making access to nutritious food difficult, or are in areas more exposed to environmental toxins, which can lead to higher rates of respiratory problems. Massaquoi and Maxwell both stressed the need for more Black health-care providers and Black-oriented clinics, saying many patients feel more comfortable visiting environments where there's less risk of racism. Such an increase could also help train other doctors on the specific needs of Black patients. 'We will likely never have enough Black health-care providers to provide access to all Black community members, so it is important for all allies in the health system to engage in and learn about cultural safety and competencies that will help drive better health-care outcomes,' Maxwell said. Maxwell linked less access to primary care to higher mortality rates of serious diseases, such as among Black women with breast and cervical cancer. 'We know Black women have less access to screening for conditions such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, which are major issues and have high morbidity and mortality in Black communities,' she said. 'A condition is identified typically in the primary care setting,' she said, noting that's where a patient is referred to a specialist for serious conditions. Maxwell said it was important to collect better race-based patient data in order to identify issues unique to each community. 'Without the … race-specific data, you can't really get to the nuances of what the particular issues are within a community and what it means for a community to be disproportionately affected, either by a health condition or by the outcome of treatment for a health condition,' Maxwell said. Massaquoi said Black health-care advocates have 'constantly' begged for better race-based data collection. 'What we want to see as members of the Black community are the interventions that are going to be developed and designed so we're no longer just getting this trauma type of data that keeps telling us over and over in every manner how badly we're doing.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2025.
