KGH is a diverse community, with staff, learners and volunteers coming from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences. Each brings a wide range of skills to work each day to better serve our patients. KGH has been recognized for its efforts to promote this diversity by the Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP), winning its Employer Award for 2013.
The award recognizes a local employer each year that shows its commitment to creating opportunities
for immigrants, supporting diversity in the workplace and for efforts to welcome newcomers.
“We selected KGH because of the hospital’s extensive efforts to build an inclusive workplace, particularly the ‘Together We’re Better’ Cultural Awareness program,” says Scott Clerk, Program Manager of Immigration and Settlement Programs with KIP. “KGH has also been a supporter of our work over the past four years, as a member of our Council and Employers Advisory Group.”
This is the third year that the KIP has recognized a local employer and the first time it has given the award to a large organization.
“We are very proud to accept this award,” says Micki Mulima, Director of Healthy Workplace Services. “We know that being welcoming and bringing new people here helps us as an employer. We
want to attract talented individuals to work and thrive both at KGH and in the community.”
KGH was nominated for the award by the Queen’s Human Rights Office to recognize the hospital’s efforts, including bringing the CARE program to Kingston. This program helps foreign trained nurses
transition to the Canadian workplace.
“We want to make sure our newcomers feel welcome and want to stay with KGH. We know the best teams are made up of a mix of different people who have different perspectives and that’s best for patient care” says Mulima.
She also notes that some recent research suggests that a more culturally diverse team leads to lower stress and better morale in the workplace. KGH has also provided one-on-one mentoring activities to newcomers and has partnered with KEYS, a local non-profit employment agency, in creating opportunities so newcomers can practice employment skills. The hospital was also recognized for our recruitment practices, holding front-line leader training and creating a resource card for staff on
intercultural competency.
