SickKids shows its Pride

By Rebecca Goss, Corporate Communications Intern

Nearly 100 people came out to watch the raising of the Pride flag on the front lawn on University Avenue to kick off Pride month in Toronto!

Staff from across SickKids, including the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health (formerly Hincks-Dellcrest Centre) all watched as Susan O’Dowd, Vice-President of Human Resources, kicked off the event.

“SickKids is dedicated to promoting diversity, health equity and child and family-centred care,” O’Dowd said. “Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to highlight our commitment to supporting and honouring our LGBTQ community not only within the organization but also in the community at large. This flag is not just a celebration of PRIDE, but also a public declaration of our commitment to creating a safe, positive and inclusive space for staff and trainees, for patients and for their families.”

This is the second year that SickKids has flown the Pride flag. The flag is also displayed at the PGCRL overlooking Bay Street.

“The flag represents advocacy for the youth and the children we work for,” said Ben Weinstock, interim program supervisor at the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health. “It’s about being able to hear their voices and their concerns, and doing something with it.”

The SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health began marching in the Pride Parade a few years ago at the request of some of the patients. This year, they will be joined by SickKids for the parade on June 25.

SickKids will again be participating at the Trans March (June 23) and at Family Pride (June 24-25) as well.