The quiet meeting room at Public Health Sudbury & Districts headquarters felt charged with purpose last Thursday as staff unveiled the next phase of their anti-racism initiative. The program, now entering its second year, represents one of Northern Ontario’s most deliberate attempts to address systemic health inequities stemming from racism.
“This isn’t just about creating another policy document,” explained Dr. Ariella Zbar, Associate Medical Officer of Health, as she presented progress updates to the Board of Health. “We’re building a framework that will transform how public health services respond to the needs of racialized communities across the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.”
The initiative, which began with an internal organizational assessment last year, has identified several priority areas where racism directly impacts health outcomes. These findings align with Statistics Canada data showing racialized populations often face barriers accessing preventative care and experience higher rates of chronic conditions.
Board member Randy Hazlett, representing Sudbury East, voiced strong support but raised practical concerns. “How do we ensure these changes reach our smaller communities? Places like Markstay-Warren have different demographics than downtown Sudbury.”
His question cuts to the heart of the region’s challenge – implementing anti-racism work across a geographically vast area serving diverse populations, from urban centers to rural communities and First Nations territories.
Dominique O’Brien, the newly appointed Anti-Racism Specialist leading the initiative, acknowledged the complexity. “We’ve begun community consultation sessions in eight different locations, intentionally creating spaces where people feel safe sharing their lived experiences with healthcare disparities.”
These sessions have already revealed troubling patterns. Indigenous and newcomer participants frequently described encounters with healthcare providers who dismissed their symptoms or made culturally insensitive assumptions about their conditions.
The initiative’s three-year implementation plan includes mandatory staff training, revised service delivery models, and community partnerships with organizations like the Sudbury Multicultural Folk Arts Association and N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre.
Public Health Sudbury’s approach appears to be working. Early evaluation data shows promising results among the first 87 staff members who completed anti-racism training, with 92% reporting increased awareness of how systemic racism affects health service delivery.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health, emphasized the initiative’s scientific foundation. “This isn’t about politics – it’s about public health evidence. Research consistently shows racism is a social determinant of health with measurable impacts on everything from maternal outcomes to mental wellness.”
The evidence Dr. Sutcliffe references includes the 2022 Public Health Ontario report documenting how racial discrimination increases risk factors for numerous health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and depression, while creating barriers to preventative care.
Board Chair René Lapierre praised the program’s progress but pressed staff on measuring long-term impacts. “How will we know if we’re actually improving health outcomes for racialized communities five years from now?”
It’s a fair question that underscores the initiative’s ambitious scope. While attitude changes among staff can be tracked immediately, population-level health improvements may take years to become statistically significant.
Financial sustainability also remains a concern. The initiative currently operates with dedicated provincial funding, but Public Health Sudbury has begun incorporating anti-racism principles into its core budget to ensure the work continues regardless of shifting political priorities.
Community reaction has been predominantly positive, though not without detractors. Some local voices have questioned whether racism represents a significant issue in Northern Ontario communities, despite demographic data showing growing diversity throughout the region.
Stella Kidd, who immigrated to Sudbury from Nigeria in 2017 and participated in a community consultation, offers a personal perspective on the initiative’s importance. “When I first arrived, I struggled to get appropriate prenatal care because providers didn’t understand my previous medical history from Nigeria. Programs like this give me hope that my children will receive more culturally responsive healthcare.”
The next phase includes expanding community partnerships and developing specialized resources for healthcare providers serving specific populations, including newcomers, Indigenous communities, and Black residents.
Dr. Zbar acknowledges the work ahead remains substantial. “We’re not claiming to have all the answers, but we’re committed to asking difficult questions and making changes based on what we learn.”
As the meeting concluded, board members unanimously voted to accept the progress report and approve the next implementation phase, signaling strong institutional support for the initiative’s continuation.
The Public Health Sudbury anti-racism initiative represents a significant shift in how regional health authorities approach equity issues. Whether it achieves its ambitious goals of transforming health outcomes will depend on sustained commitment, community involvement, and the willingness of health professionals throughout the system to examine deeply rooted practices that may unintentionally perpetuate disparities.
For residents like Kidd, the initiative offers tangible hope that future generations will experience a healthcare system more responsive to diverse needs. “Change happens slowly,” she observed, “but at least in Sudbury, it’s happening.”
