The Office of I-IDEAS

Our Vision

To realize the “best life for all” by:

• recognizing the distinct experiences and worldviews of Indigenous peoples
• creating culturally affirming, equitable and safe conditions, interactions, and environments
• honouring the care, dignity, and diversity of children, youth, families, learners, volunteers, staff, and medical staff at CHEO.

Our Mission

To create, develop, and implement an I-IDEAS strategy that results in progressive outcomes and equitable experiences for all.

Our Challenges

Many groups and individuals in our society continue to experience the impacts of colonialism, power imbalances and systemic and personalized discrimination. This results in workplace and health inequities. 

Our Solutions

CHEO listens to these experiences from people who work here and those who come here for care as well as our partners. We collect data, identify issues, and come up with system-level solutions to address workplace and health inequities.

The Office of I-IDEAS provides direction and support for:

• Indigenous Circle Advisory Committee
• Accessibility Advisory Committee
• French Language Services and Advisory Committee 

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Advisory Committee

• National Newcomers Navigation Program

• I-IDEAS Initiatives

Our History

The EDII Task force was created in 2021 and made up of staff, medical staff, volunteers and youth/family advisors across CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute and the CHEO Foundation. The EDII Steering Committee was part of CHEO’s larger EDII Task Force and guided work across our three organizations to address inequities and put forward recommendations for change.

The EDII Task Force worked in close collaboration with existing committees, groups, and circles across our three organizations, including:

• Indigenous Circle
• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Committee
• Accessibility Committee
• French Language Committee

Our I-IDEAS Strategic Goals

We have five strategic goals guiding our work across CHEO, the CHEO Research Institute and the CHEO Foundation. Each strategic goal has a working group helping to implement recommendations and activities in their area.

Our five strategic goals are:

• We are our community - Team CHEO is representative of the communities we serve across all three of our organizations. 
• Everyone belongs - We foster a sense of belonging.
• Know better, do better - We have a culture of continuous training, education & research around Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity
• Working together - We build and maintain relationships with the broader community that reflect Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity
• Equitable access and care for all - Every child, youth, and family have equitable access to and delivery of effective and appropriate health-care services and experiences.