Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Black Communities in Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in differential impacts on the Black communities in Canada and has unmasked existing race-related health inequities. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black people in Canada. Historically, social inequalities have determined the impacts of pandemics on the population, and in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionate infections and mortalities have become evident among racialized communities in Canada. This qualitative descriptive study utilized an intersectionality framework. We invited Black stakeholders across Canada to participate in semi-structured interviews to deepen our knowledge of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black communities in Canada. A total of 30 interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis. Our findings fell into three categories: (1) increased vulnerability to COVID-19 disease, (2) mental impacts, and (3) addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show the underlying systemic inequities in Canada and systemic racism exacerbated health inequities among the Black communities and undermined interventions by public health agencies to curb the spread of COVID-19 and associated impacts on Black and other racialized communities. The paper concludes by identifying critical areas for future intervention in policy and practice

Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility: From organizational responsibility to leadership competency

An awakening to systemic anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and harmful colonial structures in the context of a pandemic has made health inequities and injustices impossible to ignore, and is driving healthcare organizations to establish and strengthen approaches to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). Health research and care organizations, which are shaping the future of healthcare, have a responsibility to make IDEA central to their missions. Many organizations are taking concrete action critically important to embedding IDEA principles, but durable change will not be achieved until IDEA becomes a core leadership competency. Drawing from the literature and consultation with individuals recognized for excellence in IDEA-informed leadership, this study will help Canadian healthcare and health research leaders—particularly those without lived experience—understand what it means to embed IDEA within traditional leadership competencies and propose opportunities to achieve durable change by rethinking governance, mentorship, and performance management through an IDEA lens.</p