Celebrating Pride Month 2025
May 30, 2025Message from Mike Heenan, Interim President & CEO and Keith Metcalfe, Director of Mission and Spiritual Care Community of Practice, St. Joseph’s Health System
Each June, St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) member organizations come together to mark Pride Month with events, educational opportunities, and meaningful conversations. These activities reflect our deep commitment to fostering inclusive, welcoming, and equitable environments — for both those who seek care and those who provide it.
As we begin Pride Month 2025, we take this opportunity to celebrate the diversity, resilience, and contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ communities across our teams, our patients, residents and clients, and the communities we serve.
Advancing health equity is a cornerstone of our Strategic Plan, Care Redefined. Teams Reimagined. Our diversity is our strength, and we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver high-quality, compassionate care that respects the dignity and worth of every individual. It is essential that everyone feels safe and seen when entering our facilities — whether as a patient, resident, client, visitor, or team member.
Supporting one another on our equity, diversity, and inclusion journey — as well as on our Indigenous reconciliation journey — is a shared responsibility. Whether by participating in a Pride event, exploring educational resources, or actively creating safer, more inclusive spaces, each action brings us closer to a healthcare system that truly reflects the values and legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph — one of compassion, justice, and human dignity.
We invite you to take part in the Pride Month events happening throughout June across all SJHS member organizations. Highlights include:
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
- Pride Flag Raising Ceremonies at Charlton, West 5th, and King Campuses — May 30
- West 5th campus, 9 a.m.
- King campus, 11 a.m.
- Charlton campus, 12 p.m.
- Explore 2SLGBTQI+ Featured Resources and Readings on MyStJoes
St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph
- Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the Westmount Site — June 3 at 11:00 a.m.
- Explore 2SLGBTQ+ resources and learning opportunities at the pop-up information table in the main lobby at the Westmount Site.
- Visit The Pulse intranet page for additional resources and local events.
- Throughout the month, leadership staff and staff champions are participating in learning sessions hosted by Rainbow Health Ontario. For more details, visit the Centre for Resilience, Learning & Growth website.
- Later this month, staff will be able to pick up pronoun buttons to wear on their lanyards
- Celebrate at Guelph’s Summer Pride 2025 — June 5–14
St. Joseph’s Home Care
- Pride Flag Raising Ceremony (located at St. Joseph’s Villa) — June 5 at 10:30 a.m.
- Special edition Pride Month newsletter — June 2
St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre Brantford
- Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on the Campus of Care — June 4 at 3:30 p.m.
- Check out Pride Month educational resources (sent to all staff by email)
- Attend Brantford’s Pride in the Park, June 14 from 12–5 p.m. at Mohawk Park
St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas
- Pride Flag Raising Ceremony — June 5 at 10:30 a.m.
- View our “Everyone is Welcome Here” signage across the Campus of Care
Thank you for the work you do each day to support our patients, residents, clients, and each other. Together, we are building a health system that truly embodies inclusion and belonging.
Wishing you a joyful, safe, and meaningful Pride Month.
Mike Heenan
Interim President & CEO
St. Joseph’s Health System
Keith Metcalfe
Director, Mission and Spiritual Care Community of Practice
St. Joseph’s Health System