Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, Ont., has become the first hospital in Canada to receive recertification of the Order of Excellence from Excellence Canada, marking a significant milestone in its workplace wellness efforts.
The recognition, awarded under the Mental Health at Work Framework, comes after a detailed assessment of Ontario Shores’ workplace practices, including its employee wellness initiatives, diversity and inclusion efforts, and overall commitment to creating a supportive work environment.
Excellence Canada, an independent organization focused on improving organizational performance, conducted the evaluation earlier this year. The review involved meetings with Ontario Shores’ senior management, direct service staff, and other teams to gauge the hospital’s alignment with national workplace standards.
Ontario Shores President and CEO Karim Mamdani credited the recertification to the hospital’s ongoing efforts to prioritize employee wellbeing. “Our commitment to employee wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do,” Mamdani said. “We are incredibly proud of our team and our impactful work to advance mental health care, ensuring a thriving environment for all.”
Excellence Canada particularly praised Ontario Shores’ integrated wellness strategy, which includes a dedicated wellness hub offering resources for staff, and its focus on fostering a culture of belonging through diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The hospital’s employee opinion survey was also highlighted as a key tool in understanding and addressing staff needs.
Excellence Canada manages a national recognition program that honours organizations across various sectors for their adherence to established standards of excellence. Ontario Shores’ recertification was officially recognized during the Performance Excellence Summit and Canada Awards event on October 28, 2024.
Ontario Shores continues to lead by example in mental health workplace practices, setting a standard for other hospitals and organizations across Canada.