Imagination. Innovation. Inclusion. Impact Report 2022-2023

We are proud to celebrate another successful year of advocacy for children, youth and families with disabilities and developmental differences. Thanks to your generous support, our dedicated team of clinicians, staff and researchers let their imaginations soar, building a more accessible future for our kids. Together, we used the power of innovation to create solutions prioritizing the needs of our clients and communities. We also listened, educated and took action towards creating a culture of inclusion and belonging both at Holland Bloorview and beyond our walls.

As Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital, we developed new programs to ensure our clients receive safe and compassionate health care and prioritized the inclusion of marginalized communities. As a teaching hospital, we provided growth opportunities for our staff, students and learners. Our anti-stigma campaign, Imagine Everybody, spread awareness in communities across Ontario. Scientists in the Bloorview Research Institute continued to break barriers, generate knowledge, create life-altering technological advancements and amplify diverse voices in childhood disability research. Through it all, we celebrated the exceptional Holland Bloorview team who bring joy and see possibility in all they do.

Amidst socio-economic challenges within the healthcare sector brought on by post-pandemic life, we remained committed to children’s health and development. That’s why Holland Bloorview, along with other pediatric health care providers, advocated for a generational investment to right-size the children’s healthcare system through the Make Kids Count Action Plan.

Your generosity, commitment and belief in our values have profoundly impacted the lives of countless children and families.  Together with our community, donors, valued volunteers and devoted staff we are co-creating the most meaningful future for children’s healthcare. We look forward to another bright year ahead.

Julia Hanigsberg
Julia Hanigsberg signature

Julia Hanigsberg
President and CEO,
Holland Bloorview
Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Sandra Hawken
Sandra Hawken signature

Sandra Hawken
President and CEO,
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation
Hospital Foundation

Poonam Puri
Poonam Puri signature

Poonam Puri
Chair, Board of Directors,
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Jason Smith
Jason Smith signature

Jason Smith
Chair, Board of Directors,
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation

A year of empowering imagination and building an accessible future

Creating proud, inclusive communities

Our ongoing commitment to advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility and anti-racism (IDEAA)

At Holland Bloorview, we are fostering an inclusive and anti-racist workplace for clients, families, staff, students and volunteers. This year, we established a new discrimination, racism and harassment reporting process, commissioned a survey of Black staff to help us understand and dismantle anti-Black racism internally and launched health equity and allyship training for all staff.

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Read more stories about creating proud inclusive communities

A boy with mask on, sitting on a wheelchair and talk with a hospital staff who also has a mask on

Holland Bloorview serves some of Canada’s most diverse communities. Did you know:

A heart background, surround by 3 hands with the centre of the Holland Bloorview infinity logo

8 of the top 10 communities we serve have populations that are at least

 50% visible minority

14%

of the clients have household
incomes that are below the poverty line of $51,468.

Big moments that shaped our year

Group of people behind a pride flag

Marching with pride

For the first time ever, our LGBTQ2S+ employee resource group proudly took part in the Toronto Pride parade. The group’s mandate is to provide a safer, inclusive and welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ2S+ community at Holland Bloorview.

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A boy with his cape on, holding a copy of an x-ray of a hand

Imagining inclusion for everyone

The kids we care for at Holland Bloorview have dreams: driving a car, writing novels, being a doctor and having fun on the playground. The new Imagine Everybody campaign calls on everybody to dream big and imagine a world where disability is included.

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A boy with his cape on, holding a copy of an x-ray of a hand

Soaring toward our $1 million fundraising goal

Our 2023 Capes for Kids campaign, supported by BMO, raised over $1 million to help kids with disabilities move, play and heal. And with the help of 2,854 superheroes, Raptors 905, Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam and his PS43 Foundation Canada, we broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest gathering of people wearing capes.

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Providing compassionate and client-centred care

Brain computer interface (BCI) unlocks independence using the power of thought

Developed over years of study, brain computer interface technology supports children and youth with severe mobility differences using the power of their minds. The technology relies on brain signals to command specific tasks such as painting, controlling music or playing video games. This year, we celebrated new advancements in using pictograms for communication and more options for mobility control.

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Read more stories about providing compassionate and client-centred care:

Two hospital staffs helping a teenager to put on a headset type of machine

Breaking barriers through research

Dr. De-Lawrence Lamptey named inaugural EMBARK scientist

The Empowering Black Academics, Researchers and Knowledge creators (EMBARK) program is the first of its kind in Canada and aims to break down barriers and amplify diverse Black voices in childhood disability research.

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Inspiring the next generation of clinicians

Providing education and connection at annual Teaching and Learning week

We are proud to bring together staff, students and family leaders to celebrate teaching, develop skills and engage with Holland Bloorview’s teaching and learning community. In 2022, we had over 90 attendees, 14 presentations, plus keynotes and workshops on topics such as unpacking power and privilege in health care and the impact of the pandemic on nursing students and new graduates.

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Read more stories about inspiring the next generation of clinicians:

Thank you to our donors for helping us imagine a world of possibilities

We are thankful to our donors for their dedication to the empowerment and inclusion of youth and children with disabilities and developmental differences. A special thank you to:

Read more from our donors as they reflect on their partnership with Holland Bloorview and their commitment to children’s health and accessibility.
Two children was having fun with a clown and an adult in a play

A special thank you to:

3 year

funding commitment to our
therapeutic clown program

Through Roots Cares, the clothing company donated over
$60,000

to various programs at Holland
Bloorview

Prime Quadrant showed their dedication to mental health at Holland Bloorview by raising
$120,000

at their annual Family Office
Conference

Connecting the system within and beyond our walls

Supporting the journey from hospital to home for children with complex needs

A new program, designed by Holland Bloorview and Safehaven with funding from the Government of Ontario, provides integrated, transitional care for children who require specialized supports to safely leave hospital and return home.

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Read more stories about connecting the system within and beyond our walls:

A thriving team

Holland Bloorview youth leaders share their unique lived experience with disability through collection of short stories

As I Live and Breathe offers an intimate window into the lives of nine Holland Bloorview youth leaders. This collection of stories covers topics ranging from self-esteem, cultural identity, romance and parenting and features one-of-a-kind artwork from youth leader, artist and short story author Lexin.

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New executive appointments bring diversity to leadership

We are pleased to continue to evolve our leadership team at the executive level so they better represent the communities we serve. This includes welcoming Dr. Evdokia Anagnostou, Holland Bloorview’s first female vice president of research and Aman Sium, vice president, experience, transformation and social accountability. In what is believed to be a health care sector first, Aman is the first executive lead with social accountability as a distinct portfolio.
Holland Bloorview staffs