Roundtable Discussion
eQUITY Link and the Official Languages Recognition Program: Complementary Approaches to Applying the CAN/HSO 11012:2018
Gilles Vienneau
In this roundtable discussion, learn how eQUITY Link and Accreditation Canada’s Official Languages Recognition Program (OLRP) accomplish three aims: providing a framework and resources that comply with the CAN/HSO 11012:2018 Standard, putting forth evidence-based strategies and tools to support equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) with engagement from patients/families and from the community, and finally exploring adaptation measures to improve linguistic accessibility and equity in general.
eQUITY Link supports organizations that wish to explore their current capacity by completing a confidential self-assessment. The self-assessment is used to develop a personalized French language service plan, with supporting resources, that is then adaptable to organizational capacities and priorities.
The OLRP supports healthcare and social service organizations using a progressive quality improvement framework; it also recognizes their commitment to official-language accessibility.
Findings are based on test sites and provide examples of practical application.
Health systems must innovate to address changing population demographics and address flaws exacerbated by the pandemic.
With participation from:
- Étienne O’Connor, Director of Operations, Accreditation Canada
- Antoine Désilets, Director and Manager, Société Santé en français (SSF)
- Isabelle Jarrin, Manager of Patient Safety with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and an Accreditation Canada Surveyor
Étienne O’Connor
Director of Operations, Accreditation Canada
Antoine Désilets
Director and Manager, Société Santé en français (SSF)
Antoine Désilets has been with Société Santé en français since 2011 and has served as executive director since April 2021. Previously, he worked as a manager of government relations, partnerships, and governance.
Mr. Désilets was born in Saint-Nicolas, Quebec. He has made the national capital region his home for nearly 15 years, during which time he has developed a true passion for Canada’s French-speaking community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied political studies from the University of Sherbrooke and a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Ottawa.
Apart from the decade he has spent with SSF, he worked for the federal government and for the University of Ottawa. In 2018, his passion for public policy led him to the world of municipal politics, where he worked as a campaign director. He is also actively engaged with his community as a board member for the Vanier Community Services Centre and the Centre Le CAP, two organizations that provide services for Ottawa’s French-speaking community.
