Modern Regulatory Approaches to Indigenous Reconciliation and EDI

As regulators, we are all walking our own journeys of learning, action, and leadership with respect to Indigenous reconciliation and equity, diversity, and inclusion. The journeys differ based on our regulatory mandates, the professions we regulate, and the environments in which we operate. However, there are also similarities and overlaps in aspects of our journeys: opportunities to collaborate and to share our experiences to learn and to walk this journey together.

Regulatory bodies of nurses, midwives, and physical therapists of BC will share their journey in identifying the need for and developing a new standard to address the racism and discrimination experienced by Indigenous people in the BC health care system. Through extensive partnership and consultation, this new standard was developed and clearly communicates the colleges' zero tolerance for Indigenous-specific racism in practice and sets expectation for healthcare practitioners to provide culturally safe competent care. To support understanding and adoption of this new standard, the colleges set out clear expectations organized into key themes (with descriptions) as well as extensive supporting materials such as videos, a companion guide, and learnings. Attendees will learn why this standard is necessary, how the standard was developed, what learning resources the colleges are providing, how other colleges are adapting and adopting the standard, and next steps.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC will share key learnings from their journey, explaining how they connect their regulatory mandate to their strategic plan and direction, specifically focused on the components of EDI and Indigenous reconciliation. Attendees will learn why Engineers and Geoscientists BC has identified social responsibility as a key element of their strategic plan, how they have embedded it into their strategic plan, and how this strategic plan has guided their specific actions plans. Engineers and Geoscientists BC will share information about their action plans for EDI and reconciliation with Indigenous people, outlining how the initiatives within those plans are embedded into a range of functions and programs structured to reach and support different groups including registrants, staff, volunteers, council, and the public, recognizing they each have important, yet different, roles and needs related to advancing and supporting our commitment to social responsibility. Attendees will learn the approach taken to build a regulator action plan, highlighting key internally and externally focused actions and initiatives, while also sharing insights and lessons learned about how to effectively execute the initiatives identified in those plans.

Speakers:
Dave Bhauruth, Executive Director, Reconciliation & EDI | Strategy, Governance & Reconciliation, British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives
Dianne Millette, Registrar, College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia
Marcie Cochrane, EDI Consultant, Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia
Chelsea Ram, EDI Coordinator, Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia