The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation is proud to announce Rio Tinto’s continued support for the CHU Sainte-Justine through a $500,000 donation to the Dialogue Program. This program aims to provide specialized maternal and pediatric healthcare and services to better support patients and families from First Nations and Inuit communities.
Unfortunately, even today, inequity, prejudice, and discrimination persist, often preventing
members of these communities from making full use of existing services in conventional urban
healthcare facilities—and from feeling entirely safe in doing so. The CHU Sainte-Justine established
the Dialogue Program to meet the specific needs of these families and build a relationship rooted in
mutual trust.
Thanks to Dialogue, hospital staff has access to training tools and programs that reflect the needs
and realities of First Nations and Inuit clientele so that they can learn to recognize and respond to
discrimination. Interpretation, translation, and personalized support services are also available to
families.
Marielle Ottawa, mother of Christopher, a young patient who was treated at Sainte-Justine,
highlights the importance of staff understanding their culture and reaching out to Indigenous
communities. “The day Christopher was diagnosed, we felt lonely, helpless, adrift. For families like
us, having access to culturally sensitive care is invaluable. I thank Rio Tinto for supporting the
Dialogue Program from the bottom of my heart.” Guilaine St-Pierre, Liaison Officer and Service
Navigator for Indigenous clients at the CHU Sainte-Justine, adds: “This collaborative effort is key to
improving care while respecting the visions and values of Indigenous families. My role is to promote
their well-being during their stay and to advocate for their cultural and personal needs.”
“Rio Tinto has been a steadfast partner of the CHU Sainte-Justine for decades,” says Delphine
Brodeur, President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. “The impact of its financial
support, which totals more than $6 million over the past 20 years, including $3 million for research
on rare diseases, transcends the institution. In supporting Dialogue, Rio Tinto is reaffirming its
confidence in the university hospital centre’s ability to implement a new program aimed at
transforming care for First Nations and Inuit patients across the province.”
In keeping with Sainte-Justine’s commitment to better support and represent its First Nations and
Inuit patients, Dialogue aims to ensure that these individuals are involved in any decisions pertaining
to their own health and well-being and to make services more visible and accessible within First Nations and Inuit communities. The institution is also committed to respecting Indigenous cultures
and ensuring they are prominently represented within the organization through a variety of actions,
such as incorporating art into healthcare settings and having books on hand for patients, families,
and employees.
“The Dialogue Program, supported by Rio Tinto, is a necessary step toward increasing our awareness
and knowledge so that we can provide the best care and services for First Nations and Inuit
patients,” says Caroline Barbir, President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine. “No one can
communicate what these families need better than the families themselves. That’s why we will work
to transform our practices and build trust by listening and engaging in a process of co-construction.”
“As a long-time partner of the CHU Sainte-Justine, our organization is pleased to renew our
commitment to this hospital, which is recognized for its expertise and quality of care,” says Ivan
Vella, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Aluminium. “Hospital stays are difficult for children and their
families, especially when cultural differences complicate interactions between the family and
healthcare staff. By supporting the Dialogue Program, Rio Tinto is helping provide a better care
experience for Indigenous families, in the spirit of respect, fairness, and reconciliation.”
At Sainte-Justine, some 1,200 consultations are sought annually by First Nations and Inuit families,
resulting in 60 to 80 hospital stays and around 75 emergency admissions. The Dialogue Program
aligns with the 2022–2027 Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Wellness of the First
Nations and Inuit.
Source : The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
For more information or to request an interview
Catherine Montambeault, strategic communications advisor
cmontambeault@fondationstejustine.org
514 345-4931, ext. 7960
About the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation’s mission is to engage the community and support the CHU Sainte-Justine in its pursuit of excellence and its commitment to providing children and mothers with one of the highest levels of health care in the world, now and in the future. Please visit fondationstejustine.org to learn more.
About CHU Sainte-Justine
The Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre (CHU Sainte-Justine) is the largest mother-child centre in Canada and the second largest pediatric hospital in North America. A member of the Université de Montréal extended network of excellence in health (RUIS), Sainte-Justine has 5,457 employees, including 1,532 nurses and nursing assistants; 1,000 other healthcare professionals; 520 physicians, dentists and pharmacists; 822 residents; and more than 204 researchers, 41 volunteers and 4,416 interns and students in a wide range of disciplines. Sainte-Justine has 484 beds, including 67 at the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, the only exclusively pediatric rehabilitation centre in Québec. The World Health Organization has recognized CHU Sainte-Justine as a “health promoting hospital.” To learn more, please visit chusj.org
