MRHA Displays Progress Pride Flags Across All Sites to Honour Pride Month and Deepen Commitment to Inclusion

Press Release – Mississippi River Health Alliance

The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) is marking Pride Month by formally displaying the Progress Pride Flag at all its sites: Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor, Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital and the Lanark County Paramedic Service Headquarters. These displays are a visible expression of the MRHA’s enduring commitment to equity, inclusion, and reconciliation.

The Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS), an entity of the MRHA, has long participated in Pride Month through annual flag displays at its Montague headquarters and by wearing rainbow epaulettes throughout June. Their continued leadership in this space reinforces MRHA’s collective efforts to foster inclusive, compassionate care across all sites and services.

These displays are more than symbolic. They reflect MRHA’s deeply held values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and honour the voices, identities, and histories of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals across the communities we are proud to serve.

"Displaying these flags is a meaningful way to demonstrate who we are and what we stand for,” said Brad Harrington, President & CEO of MRHA. “They send a clear message: everyone is welcome here, everyone belongs.”

The initiative builds on a year of significant progress led by MRHA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) Committee, which continues to drive systemic change across the organization. Notable milestones include:

• The introduction of gender-neutral restroom signage across sites.
• DEI&B training modules launched system-wide, surpassing completion targets.
• Strengthened partnerships with Wabano Centre, Ginawaydaganuc Village, and Pride Mississippi Mills, among others.
• Implementation of a formal Land Acknowledgment Policy for all MRHA events and communications.

“These flags are a visible reminder of the real work underway to create a more inclusive healthcare system,” said Angela McLean, Chair of the DEI&B Committee. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come and even more committed to the work ahead.”

Looking forward, MRHA will continue advancing cultural safety, implementing smudging and spiritual support services, enhancing inclusive hiring practices, and deepening its engagement with equity-deserving communities.

MRHA is proud to stand alongside our staff, patients, and community partners in advancing equity, not only during Pride Month, but year-round.

To learn more about MRHA’s DEI&B efforts, visit www.mrha.ca