Turning commitment into action: progress on EDIRA and reconciliation

Over the past year, Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) has made notable strides in applying its equity and reconciliation work in everyday practice. This includes the continued advancement of both the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Accessibility (EDIRA) Framework and the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

One major milestone has been the formation of the RAP Committee, bringing together staff from across HSNS to guide this work and improve accountability. With strong internal engagement, the committee is now focused on strengthening relationships with Mi’kmaw and other communities across the province.

“We have a lot of ideas, but this work has to be built with communities, not based on our own assumptions. That’s what builds trust and helps remove barriers to care,” says Greg Noel, Director of Adult & Mi’kmaq Hearing and Speech Services.

At the same time, the EDIRA framework is increasingly embedded in day-to-day operations.

“There’s been a real shift from EDIRA as an initiative to something that’s part of how we work every day,” says Leah MacEachern, Manager at HSNS. “It’s becoming part of our thinking in how we build policies, hire, and support both staff and clients.”

Across the organization, it’s being integrated into onboarding and staff learning, guiding policy development, and influencing recruitment—including designated positions that better reflect the communities HSNS serves and strengthening patient-centred care. Ongoing education also continues to expand, supporting culturally and psychologically safe workplaces across the province.

Early actions are already improving accessibility and building trust. One exciting step forward has been the translation of HSNS’s first consent document into Mi’kmaw, with more materials to follow in additional languages. This means more clients and families can access information in ways that are accessible, culturally relevant, and aligned with safe, informed care.

These efforts reflect the understanding that equity, reconciliation, and cultural safety aren’t checkboxes, but ongoing practices that require learning, adaptation, and evolution over time.

As this work continues, priorities include deepening community engagement, expanding education, and advancing EDIRA and reconciliation across all aspects of care.

“As this work becomes part of how we operate every day, we hope staff feel a stronger sense of belonging and psychological safety,” says Erin Burke, Speech-Language Pathologist at HSNS. “In turn, it’s about clients and communities feeling heard, understood, and respected—building trust and leading to better health outcomes.”