Historic report elevates health realities of Black women

An historic milestone was marked on Tuesday, November 4^th, 2025 at the Empire Club. The day featured the launch of a first-of-its-kind national survey on the health of Black women in Canada titled Voices Unheard. The Black Women’s Health Institute conducted the survey and partnered with the Empire Club of Canada to host an event called Whose Health Counts? Improving Health Outcomes for Black Women and Girls.

The program included expert speakers, a performance by the legendary Jully Black, remarks from Chavannes Vidale and others, and a live breathing-painting performance by Nicole Alexander. Nam Kiwanuka, host and producer of TVO’s MIS•Treated, moderated the presentation with thoughtful direction and a clear understanding of the stakes.

The panel featured four leaders whose experience spans research, medicine, and community health:

• Bukola Salami, Full Professor, Department of Community Health Services, University of Calgary
• Cindy Maxwell, Vice-President, Medical Affairs System Transformation; Lead Medical Executive, Women’s College Hospital
• Modupe Tunde-Byass, Inaugural President, Black Physicians of Canada
• Kearie Daniel, Founder and Director, Black Women’s Institute in Health

The promotional materials for the event described what attendees could expect. They highlighted how social determinants: birthplace, neighbourhood, employment, and education shape health. For Black women and girls in Canada, long-standing systemic barriers and gaps in research magnify health disparities, influence perinatal outcomes, and affect access to quality care.

The presentation explored three core questions:

• What priorities should guide improvements in Canada’s health system?
• What lessons can other marginalized communities learn from the findings?
• What should sector leaders, especially in health and education where many Black women work, take from this data to build a healthier, more productive workforce?

In an email to its subscribers, the Black Women’s Health Institute outlined the purpose of the Voices Unheard report. The organization wrote that nearly 2,000 Black women, girls, and gender-diverse people shared their lived experiences with healthcare, mental wellness, employment, and education. The Institute emphasized that the report “Does not just highlight disparities. It amplifies truth, names systemic harm, and presents bold recommendations for real change.”

Key Findings from Voices Unheard

Top Employment Sectors

• Education – 19.2%
• Healthcare and social assistance – 17.5%
• Non-profit and community services – 11.6%

Highest Levels of Education

• Bachelor’s degree – 36.6%
• Postgraduate degree – 29.6%

Barriers to Healthcare Access

• Long wait times – 29.7%
• Lack of culturally competent providers – 17.6%
• Difficulty finding a trusted provider – 14.1%

Workplace Experience and Discrimination

• 5% have faced discrimination or bias at work
• 5% have been pushed out, or forced to leave a position due to discrimination, bias, or lack of support

Emotional Exhaustion and Burnout

• 9% experience burnout occasionally
• 1% experience it frequently

Gender-Based Violence

• 6% have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse

Top Reported Health Conditions

• Mental health and safety concerns – 27.4%
• Mental health conditions – 15.8%
• Hypertension – 15.8%
• Fibroids – 13.5%

This landmark report shed light on health inequities affecting Black women and girls across Canada. Its findings reinforce why healthcare providers, policymakers, and the medical community must engage with detailed race-based data. Data of this quality supports stronger decisions, better care pathways, and long-term systemic change.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the Voices Unheard report can visit the Black Women’s Health Institute website.