CHEO receives official French services health provider designation

March 1, 2023 - Ottawa, ON - We are proud to announce CHEO has received the French services health provider designation under the Province of Ontario French Language Services Act. The nomination was provided by the Réseau des services de santé en français de l’Est de l’Ontario (RSSFE) and approved by the Ministry of Health in December 2022.

Certificate of CHEO's French Language designation status.

Seeking health care, especially for children and youth, can be daunting. At CHEO, we work hard to remove barriers like language, and make kids’ health care as stress free as we can. This new designation recognizes the efforts made by CHEO to make its services accessible in the French language to children, youth and their families in our community. With over 126,000 francophone patients and families in our region, this is a major milestone, and we are thrilled to further enhance our patients’ experience.

For children, youth and their families receiving care at CHEO, this designation means that we have a compliment of staff, policies, and practices in place to ensure the ability to offer bilingual services at all times. For example, where bilingual staff is not available, Voyce Interpretation, an on-demand virtual and phone interpreter service, is available through iPads to facilitate the exchange with families and patients.

- 30 -

Media contact

media@cheo.on.ca

About CHEO

Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.