Dr. Notisha Massaquoi is this years Women of Distinction Award recipient for health. She has been a powerful force in Black women's healthcare for over 30 years.
On June 8, you will be recognized with a YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction Award. Can you share what this award means to you?
It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized among fellow peers, mentors, and colleagues, all advocating for the advancement of women. This award reminds me that my over 30 years of working to ensure the wellbeing and survival of Black women in Canada are seen as a valuable contribution to this country. There are times when I get so frustrated with the lack of movement to address anti-Black racism in Canadian systems that I want to stop the work, but moments like these are so reinvigorating, especially when you meet incredible women like the other nominees. It is a reminder that we do not do this work alone or in isolation, we are part of a large supportive system that needs each person to do their part to advance gender equity.
What do you envision for the future in your sector?
Currently, the health sector is failing the Black community in Canada, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with Black communities having the highest COVID acquisition and hospitalizations rates. What we are fighting for is equitable access to healthcare and the elimination of the anti-Black racism we experience from healthcare providers. We need to see more healthcare providers who look like us by increasing Black students in all healthcare fields and Black healthcare leaders in senior management roles and governance. More health research is needed to address the health disparities and disproportionality we are experiencing despite living in a country with universal healthcare. We want anti-Black racism to be addressed at every level of the healthcare system so we can see the health outcomes for the Black community in Canada on par with the rest of Canadian society.
What advice do you wish you could share with your younger self?
I migrated with my family from Sierra Leone to a small town in central Newfoundland in the ’60s; we were the first and only Black family when we arrived. Nothing in my early experience in Canada would make me think that I had anything important to say or contribute. I would tell my younger self, “Trust your gut. It is correct! You are going to hear a lot of no’s but ignore them and keep knocking on doors until you find people who will tell you yes. Not seeing anyone who looks like you in your world will have no bearing on what you can and will achieve in life, where you will go, or who you will influence.”
Who are some women that inspire you, including Women of Distinction Alumni (past and present)?
One of my biggest inspirations was my mentor Dr. Joan Lesmond. She was a nurse, educator, advocate, and recognized leader who profoundly impacted the nursing profession and community-based healthcare in Canada. She mentored countless women to become healthcare leaders and fought tirelessly to increase access to healthcare professions for Black women. Joan received the Women of Distinction Award for health leadership in 2011, but unfortunately, she passed away after a well-fought battle with cancer before she could accept the award. As one of her nominees, it never occurred to me that I would one day receive the same award. Her shoes are big shoes to fill, so I hope I can continue her legacy.
February 22 was #YWCATorontoDay, proclaimed by the City of Toronto to recognize YWCA Toronto’s 150th anniversary. From your perspective, what would you say are YWCA Toronto’s greatest accomplishments over the years?
I think YWCA Toronto has managed to stay relevant in the fight for women's equality over its 150-year history. Not many organizations can say that they are just as relevant today in the fight as they were 150 years ago. YWCA always emphasizes and advocates unapologetically for women to take leadership positions in all sectors; its work to continuously mentor and support the next generation is admirable. Countless women's lives have been improved and supported by the work of the YWCA.
My first research job was with YWCA Toronto when I moved to the city for graduate school. Notably, I conducted a needs assessment to determine what services should be included in the build of YWCA Torontos’ Elm Housing Complex. It felt amazing to play a small part in a big project to change how women would receive services, respectfully, despite their economic situation. It is incredible to be named one of the Women of Distinction from an organization whose work I have admired for many years. I am so grateful for this honor – it feels like a full-circle moment.