Through the strategic plan, the City introduced the value of inclusion, highlighting the importance of working together to embrace our differences to be stronger as an organization.
In 2022, staff from across the organization advanced our goal of creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace. The City’s Human Resources team continues to build inclusion into employee programs and workplace practices. A new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion specialist was brought on board to lead and support inclusive recruitment, employee learning and development programs.
The City offers inclusion training courses covering various inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) topics, including LGBTQ2S+, Indigenous relations, inclusive communication and unconscious bias training.
In 2022, employees participated in several events, including Pride celebrations over a two-week period in June and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Employees were encouraged to wear orange shirts and to reflect on awareness and action towards reconciliation. Throughout September, resources were available for employees to learn about Indigenous history, the residential school system and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. A local Indigenous Elder provided employees with a two-hour in-person Indigenous History session.
Additionally, the First Aid room on the first floor of City Hall was transitioned to a multipurpose space for reflection, meditation, and prayer; a temporary solution until an appropriate permanent space can be found.
The City’s IDEA programming also helps our entire city become more inclusive. In 2022, the City introduced the Equity Lens toolkit, the first step in taking action toward eliminating racism and barriers that may be embedded in City policy, programs, and services.
So many important IDEA initiatives moved along in 2022, and staff is already advancing new projects and programs to make our organization and city more inclusive and welcoming.
Resources
Corporate Update - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Initiatives
