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The past two years – 2021 and 2020 – were the years of challenges that had a profound impact on who we are and how we work and live. It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought tremendous change and upheaval to all of our lives. But another major change that emerged last year has been the increasing push to prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of Capacity Canada’s work. And our research has shown that non-profit boards still have a long way to go in achieving diversity. The past year gave us the opportunity to help other organizations and workplaces understand the importance of DEI in the workplace.
Capacity Canada’s annual three-day Board Governance BootCamp that was held in December followed the theme – Transforming Governance: Preparing Your Board for Diversity. Led by an incredible roster of Indigenous, Black, and Muslim speakers, the BootCamp was attended by over 200 participants from across Canada.
Our work with DEI is supported by Manulife, Suncor Energy Foundation, and Lyle S. Hallman Foundation. We are also a proud member of the 50-30 Challenge, a Government of Canada initiative to improve access for women, racialized persons including Black Canadians, people who identify as LGBTQ2, persons living with disabilities, as well as First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to positions of influence and leadership on corporate boards and in senior management.
We understand that there is no simple way to create diverse and inclusive boards. Those in leadership positions need to actively identify barriers at multiple levels and build strategies to address these barriers. However, we cannot identify barriers till we examine our own internal biases and belief systems that have been influenced by colonial practices and culture. We must look within ourselves and learn how we perpetuate stereotypes in our policies and practices.
Here’s a look at some of our work on DEI:
- Broken Promises: A Struggle For A Diverse and Equitable World
- A Long Way To A Diverse and Equitable Board
- The Value of Diversity is Higher Than the Cost to Achieve It
- Transforming Governance: Preparing Your Board for Diversity
- Capacity Canada has also been offering on-going webinars and workshops on DEI.
