Diversity and Inclusion

View York Region's full Inclusion Charter

The Inclusion Charter for York Region was developed by the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG). MDIG includes 20 member organizations that serve people who live, work and visit here. All 20 MDIG organizations have endorsed the Inclusion Charter.

The development of the Charter also involved the Newcomer Inclusion Table (formerly called the Community Partnership Council) which leads local strategies to welcome and include newcomers from around the world to our communities. Endorsement of the Charter began with MDIG, followed by organizations that are part of the Newcomer Inclusion Table and the Human Services Planning Board of York Region, as well as other organizations in York Region.

Community Feedback

The Inclusion Charter is the result of three rounds of community consultations and discussions with individuals, organizations, boards, councils and groups. Thousands of people and organizations have been part of its development and championing. It is a remarkable example of collaboration and inspiration at its best. It truly is an initiative developed by York Region communities for York Region communities.

Customizable

The Inclusion Charter is designed to be customized by each community partner. The first two paragraphs and the first sentence of the third paragraph will be consistent for all organizations. The remaining text of the third paragraph is customizable and unique to each community partner.

Recognition of the Inclusion Charter by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Atlanta)

The Inclusion Charter has gained international recognition. CIFAL Atlanta is part of the UNITAR global network and is the North American hub of UNITAR. CIFAL Atlanta has participated in the Charter initiative since May 2017 and they recognize the Inclusion Charter as a leading practice model that communities around the world could use to become more inclusive. The Inclusion Charter bears the CIFAL Atlanta logo to recognize this support.

For more information, you can read UNITAR’s Letter of Support.

The Inclusion Charter for York Region Progress Report is an annual update that highlights the progress of the Inclusion Charter for York Region, including endorsements and collective actions implemented by the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG).

• 2022 Inclusion Charter Progress Report
• 2021 Inclusion Charter Progress Report
• 2020 Inclusion Charter Progress Report
• 2019 Inclusion Charter Progress Report
• 2018 Inclusion Charter Progress Report

The following organizations have joined The Regional Municipality of York in endorsing the Inclusion Charter for York Region. Access the list of all Inclusion Charter endorsees and endorsement dates, including the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group:

ACHEV
Blue Door
Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Markham-Unionville
Catholic Community Services of York Region
Centre for Immigrant and Community Services
Chats – Community & Home Assistance to Seniors
City of Markham
City of Richmond Hill
City of Vaughan
Job Skills
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
Mackenzie Health
Markham Stouffville Hospital
Newmarket Chamber of Commerce
Newmarket Public Library
Regional Municipality of York
Social Enterprise for Canada
Southlake Regional Health Centre
The Canadian Mental Health Association
The John Howard Society of York Region
The YMCA of Greater Toronto
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Town of Aurora
Town of East Gwillimbury
Town of Georgina
Town of Newmarket
Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Township of King
United Way Greater Toronto
Workforce Planning Board of York Region
York Catholic District School Board
York Region Arts Council
York Region Children’s Aid Society
York Region District School Board
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
York Regional Police Services Board
York University

York Region is committed to supporting organizations who have endorsed the Inclusion Charter for York Region. Below are some of the supports currently available to endorsing organizations.  

Endorsement Support  

Organizations that are interested in endorsing the Inclusion Charter are encouraged to contact @email for more information. Staff at York Region are available to help guide organizations through this process. 

A toolkit is also available to assist organizations during the endorsement process and support messaging across all endorsing organizations. This toolkit provides a step-by-step guide to the process for endorsing the Inclusion Charter for York Region, along with information and key messages that can be used to develop materials for endorsement as well as promotion.

York Region has also developed a series of posters that can be customized with the logo of endorsing organizations and distributed to spread the word about the Inclusion Charter for York Region.

Inclusion Charter Community of Practice

The Inclusion Charter Community of Practice is open to all endorsees of the Inclusion Charter for York Region. This Community of Practice, established in October 2021, serves as an inclusive and unified network of Inclusion Charter endorsees who can support each other, collaborate, exchange knowledge and inspire each other.

Inclusion Charter Community of Practice members participate in networking calls to update each other on diversity and inclusion efforts within their organizations and can access existing resources developed to support endorsees.

Endorsing organizations can contact @email for more information about this Community of Practice.

Celebrating Milestone Anniversaries of Endorsement  

A toolkit has been created to assist organizations acknowledge and celebrate their milestone anniversaries of endorsing the Inclusion Charter for York Region, such as their 5-year anniversary or their 10-year anniversary.

This toolkit provides communications resources and suggestions for celebrating milestones anniversaries of endorsing the Inclusion Charter.

For more information, please contact @email.

York Region is proud to be a member and co-chair of the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG).  

MDIG includes 20 member organizations that serve people who live, work, and visit here. Co-Chaired by York Region and York Regional Police, this community collaboration brings together municipalities, police services, hospitals, school boards, conservation authorities and agencies with a common commitment to welcoming and inclusive communities.  

The Inclusion Charter for York Region was developed by MDIG. Members of MDIG are also working together to develop collective actions to enhance inclusion in the community. The development, monitoring and reporting of these collective actions will be coordinated by York Region. 

MDIG Education and Awareness Campaign  

To advance the vision of the Inclusion Charter in the community, MDIG is pursuing a community education and awareness strategy. 

In 2018, MDIG started to plan collective actions to make our community more welcoming and inclusive. MDIG determined that they would collectively launch an Education and Awareness Campaign to foster inclusion by addressing two priority areas: increasing the sense of community belonging amongst York Region residents and decreasing the incidence of hate crimes.  

MDIG further decided that this collective action would consist of a campaign with two phases: one that focuses internally within MDIG member organizations and one that focuses on the community across York Region. 

Phase I: Internal Education and Awareness Campaign  

The first phase of the collective action plan, an internal education and awareness campaign focused on educating staff and raising awareness about the Inclusion Charter and what it means to each organization. This phase launched in 2021. 

Phase 2: External Education and Awareness Campaign  

The second phase of the collective action plan, an external education and awareness campaign, focuses on providing foundational education and awareness on hate, including:  

• What hate motivated crimes and incidents are 
• Information around why these incidents are underreported 
• The impact that hate motivated crimes and incidents have on people’s lives  
• What community members can do to work together to eliminate hate and support those impacted 

An information hub has been created which includes definitions, information, and resources to help understand, identify and report acts of hate. 

Other Collective Actions of MDIG:  

Diversity Calendar  

In 2020, a diversity calendar was identified as a collective action where MDIG representatives felt they could collaborate.  

In 2021, York Region, as MDIG co-chair, made Multifaith Action Society’s electronic diversity calendar available online so that residents and stakeholders can access important information about various faith dates and internationally, nationally, and provincially recognized dates. 

Inclusive Language Guide  

In 2020, an inclusive language guide was identified as a collective action that MDIG representatives could develop in collaboration. The guide was developed in 2021 and launched in 2022. It is available for all MDIG partners, local businesses and residents to use. 

This Inclusive Language Guide was developed to support the use of inclusive language in writing and conversation. Inclusive language refers to communication free of prejudicial terms, names or phrases. It does not include stereotypical or discriminatory ideas or views of people/groups and is respectful of different backgrounds, languages, ethnicities, religions, ages, abilities and/or other identities. 

This Inclusive Language Guide was modelled after inclusive language guides from across Canada and will be updated periodically to reflect evolving language preferences. 

The Guide: 

• Includes guiding principles to follow to help you communicate using inclusive language  
• Covers various inclusive language topics such as age, citizenship or immigration status, creed or religion, disability, gender, gender identity and gender expression, Indigenous Peoples, low-income status, marital status and family status, mental health, race or ethnic background and sexual orientation. Topics are presented through a Regional lens with key facts/data about our community 
• Recommends preferred terms to use

In March 2021, York Region’s Senior Management Team, acknowledged and denounced system anti-Black racism and committed to learn more, do more and be a champion for change. York Region is implementing a corporate framework for action to address anti-Black racism, as one of the many actions resulting from the Inclusion Charter.

This framework consists of four pillars of actions focusing on internal activities and community activities. Many actions to address anti-racism and systemic discrimination are underway:

1. Acknowledging and committing to action including a formal acknowledgement and denouncement of systemic anti-Black racism and commitment to take immediate action to address it.
2. Understanding who we are and how workplace policies and practices impact us through developing and implementing actions to address gaps.
3. Understanding and affirming how we need to treat each other through anti-Black racism training for all Regional staff and management.
4. Working together and supporting each other by establishing an internal Anti-Black Racism Advisory Group, developing supports for Black staff and engaging with the local Black community on community actions.

Engaging the local Black community on community actions

York Region is working with local Black community groups to explore and advance community development opportunities and partnerships. This includes building relationships with Black-mandated/focused, Black-led and Black-serving (B3) community organizations in York Region. Activities to support these efforts are underway and include engaging with B3 organizations to learn more about current community actions and identify alignments and partnerships.

Through community engagement, York Region is:

• Engaging with Black communities to address racial inequities related to COVID 19
• Exploring collective efforts to address and dismantle anti-Black racism
• Continuing to leverage partnerships and community tables

International Decade for People of African Decent

In July 2020, York Regional Council recognized 2015-2024 as International Decade for People of African Descent. This decade, for which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was designated as the lead agency, aims to strengthen actions and measures to ensure the full realization of the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights of people of African descent and their full and equal participation in society.

Regional Council and York Region’s Senior Management Team recognize our communities are not immune to systemic racism and biases. Together, they are championing action now to address anti-Black racism in York Region and helping to build strong, caring and safe communities for all who call York Region home.

Learn more about other efforts to address anti-racism and systemic discrimination such as the Region’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, Community Investment Fund and more.

York Region’s internal Anti-Black Racism Advisory Group (ABRAG)

Addressing anti-Black racism at York Region is grounded on the principle of Nothing About Us Without Us. York Region heard that Black staff need to drive the actions related to addressing anti-Black Racism. A dedicated internal Anti-Black Racism Advisory Group was developed in November 2020 - a group within the Diversity and Inclusion Staff Committee (DISC) and comprised of Black staff - guides, leads, advises on and/or participates in the implementation of corporate actions to address anti-Black racism. Below are the group’s mission and vision statements

ABRAG’s mission is to guide, lead, advise on and/or participate in the implementation of the approved corporate pillars of actions on anti-Black racism, to support changes in practice to foster equity for those who are Black in the workplace and in the community. ABRAG’s vision is a workplace and community where impacts of systemic racism experienced by Black staff in the workplace are dismantled and eradicated and an environment where those who are Black see themselves represented and reflected at all levels of the organization and the community.

Get to know members of the Anti-Black Racism Advisory Group and read various resources produced by the group such as Be an Effective Ally.

You can also read the Region’s formal acknowledgement and denouncement system anti-Black racism statement.