Collège Boréal Declaration on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

We firmly renew our commitment to listening to new and different perspectives and undertaking the actions and changes needed to foster a culture of inclusion, accessibility and responsibility for everyone in matters of human rights. Our Strategic Plan upholds this commitment on several levels: it is reflected in our values (humanism, integrity, respect…), mission, structural elements, areas of focus and general objectives – notably “The organizational culture fosters a healthy and respectful environment.”

We recognize the reality of systemic racism and discrimination, which persist in our society and could arise in our institution. We also recognize the barriers to success faced by under-represented groups with relation to, among other factors, colour, language, citizenship, race, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, gender, sexual orientation, physical or intellectual ability, age, family or marital status or financial status.

We expect all of our employees and partners to share our values and to actively contribute to this positive societal transformation in which a commitment to diversity and inclusion is recognized as a responsibility not just of institutions, but individuals as well.

We want to be better. Collège Boréal is currently implementing various strategies and initiatives to continue its institutional development and support members of the Boréal family in their personal development.

To achieve our objectives, we will pursue the following strategies:

  1. Listen and learn:
    1. Consult our staff and clients on topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The college will establish committees for equity, diversity and inclusion to understand the needs of the college community in these areas. All members of the Boréal community, including staff, students and clients, will be invited to participate in these advisory committees and contribute to Collège Boréal’s decisions and initiatives in the area of EDI;
    2. Consult EDI experts to ensure the efficiency and quality of the activities
      stemming from this initiative;
  2. Identify the college’s current situation in the area of EDI;
  3. Develop and implement an EDI policy;
  4. Develop an action plan to reduce systemic barriers to professional advancement, recruitment and job retention for under-represented or disadvantaged groups; and
  5. Create and implement awareness-raising and training activities in support of EDI for all members of the Boréal family.

 

 

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Collège Boréal is becoming one of five National 50 – 30 Challenge hubs for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

In 2021, the Government of Canada (through Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED)) launched its 50 – 30 Challenge to help organizations increase equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The 50 – 30 Challenge asks organizations to aspire to two goals:

  • Gender parity (50% women and/or non-binary people) on Canadian boards and/or in senior management.
  • Significant representation (30%) on Canadian boards and/or senior management of members of other equity-deserving groups, including Racialized, Black, and/or People of colour (“Visible Minorities”), People with disabilities (including invisible people and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous peoples. The program and participants recognize Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit, as founding Peoples of Canada and underrepresented in economic influence and leadership positions.

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) has partnered with ISED to award grants to five colleges across Canada to create and maintain national equity, diversity, and inclusion hubs across Canada. The five partner hubs are Fanshawe College, Northern College, Northern Lights College and Cégep Marie-Victorin. t is with great pride that Collège Boréal has joined them in supporting this initiative and contributing to a more inclusive Canada.

Collège Boréal will offer three service centres, including one in Timmins, one in Sudbury and one in Windsor, to better serve companies that have signed up for the 50 – 30 challenges. The teams handling the 50-30 Challenge awareness project will be on hand to work with companies, provide training tools, webinars and policy reviews, help implement action plans and much more, all at no cost. Our team is here to help companies in Canada achieve their EDI goals and increase awareness.

Whether you’re a registered company or have general questions about the 50 – 30 Challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Please send our team an email at defi50-30challenge@collegeboreal.ca to get in touch.