Vaughan announces selection for its first diversity officer, Zincia Francis

New senior-level role started on Jan. 11

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 15, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Vaughan has finally announced the name of its first diversity and inclusion officer after creating the role in July amid the U.S. Black Live Matter protests reaching Canadian shores.

Zincia Francis started in this new senior-level role on Jan. 11.

According to the city’s release, Francis brings “extensive” experience in equity work.

“Her experience also includes work in the child-welfare sector as well as addressing violence against women and children,” the release said.

The city also described her as a “driving force in achieving equitable outcomes for children, youth and families, focusing on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.”

Francis's LinkedIn shows that she previously held a role in diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement at York Region Children's Aid Society for seven years.

It added, “She has also led equity initiatives delivering services to Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Questioning/Queer+ (2SLGBTQ+) children and youth, contributing to many other diversity- and inclusion-related initiatives.”

“I am excited to join the City of Vaughan as the new Diversity and Inclusion Officer,” Francis said in a statement. “I want to recognize Mayor Bevilacqua for his leadership that championed the creation of this position.

“I look forward to learning from and engaging in meaningful dialogue with the community to achieve diversity, inclusion and equity goals collaboratively. I welcome the opportunity to advance council-approved initiatives, including the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.”

TO WHOM IS SHE GOING TO REPORT?

After creating the position, there was discussion as to whom this new officer should report, and if the new officer should report directly to the city manager or the council to exert further influence to create a more inclusive city.

Meanwhile, in its press release, the city said Francis is going to reside in the office of the chief human resources officer and report to the chief human resources officer to “lead the organization’s diversity and inclusion activities, provide strategic guidance and advise on policies, processes and procedures related to diversity.”

Backed by the "existing accessibility and diversity co-ordinator," Francis’s role is to "help facilitate a renewed mandate for the human resources department" as well as "attend meetings of the city’s senior leadership team." In addition, Francis is expected to give support to the city’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, chaired by Coun. Tony Carella.

Both city manager Jim Harnum and Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua welcomed Francis.

Harnum also said that Francis is going to have his “full support” as a city manager and the entire senior leadership team executive.

“Working together, we will ensure the mandate of this new role delivers on council-approved directives and advances the corporation’s commitment to service excellence. I would like to recognize further all members of the administration who were involved in the development and recruitment for this role,” Harnum added.

VACA PETITIONED FOR SUCH A ROLE IN 2018

While the city said the role was “championed” by Bevilacqua, in a conversation this summer with Shernett Martin, executive director for the Vaughan African Canadian Association (VACA), she explained how her group had made a deputation in 2018 to council to create the role of a director of diversity and inclusion.

“In 2018, we made a deputation to the council to hire a director of diversity inclusion, we asked them to create a task force, which again, they just recently did a task force on race relations,” she said.

“We also asked them to support the Black community by creating some sort of a system where we can get program space, services, where we can actually provide infrastructure for the community.”

In 2018, VACA filed an 18-page complaint against the city to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, claiming there were a number of anti-Black incidents related to the City of Vaughan.