City approves 2022-2026 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan

Municipalinfonet.com
May 30, 2022

The City of Vaughan continues to strengthen and build on its foundation of diversity, equity and inclusion, and its commitment that all Vaughan community members are heard, appreciated and valued. To advance, foster and embed this culture of belonging in the community and in the workforce, Vaughan Council recently approved the City's 2022-2026 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan.

The City's DEI Plan aims to foster a city and workplace culture that is inclusive and respectful, where all citizens, employees, businesses and visitors are provided with accessible opportunities to engage and participate. Key priorities are as follows:

Embedding a culture of belonging
Data-informed decision-making
Equitable employment
Indigenous relations and reconciliation
Achieving equity
Community engagement and participation
Continued accessibility excellence
Read the full DEI Plan at vaughan.ca/DEI.

The plan also aligns with several priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, including enhancing citizen experience, contributing to an active, safe and diverse community, and city-building that creates welcoming and inclusive public spaces. Under this mandate, some of the City's accessibility commitments include:

delivering quality programs and services to all citizens.
removing physical barriers to existing and new facilities.
involving people with disabilities in the development of annual accessibility plans and initiatives.
implementing initiatives that continue to make the city an inclusive and accessible community where people of all abilities have the chance to achieve their potential.
In addition to this plan, the following City-led diversity initiatives are also in place:

2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan

Last year, Vaughan Council approved the City's 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan Update (PDF), which identifies how the City will create a barrier-free community with universal access to its programs, services and facilities. The City's goal is to create an accessible community by 2025 - and this plan will help achieve that by ensuring people at any age and ability are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. It does this by outlining the various activities and initiatives the City will undertake to support accessibility, including implementing new programs and services, creating accessible play spaces, using accessible technology, implementing accessible employment practices and achieving additional Rick Hansen Gold Accessibility Certifications.

Accessibility Champions Awards

Established in 2019 by the City's Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Accessibility Champions Awards recognize businesses and individuals that foster inclusivity and advance accessibility throughout the city. In 2021, the City presented this award to four deserving individuals and businesses who advocate for accessibility and inclusion and provide goods or services to people with disabilities within the Vaughan community.

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee (PDF) was established to help guide the City in removing and preventing barriers in policies, practices, programs and services in a way that meets the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The committee assisted in creating Vaughan's Accessibility Plan and helps to identify accessibility opportunities and challenges within the community.

Diversity and Inclusion Unit

Following a successful public recruitment process, the City of Vaughan hired Zincia Francis as of January 2021 to fill the new role of Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In this senior-level, full-time position, Ms. Francis leads the organization's diversity and inclusion activities, provides strategic guidance and advises on policies, processes and procedures related to diversity. Reporting directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer and supported by the Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator, she also helps facilitate a renewed mandate for the Human Resources department, attends meetings of the City's Senior Leadership Team and supported the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

Adding to the team, the City is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Woyengi (Gigi) Goary as Vaughan's new Anti-Racism Specialist as of May 19, 2022.  Dr. Goary brings more than 20 years of experience leading equity and inclusion programs, and working with individuals, couples, youth/children, families and communities in child welfare, healthcare, mental health and social services sectors. She will bring her professional experience, extensive education, lived experience as a Black woman and diverse leadership experiences to the role. Reporting to Ms. Francis, Dr. Goary will work to advance racial equity, further decolonization practices and promote positive community interconnections and interrelationships with all of Vaughan's racialized communities.

Diversity and Inclusion Task Force

The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force served as a forum of discussion and helped guide the City in developing policies that promote fairness, mutual respect and an undoubted sense of inclusion among the diverse individuals, communities and groups that live, work and play in Vaughan. The goal was to identify ways to further engage all communities in City programs and services, in addition to providing more opportunities for these groups to network and co-ordinate efforts with each other and with the City. The task force was comprised of Members of Council and the general public. 

Inclusive Design Standards

Created in consultation with the City's Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator and Facilities Management department, the Inclusive Design Standards (PDF) allow the City to advocate for any new development in the community to be inclusive and accessible for all. These standards allow the City to demonstrate market leadership from an inclusive design perspective. In addition to ensuring that Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Building Code requirements are met, these standards go beyond legislative requirements. These standards outline examples and best practices to make buildings and other areas, like play spaces, washrooms, trails, service counters, office environments and places of worship, as inclusive as possible.

Land Acknowledgement

The City adopted an update to its Indigenous Land Acknowledgement on June 22, 2021. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council endorsed an amendment to address existing inaccuracies. The ratified statement is as follows:

We respectfully acknowledge that the City of Vaughan is situated in the Territory and Treaty 13 lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We also recognize the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. The City of Vaughan is currently home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people today. As representatives of the people of the City of Vaughan, we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and live in this territory.

Rick Hansen Foundation Gold Certification

In recognition of the City's efforts taken towards accessibility, the Rick Hansen Foundation has awarded multiple City facilities with Gold Certification for accessibility. They include Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service firehalls 7-4 and 7-10, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as a combined facility. Various accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair areas and accessible seating, have contributed to reaching this milestone.

Other awards the City has received for its accessibility efforts include the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Accessibility Award and the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility.

Vaughan Inclusion Charter

Mayor Bevilacqua, with the support and endorsement of all Members of Council, signed the Vaughan Inclusion Charter in January 2021 in further support of the Inclusion Charter for York Region. The Charter reaffirms Council's goal of Active, Safe and Diverse Communities as outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.