diversity

B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup made seven recommendations to improve a strategy designed to increase inclusion and diversity in B.C.’s public service. (Photo Courtesy of the Office of Auditor General of British Columbia).

Strategy to boost diversity, inclusion in B.C.’s public sector lacking effectiveness: report

Michael Pickup says B.C.’s public service should reflect population at-large

 

Harman Singh Gill is getting trained for every role at Bandra Cafe, where he started working after graduating from a food service assistant program designed for people with diverse abilities. (Sobia Moman photo)

High demand for B.C. food service program for people with diverse abilities

Program that offers individuals cooking and safety skills once each year has a waiting list

 

Recipients of the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards were (from left): Wendy Bennett of AgSafe BC; Danielle Windecker and Mackenzie Mowat of Jelly Marketing; Eileen Stephens representing Abbotsford Arts Council; Lily Renaud; Brigida Crosbie and Tony Pitzoff of Tydel Foods; Miel Bernstein, Tiffany Francis and Elina Kurahashi of Project AIM; and Peter Bailey.

Hope’s Peter Bailey wins 2023 Champion of Diversity Award

The 20th annual awards featured two nominations from Hope and keynote speaker Aaron Pete

 

Chawathil First Nation councillor Aaron Pete was the keynote speaker Thursday night (March 9) at the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards in Abbotsford. (Submitted photo)

2023 Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards presented in 8 categories

Event honours recipients from Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz

Chawathil First Nation councillor Aaron Pete was the keynote speaker Thursday night (March 9) at the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards in Abbotsford. (Submitted photo)
A rock slides down the sheet at the Men’s World Curling Championships in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Melvin Lee’s first invitation to curl with a diverse team of law students came more than two decades ago. Now, the avid curler has a wealth of experience under his belt. And he is trying to give a similar welcome to others who are underrepresented in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

This Korean-Canadian curler wants to make the sport more diverse. Here’s how.

‘It’s not just enough to have that open door in your facility. You need to be vulnerable and reach out to those communities.’

A rock slides down the sheet at the Men’s World Curling Championships in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Melvin Lee’s first invitation to curl with a diverse team of law students came more than two decades ago. Now, the avid curler has a wealth of experience under his belt. And he is trying to give a similar welcome to others who are underrepresented in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The latest census figures show a record high number of people in Canada now have a mother tongue other than French or English. People shop in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Census data shows linguistic diversity on the rise in Canada

A growing number of new immigrants to Canada are bringing with them…

The latest census figures show a record high number of people in Canada now have a mother tongue other than French or English. People shop in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Prince Edward County resident Judith Burfoot is shown in a handout photo. Travel and hospitality experts say pandemic-battered businesses are increasingly recognizing a longstanding blindspot that if addressed could help them rebound this summer: the BIPOC traveller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Judith Burfoot **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Tourism and travel industry pushed to embrace diversity and inclusion measures

More BIPOC travellers visiting homogenous communities unaccustomed to catering to diverse clientele

Prince Edward County resident Judith Burfoot is shown in a handout photo. Travel and hospitality experts say pandemic-battered businesses are increasingly recognizing a longstanding blindspot that if addressed could help them rebound this summer: the BIPOC traveller. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Judith Burfoot **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Virgin Radio’s Nira Arora is the guest speaker at the 19th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards on March 10 in Abbotsford.

Nira Arora guest speaker at Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards

Event on March 10 in Abbotsford honours recipients in 6 categories

Virgin Radio’s Nira Arora is the guest speaker at the 19th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards on March 10 in Abbotsford.
Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)

Members of B.C.’s African diaspora call for better Black representation

Issamba Centre couches Black History Month discussions around release of provincial racism report

Pulcherie Mboussi, executive director of Issamba Centre, has lived in Victoria since arriving from Montreal in 2010. (Black Press Media file photo)
Business people cast their shadows as they walk in Toronto’s financial district on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A majority of respondents in a new Canada-wide survey said equal representation in government is important, but they don’t support employers taking demographic characteristics into account in hiring and promotion decisions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Most Canadians support workplace diversity but not as a job qualification: survey

Women more likely than men to support diversity in workplaces

Business people cast their shadows as they walk in Toronto’s financial district on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. A majority of respondents in a new Canada-wide survey said equal representation in government is important, but they don’t support employers taking demographic characteristics into account in hiring and promotion decisions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Sabastien Onyemaobi of Mission, earned the Youth Champion of Diversity award in 2020 (pre-pandemic image). Nominations for awards are being accepted until Jan. 7. (Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award image)

Nominations open for Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards

An in-person event is planned for March 2022 to celebrate winners and nominees

Sabastien Onyemaobi of Mission, earned the Youth Champion of Diversity award in 2020 (pre-pandemic image). Nominations for awards are being accepted until Jan. 7. (Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award image)
“Local Immigration Partnership has decided to host a multicultural photo contest that will engage our whole community and connect with each other,” said Ronda Cushnie about the Faces of the Fraser Valley contest. (Zoom photo)

Faces of the Fraser Valley photo contest to bring more diversity to Chilliwack

The Chilliwack Progress is hosting Faces of the Fraser Valley, now through Jan. 9, 2022

“Local Immigration Partnership has decided to host a multicultural photo contest that will engage our whole community and connect with each other,” said Ronda Cushnie about the Faces of the Fraser Valley contest. (Zoom photo)
Chilliwack FC

Chilliwack FC creating committee to promote inclusiveness

Diversity and Inclusion Standing Committee will advise CFC on matters of racism and discrimination

Chilliwack FC
The South Asian Studies Institute at UFV has been given $1.14 million in funding for the Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project, which includes the digitization of South Asian Canadian collections such as photos and artifacts. (UFV photo)

University of Fraser Valley receives $1.14M for Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project

Funds go to South Asian Studies Institute in Abbotsford

The South Asian Studies Institute at UFV has been given $1.14 million in funding for the Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project, which includes the digitization of South Asian Canadian collections such as photos and artifacts. (UFV photo)
The Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard say they need hundreds of more sailors. (The Canadian Press)

Seaman to sailor: Royal Canadian Navy adopts inclusive, gender-neutral term for junior ranks

New English rank name will match the French version, navy says

The Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard say they need hundreds of more sailors. (The Canadian Press)
Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll

Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll

Currently, stores are selling the white version of the doll

Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll
Paulette Senior, the president and CEO of the Canadian Women’ s Foundation, poses for a photograph in Toronto on Monday, April 29, 2019. Black and racialized people are underrepresented and often almost non-existent on boards in eight major cities across Canada. A new study from Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute has found both groups lacking on the boards of large companies, agencies and commissions, hospitals, educational institutions and in the voluntary sector in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Hamilton, London and Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

‘The data is bad’: Black and racialized Canadians lacking on boards, study finds

Black Canadians represent 5.6%of the population but occupy 2% of positions across the types of boards analyzed

Paulette Senior, the president and CEO of the Canadian Women’ s Foundation, poses for a photograph in Toronto on Monday, April 29, 2019. Black and racialized people are underrepresented and often almost non-existent on boards in eight major cities across Canada. A new study from Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute has found both groups lacking on the boards of large companies, agencies and commissions, hospitals, educational institutions and in the voluntary sector in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, Hamilton, London and Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin
Tomas Hudlicky of Brock University. (Brock University)

Canadian professor hits back at critics of ‘diversity’ essay in top science journal

Tomas Hudlicky, 69, of Brock University, says he stands by his views, which he argues were misinterpreted

Tomas Hudlicky of Brock University. (Brock University)
FVCDA event at Quality Inn 2020. Photo courtesy of the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards.

Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards held in Abbotsford

March 12 event saw eight regional awards handed out in six different categories

FVCDA event at Quality Inn 2020. Photo courtesy of the Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards.
(Left to right seated) Sylvie Kostyshin, Heena Rai, Kierra Lopes, Ishaan Grewal, (back row) Seepi Hanson and Abigayle Dalgliesh went through the stations of the Try On A Disability interactive display at James Hill Elementary on March 2. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance)

Program let students try on a disability

Any group interesting in hosting Try On A Disability can contact the Langley Pos-Abilities Society.

(Left to right seated) Sylvie Kostyshin, Heena Rai, Kierra Lopes, Ishaan Grewal, (back row) Seepi Hanson and Abigayle Dalgliesh went through the stations of the Try On A Disability interactive display at James Hill Elementary on March 2. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance)
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