The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) is working on finalizing the Timmins Diversity Awareness Project.
The project, launched in March, aims to tackle racism and discrimination in the city and help foster a welcoming and inclusive community. It is one of 85 projects across Canada funded through the Anti-Racism Action Program.
It includes several components, including an awareness campaign and Workplace Inclusion Charter, said TEDC community development consultant Madison Mizzau.
The charter will be a declaration of commitment to diversity and inclusion within the workplace recognizing that everyone deserves a safe and respectful work environment, and that diversity contributes to strength and prosperity within businesses and organizations.
This summer, as part of the project, TEDC conducted a survey on incidences of racism and discrimination in Timmins.
The early results of the survey showed that over 75 per cent of respondents have witnessed racism and discrimination while living in Timmins.
Survey respondents included both racialized and non-racialized community members. The survey showed that the incidences of racism and discrimination were based on the ethnic or cultural background as well as skin colour or race.
The charter and the survey results, conducted this summer, were expected to be released by the end of this year.
“The TEDC and Project Advisory Group are still in the process of finalizing the various components of the project for launch at the same time, hopefully early in the new year,” Mizzau said in an email.
Advisory group members include local residents, the City of Timmins, Timmins and District Multicultural Centre, Newcomers Encouraging Self-Empowerment in Timmins, Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services, Reseau du Nord, Université de Hearst, Collège Boreal, Northern College, Timmins Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Indigenous Advisory Committee.
