Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Resource Centre
The Whitby Chamber of Commerce is proud to introduce the new AccessAbility Award, recognizing businesses, organizations, programs, and initiatives that are making meaningful contributions toward creating a more accessible and inclusive community for people of all abilities.
We recognize that accessibility work can take many forms, and we encourage applicants to share the initiatives, stories, and impacts that best reflect their efforts and achievements.
The award criteria and submission form can be found HERE. We encourage businesses and organizations to nominate themselves or others who are helping make Whitby a more inclusive community for everyone.
Welcome to our Whitby Chamber of Commerce Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Resource Centre!
As a small to medium enterprise, it can be difficult to find information on how best to promote inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in your organization. We’ve taken the first step by curating this library of free resources, chosen specifically for a business audience. Resources are organized by topic, and each one can be used alone or alongside other resources. We welcome our membership feedback and resources you’d like to recommend. Thank you!
These resources were sourced in 2021 and at that time were in the public domain. A review will be done annually to update this listing, and our IDEA Committee will continue to update content for the business community to leverage. If you represent a resource listed here and do not wish it to be used, please contact info@whitbychamber.org to have it removed. In addition, if you’d like to recommend a resource be added, please contact info@whitbychamber.org our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Committee will review your recommendation.
Want to learn more? Stay in the loop with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce.
ACCESSIBILITY
- Accessible Workplaces - Learn about accessible workplaces on the Durham webpage.
- Access Forward Training – Access Forward provides several free online training modules, as well as other resources, geared towards understanding and improving accessibility. It is specifically designed to meet training requirements for organizations in Ontario.
- Accessibil-IT - is a digital document accessibility service provider committed to ensuring communications are accessible for people who have visual or cognitive disabilities.
- AODA Training Module – The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets forth legal responsibilities that organizations in Ontario must follow in order to be accessible to people with disabilities. The website aoda.ca has a wealth of information and resources, including this one-hour online training module. Following AODA requirements is crucial for all businesses, so we recommend that, at minimum, all top management should complete this module.
- Discover Ability Network provides tools and supports through in-person workshops, webinars and online resources to help businesses understand the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, why and how to become a more inclusive employer, and how to hire and retain talent from the persons with disabilities labour pool. https://occ.ca/discoverability/
- OHRC Policy Development Guide – The Ontario Human Rights Code is another key piece of legislation for our business community. It lays out protected grounds against which it is illegal to discriminate. This website, part of the educational outreach of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), features a policy development guide for organizations wishing to improve their compliance with the Code and avoid human rights infringement.
- Otter: Transcription for Zoom Meetings – Otter Assistant provides a variety of services, including live transcription for Zoom and other online meetings. This can assist with accessibility and with collaboration.
ANTI-BLACK RACISM
- Annuity.org - The impact that the financial literacy gap has on the African American community: Socioeconomic and cultural barriers as well as the role of Black financial advisors
- Black Business And Professional Association – The BBPA is a non-profit, charitable organization that promotes equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education and economic development. Its programs support businesses, higher education, economic development and overall professional excellence.
- Black Legal Action Centre – BLAC is a great entity for partnership in combating individual and systemic anti-Black racism. They conduct wide ranging research, and offers a diverse range of legal services and advice on issues related to education, employment, housing, human rights, government support, and other topics.
- BlackNorth Initiative – BlackNorth is dedicated to ending systemic anti-black racism. This Canadian organization invites business owners and CEOs to commit to this goal by signing their pledge, and has multiple committees dedicated to overcoming specific challenges. Check out their Racial Equity Playbook.
- Black Women in Motion – Black Women in Motion is a body that empowers and supports the advancement of black women, gender-non-conforming, and non-binary survivors of gender-based violence. BWM work to create culturally-relevant resources to combat anti-black racism within an intersectional feminist, trauma-informed and survivor-centred framework; while providing healing spaces, educational and economic opportunities for survivors.
- Contributions of Women of Color - An American resource list dedicated to highlighting the voices or contributions of women of color.
- Federation Of Black Canadians – The Federation of Black Canadians is a Pan-Canadian body that seeks to highlight the opportunities, contributions and challenges that people of African descent encounter nationally. The FBC partners with people and organizations across Canada to advance the interests of Black Canadians, and prioritizes health, community building, criminal justice reform, anti-black racism, economic security and higher education as areas of cooperation.
- Urban Alliance on Race Relations – Urban Alliance on Race Relations is a non-profit charitable organization partners with the community, public and private sectors to proactively provide educational programs and critical research to address racism in society.
DEI FRAMEWORKS and BENEFITS
- AAUW – This resource is a guide to support conversations that may be difficult. In addition it links to Dimensions of Diversity Identity, and Diversity Structure and Planning resources.
- Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion – The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) helps employers and human resources practitioners in their efforts to effectively manage diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace.
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Diversity and inclusion in the workplace fosters creative thinking, innovation and problem solving, providing organizations and the country a competitive advantage.
- CCOHS Business Case for Workplace Wellness – The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has a wide variety of resources available for businesses and employees. This is a free course that provides a great primer for businesses on the importance and impact of promoting employee wellbeing.
- Conscious Style Guide - Provides resources and news to help individuals be conscientious and intentional about the language they use to support a more inclusive community.
- Diversity in the Workplace - All you need to know in 2022.
- Diversity Style Guide - The Diversity Style Guide is a resource to help journalists and other media professionals cover complex, multicultural world with accuracy, authority and sensitivity.
- inc.– This short article provides ways to develop an inclusive workplace culture.
- Introduction to Critical Race Theory - A guide for anyone wishing to dive a little deeper into race studies.
- Learn how to establish and run a DEI Committee at your organization.
- LinkedIn Learning from Whitby Public Library. Explore over 70 courses related to diversity, equity and inclusion, available free, with your library card. Customize your own learning path based on where you are on your DEI journey.
- Unconscious Bias E-Learning – This e-learning experience includes captioned videos and is highly interactive. It discusses biases that every person encounters and exhibits in the workplace, and provides strategies for overcoming them.
- Ways to Educate Yourself - Released in June 2020, 360insights created a list of resources to help educate yourself.
- workhuman – This article defines diversity, equity, and inclusion, and outlines the benefits to embracing and celebrating differences. In addition, this article supports the development of creating a workplace action plan
IMMIGRATION
- Centre for Research on Inclusion at Work & Carleton University – This resource outlines some of the benefits of a more inclusive workplace, in addition to the provision of recommendations to employers related to improving immigration inclusion in the workplace.
- Durham Immigration Portal - This is an online resource for people new to Durham. Find information on housing, education, finding a job, food, recreation and more!
- WES Employer Playbook: Leveraging the expertise and best practices developed by members of the #ImmigrantsWork coalition, the Employer Playbook provides easy-to-implement strategies.
INDIGENOUS CULTURE
- Anishinabek Nation’s Learning Resources
- Archives of Ontario James Bay Treaty Virtual Exhibit
- First Peoples Indigenous Centre - Learn about the programming and support opportunities at the Durham College First Peoples Indigenous Centre.
- Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. – Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. is an organization that provides training for employers (at a cost) through in person training, etraining, and virtual training. In addition, this organization provides a series of e-books at no cost to support businesses to gain a better understanding of indigenous communities and indigenous cultural values. These can be found under the resource tab on their home page or by clicking the following link: https://www.ictinc.ca/free-ebooks
- Map of Ontario Treaties and Reserves – Interactive map to learn about the treaties that cover where you live, work or go to school, and find reserves in Ontario.
- Native Land – This site is a tool which strives to map Indigenous lands in a way that changes, challenges, and improves the way people see the history of their countries and peoples.
- Ontario Tech University – Student Life – Learn more about the rationale for a land acknowledgement, best practices and a guide to pronouncing the names of different Nations in the Ontario Tech University statement.
- Walmart Canada – On Monday, June 28, 2021, Walmart streamed an important discussion to LinkedIn Live that focused on understanding the Indigenous experience in Canada, and the role Canadian employers can play in contributing to economic reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples and creating a culture of inclusion. The conversation was part of our Courageous Conversation series and was led by Kelly J Lendsay, President and CEO of Indigenous Works, and Nabeela Ixtabalan, MS, ACC, Walmart Canada’s EVP of People and Corporate Affairs.
- Teaching and Learning Resources – Resources to support learning about treaties, treaty relationships, and treaty rights that shape Ontario.
- Town of Whitby resources provided to the community.
The Whitby Public Library partnered with the other Durham libraries, Ontario Tech, Durham College, and the Region of Durham to form the Durham Indigenous Voices collaboration. All summer we hosted a four-part panel discussion featuring Indigenous peoples who live and work in Durham Region, hearing their experiences, learning their truths, celebrating their successes, and taking steps towards reconciliation.
LGBTQ+
- Pride at Work Canada – Pride at Work Canada is an organization that supports businesses to foster an inclusive workplace regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation, through dialogue, education, and thought leadership. Pride at Work Canada encourages partnerships, hosts events, and provides training and resources at no cost. Training opportunities include elearning modules, as well as live webinars, along with a variety of resources related to supporting the LGBTQ2+ community.
MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE
In October 2021, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce launched the Workplace Mental Health Tool Kit, leveraging expertise for many resources, including:
- An Accommodation Guide for Workers and Staff - CMHA – Mental Health in the Workplace.
- CCOHS Mental Health E-learning – The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has a wide variety of resources available for businesses and employees. On the subject of mental health, the CCOHS has 4 free online courses, as well as several more available to purchase. Their “Mental Health Awareness” course is a great place to start!
- Mental Injury Toolkit - Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
- Mental Health First Aid - Mental Health Commission of Canada.
- Policy and Procedures on the Accommodation of Mental Illness - Canadian Human Rights Commission.
- Three Steps for Building a Mental Health Framework - Bill Howatt.
- Workplace Mental Health Toolkit - Bell Let’s Talk.
- Workplace Strategies for Mental Health – Workplace Strategies for Mental Health is a Canadian organization that provides resources for employees and organizations. This link goes to their page on organizational strategies, which addresses challenges at the management or organizational level, rather than for individual employees.
RECRUITMENT
- Ideal (1) – Consists of a short video and literature related to diversity and recruitment. It also provides information on the benefits and challenges of a diverse workplace and technology for increasing diversity.
- Ideal (2) – Consists of strategies to provide more inclusive job postings and recruitment tools.
- Inclusive Recruitment: 9 Practices + Infographic: Implement the right strategies to promote inclusivity.
REGIONAL and MUNICIPAL RESOURCES
WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE
- Blueprint for Gender Equality – This is a resource database that focuses on gender equality in the workplace. This database provides links to a variety of resources for employees and employers.
- Pay Equity - The Government of Ontario, Pay Equity Office discussed gender wage gap and the impact COVID -19 has had on the workforce.
- Unpacking the Contributions of Women of Color in Women’s History - This resource aims to include women’s voices and input in the telling of women’s history; providing a well rounded and holistic representation of women’s histories.
- Women of Colour in the Workplace - Nine statistics you need to know and The persistent obstacles and how you can rise to meet them.