In July 2020, OECM issued our Statement on Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion. The statement was a strong reminder of where we stood collectively, as an organization and as a society. This past summer, the OECM team – our Executives, Board Members and staff – took a collaborative approach towards reviewing the original statement and providing input for an update. Staff were invited to provide feedback on the language used, the commitments made and our ongoing focus as we move forward. We also leveraged our partnership with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) to gather expert feedback in the development of a more inclusive, substantial statement that is representative of the multicultural makeup of our organization.
While acknowledging that for many, the atrocities that took place in the summer of 2020 were a catalyst for truth, justice and change, OECM’s newly updated statement affirms that our commitment to upholding those values and willingness to tackle inequality goes beyond any one single moment in time. Over the last 16 months, as a group, we have focused on learning what it means to be an anti-racist organization while fostering diversity and inclusion practices that are truly meaningful and impactful to our staff, customers, supplier partners and other stakeholders. We do this through continuous learning and a commitment to action. Therefore, in addition to affirming OECM’s pledge and approach towards upholding principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our organization, our updated statement includes tangible metrics and practical action items that support and enhance our Diversity and Inclusion Program. We urge you to join us on our continuous journey of learning and improvement.
Click here to read OECM’s newly updated Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Statement.
