Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives

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At the City of Ottawa, we are committed to integrating racial equity in the way we deliver programs and services. All residents regardless of their racial background deserve to feel heard, seen and well served. We recognize systemic racism* exists. It is our responsibility as public servants, members of the community, and as human beings to work together in the fight to end racism.

In the past years, the City has implemented new anti-racism measures, including committing a budget to create an Anti-Racism Secretariat to address systemic racism in our community and within the City’s workplaces and services. The Secretariat will ensure the City collects and uses race-based data and applies an anti-racism lens when developing and evaluating City policies, programs and services. The Anti-Racism Secretariat will work together with all City departments to actively remove systemic barriers and contribute to a society where resources are distributed and opportunities are created equitably for all, no matter the color of your skin.

* Systemic Racism: Public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations and other norms work in various and often reinforcing ways to exclude, marginalize and exploit Indigenous and racialized groups. Systemic racism is supported by institutional power and the powerful and often unexamined racist ideas, which make racism look normal and justified. Systemic racism allows individuals to perpetrate racism or reinforce racist ideas in organizations, communities and society at large.

How to get involved:

At the City of Ottawa, we are committed to integrating racial equity in the way we deliver programs and services. All residents regardless of their racial background deserve to feel heard, seen and well served. We recognize systemic racism* exists. It is our responsibility as public servants, members of the community, and as human beings to work together in the fight to end racism.

In the past years, the City has implemented new anti-racism measures, including committing a budget to create an Anti-Racism Secretariat to address systemic racism in our community and within the City’s workplaces and services. The Secretariat will ensure the City collects and uses race-based data and applies an anti-racism lens when developing and evaluating City policies, programs and services. The Anti-Racism Secretariat will work together with all City departments to actively remove systemic barriers and contribute to a society where resources are distributed and opportunities are created equitably for all, no matter the color of your skin.

* Systemic Racism: Public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations and other norms work in various and often reinforcing ways to exclude, marginalize and exploit Indigenous and racialized groups. Systemic racism is supported by institutional power and the powerful and often unexamined racist ideas, which make racism look normal and justified. Systemic racism allows individuals to perpetrate racism or reinforce racist ideas in organizations, communities and society at large.

How to get involved:

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Register for Resident Townhalls - Phase III

    Thank you for your interest in participating in the Anti-Racism Secretariat's Phase III Virtual Resident Townhalls. These will provide the opportunity to speak to the What We Heard report, discuss the results with the ARS, and determine if there are any missing actions or opportunities.  

    Participants will receive an agenda and meeting invite prior to the meeting. Please review the External What We Heard Report prior to attending. 

    Please note: sessions may be audio recorded for notetaking purposes to ensure we capture all important information. Recordings will be destroyed after detailed notes have been transcribed. All identifying information will be removed.

    If you have any questions, please email: antiracism@ottawa.ca.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Register for Action Planning Sessions - Phase II

    Thank you for your interest in participating in the Anti-Racism Secretariat's Action Planning Sessions! These sessions will provide an opportunity for the community to shape the future work of the Anti-Racism Secretariat. 

    Participants will receive an agenda and guide prior to the meeting. 

    Please note: sessions will be audio recorded to ensure we capture all important information to be included in our "What We Heard" report. Recordings will be destroyed after detailed notes have been transcribed. All identifying information will be removed.

    If you have any questions, please email: antiracism@ottawa.ca.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Register for Action Planning Sessions

    Thank you for your interest in participating in the Anti-Racism Secretariat's Action Planning Sessions! These sessions will provide an opportunity for the community to shape the future work of the Anti-Racism Secretariat. 

    The first phase of engagement will be for communities most targeted by hate crimes in Ottawa, which include the Black, Indigenous, Asian, Jewish and Muslim communities. Once these communities have had the opportunity to participate, additional engagement sessions will be scheduled to ensure all residents can be heard.

    Participants will receive an agenda and guide prior to the meeting. Breakout rooms will correspond to each of the six priority areas for the ARS: housing, economic development, equity in governance, youth development, health outcomes and employment equity. Please register for the breakout room you wish to join. 

    Please note: sessions will be audio recorded to ensure we capture all important information to be included in our "What We Heard" report. Recordings will be destroyed after detailed notes have been transcribed. All identifying information will be removed.

    If you have any questions, please email: antiracism@ottawa.ca 

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  • Closed: The waitlist for the public listening forum is currently closed.

    Waitlist for the Anti-Racism in Ottawa, Public Listening Forum

    United for All Coalition, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, is hosting a virtual Anti-Racism in Ottawa Public Listening Forum. The forum is currently at capacity for registration. Please fill out the below to be added to the waitlist. If you come off the waitlist you will be emailed at the address you provide below.

    If you have any questions about the registration, please contact us at publicengagement@ottawa.ca.

    If you have any questions about the City’s Anti-Racism Secretariat, please contact us at antiracism@ottawa.ca.

    If you have any questions about the United for All Coalition, please contact Abid Jan at ajan@unitedwayeo.ca.

    Alternative formats and communications supports can be provided upon request. Please email accessibilityoffice@ottawa.ca for details.

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  • Registration for the public listening forum is currently at capacity.

    Anti-Racism in Ottawa: Public Listening Forum

    Registration for the public listening forum is currently at capacity. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please fill out this form. If you are no longer able to attend, please email publicengagement@ottawa.ca to cancel your registration.

    United for All Coalition, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, would like to cordially invite you to participate in the virtual Anti-Racism in Ottawa Public Listening Forum. The virtual public forum will take place on Tuesday, July 28 from 1 to 3PM using a ZOOM virtual platform.

    The virtual forum is intended to share a quick overview of the anti-racism work to date, listen to Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities sharing their lived experiences, including the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racialized communities, and identify innovative and effective strategies to address racial inequities using an intersectional lens as we collectively move forward.

    The forum will end with a discussion on next steps and concrete actions to address anti-racism in Ottawa.

    An agenda and details of the ZOOM meeting will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the forum. 

    Accessibility Supports: Alternative formats and communications supports can be provided upon request. Please email accessibilityoffice@ottawa.ca for details.

    If you have any questions about the City’s Anti-Racism Secretariat, please contact us at antiracism@ottawa.ca.

    Simultaneous French translation, sign language interpretation (ASL and LSQ) and captioning will be provided for this event. Two counsellors (two African/Caribbean/Black Counsellors, one of whom speaks French, Spanish and Creole) will also be available during and after the event if participants require support.

    If you have any questions about the United for All Coalition, please contact Abid Jan at ajan@unitedwayeo.ca.

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Page last updated: 26 Feb 2024, 10:55 AM