“Good practice in board governance includes finding the right people to lead,” explained Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree and co-chair of DiverseCity. “In a region as diverse as ours, this involves embracing the full spectrum of skills, experiences and connections available. Capitalizing on our immense talent pool is an imperative for today’s nonprofit, public and corporate boards.”

This year’s winners of the Diversity in Governance Awards are leading examples of inclusive boards of governance. Their deliberate strategies have enriched their own boards and organizations, and their example is changing the face of leadership across the GTA. The 2012 DiverseCity Counts report, Leadership Diversity in the Nonprofit Sector: Baby Steps, Big Strides, and Bold Stances, clearly shows that diversity contributes to effective governance, and that more diversity amplifies these benefits.

“Blue Hills Child and Family Centre has made a concerted effort to ensure this board reflects the diversity of the community in which it operates,” said Jim Hamilton, Blue Hills Child and Family Centre’s Board Chair. “Our board has benefitted immensely from this approach – each member of our board brings their unique talents, background, culture, experience and outlook to governance. We do not shy away from what makes us different, but rather we embrace and celebrate those differences, and, in doing so, we have managed to form a board that is as excellent as its staff. In this way, Blue Hills can continue to deliver the quality of service the community, and the families and children who need us, deserve.”

Mayor Frank Scarpitti said, “The City of Markham is officially recognized as Canada’s most diverse community. I’m proud that our city ensures our services are multilingual and accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Among our successes, we were the first municipality in Canada to invest in and add eSSENTIAL Accessibility software to our website. We pride ourselves on our actions and commitment to inclusivity.”

“When inclusion and equity is represented and demonstrated at the highest level, employees, patients and families are empowered and strive to live these values each and every day,” said Kay Blair, Chair, William Osler Health System Board of Directors. “This is an outstanding achievement for Osler and a testament to our innovation in diversity and inclusion, as well as our commitment to full integration within our organization.”

“BMO fosters a corporate culture in which doing the right thing is second nature, and our board diversity practices represent an integral part of that culture,” said Simon Fish, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, BMO Financial Group. “We are honoured to receive this award from the Canadian Board Diversity Council, and we are committed to continue supporting diversity on our board and throughout our organization.”

Read the winners’ profiles.

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About DiverseCity onBoard

DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint initiative of Maytree and the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, funded in part by the government of Ontario. The project aims to transform the leadership landscape across the GTA. DiverseCity onBoard connects qualified candidates from Aboriginal, visible minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors. http://diversecitytoronto.ca/onboard.

Media contacts

Maytree / DiverseCity:
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager
416-944-2627 x284, mselder@maytree.com

Blue Hills Child and Family Centre:
Sylvia Pivko, MSW, RSW, Executive Director
905-773-4323 ext 313, spivko@bluehillscentre.ca

City of Markham:
Dennis C. Flaherty, Director, Corporate Communications & Community Engagement
905-415-7520 (mobile: 647-295-4797), dflaherty@markham.ca

William Osler Health System:
Cara Francis, Manager, Public Relations and Digital Communications
905-494-2120 ext. 59467, cara.francis@williamoslerhs.ca

BMO Financial Group:
Peter E. Scott, Manager, Editorial Services
416-867-4711, petere.scott@bmo.com

The winners are:

• Blue Hills Child and Family Centre (nonprofit category),
• The City of Markham (local government category), and
• William Osler Health System (public institution category).

In the corporate board category, the Canadian Board Diversity Council will present an award to BMO Financial Group.

What:
2013 Diversity in Governance Awards
(Event registration: http://governanceawards2013.eventbrite.ca)

Who:

• The Honourable Liz Sandals, Ontario Minister of Education
• Emcee: Nil Köksal, Host, CBC News Toronto
• Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree; Co-Chair, DiverseCity
• Alan Broadbent, Chairman & CEO, Avana Capital Corp.; Chairman, Maytree
• Dana Vocisano, Senior Program Officer, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
• Willa Black, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Cisco – presenting award on behalf of Canadian Board Diversity Council
• Bala Kumar, Board member, Chair, Nominations Committee, Blue Hills Child and Family Centre
• Gervan Fearon, William Osler Health System Board of Directors
• Simon Fish, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, BMO Financial Group
• Mayor Frank Scarpitti, City of Markham

When:
Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Awards ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m.

Where:
St. Andrew’s Club & Conference Centre
150 King Street West, 27th Floor
Toronto, Ontario

This year’s winners are recognized for being well ahead of the curve in embracing diversity at the highest levels of their organizations. They understand that since the GTA is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world, organizations and institutions should reflect the people they serve.

Blue Hills Child and Family Centre
Nonprofit category
The Blue Hills Child and Family Centre has served York Region for over 44 years – an area that now has over one million people from very diverse backgrounds. To ensure its board of directors reflected and met the needs of the community, it decided to implement a diversity recruitment strategy which transformed the board from 13 Caucasian men and women who were mostly born in Canada to full diversity with representatives from the local South Asian, Chinese, Filipino, German and Italian communities. The changes at the board level led to the adoption of inclusive practices throughout the organization – from hiring more diverse management and clinical staff to transforming clinical practices to become more respectful of differences.

The City of Markham
Local government category
The City of Markham is Canada’s most diverse community: new immigrants comprise 58% of the population and visible minorities represent 72%. In 2010, Markham launched a Diversity Action Plan to make city services more inclusive. This was followed by City Council adopting a new Board & Committee Appointment policy to ensure that recruitment was fair and open to diverse candidates. The policy introduced term limits to foster regular turnover; a voluntary diversity survey for applicants to board and committee positions to measure change; and a standardized orientation program for all members.

William Osler Health System
Public institution category
Having embraced diversity as a foundation for inclusion and equity, and a key to board renewal, William Osler Health System (Osler) adopted new recruitment practices that have led to 54% of board members representing various ethno-cultural communities, while 40% are women. The principles of inclusion and equity are interwoven throughout Osler’s new Strategic Plan, as is a commitment to patient-inspired and culturally-sensitive care. This past year, Osler received national recognition of its diversity initiatives. This included a leading practice in “Embracing Diverse Practices in Palliative Care” as part of its Exemplary Accreditation designation. Osler was also named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2013.

BMO Financial Group
Corporate board category
This year’s Corporate Diversity Award honours BMO Financial Group for its leadership in diversity over the past 20 years. The Canadian Board Diversity Council believes that boards comprised of directors who bring a wide range of perspectives, skills and experience to corporate governance are effective contributors to the performance of their organizations. BMO’s leadership is highlighted by the adoption and publication of a written board diversity policy articulating clear diversity criteria and establishing firm targets for board membership.

About DiverseCity onBoard
DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint initiative of Maytree and the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, funded in part by the government of Ontario. The project aims to transform the leadership landscape across the GTA. DiverseCity onBoard connects qualified candidates from Aboriginal, visible minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Media contact
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, Maytree, 416-944-2627 x284, mselder@maytree.com

Want to learn more about CivicAction’s DiverseCity Fellows program and Emerging Leaders Network? Join us for an orientation webinar on Thursday, July 27 from 12:00-1:00PM. Register online.

Fellows bring their own perspectives to the program, and each takes away something different!

Hear from some of the 2012 DiverseCity Fellows about their experience:

Diane Saldanha, Marketing Manager, AstraZeneca, and Co-Chair of the Young Leaders Council of the United Way of Peel

“The Fellows program has provided me with a better understanding of different leadership styles, the importance of collaboration and the value of multiple and diverse perspectives. Visiting different venues in the GTA where work is being done to improve the region, and having the opportunity to discuss issues with civic leaders and grassroots community members was extremely valuable. I’m now better able to evaluate situations, share ideas, and take action.”

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Brent Chamberlain, Executive Director, Pride At Work Canada

“After participating in the DiverseCity Fellows program, I now feel part of the city-building process in the GTHA. It has given me the experience and tools necessary to connect with and influence leaders in areas that I feel passionate about, and being part of a dynamic project team – with leaders from the private, public and non-profit sectors – provided invaluable career experience.”

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Seema Jethalal, Managing Director, DANIELS SPECTRUM: A cultural hub in Regent Park

“I appreciated the opportunity to connect to organizations and leaders across sectors who are committed to leveraging the Toronto region’s diversity to create profound change. Working in the arts and the non-profit sectors, I often have my blinders on; building bridges and friendships with a diverse group of people was critical in helping me move towards a collective impact methodology in my everyday life.”

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Kellie Sauriol, Regional Vice President, RBC

“I thoroughly enjoyed the program and gained a much deeper understanding of the complex issues we face as a region, as well as what role I can play to help.”

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Orlando Bowen, Executive Director, One Voice One Team

“After being in the DiverseCity Fellows program, my network has increased exponentially. I’ve had the opportunity to meet many brilliant and committed individuals from across various sectors. Throughout the program, we were connected with movers and shakers from across the region, each with their unique perspectives and journeys. It has been a powerful ride to date and the most beautiful thought is knowing that “we’ve only just begun.” Thank you Civic Action for your leadership in undertaking such a noble, noteworthy and transformative initiative.”

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Who should apply?

This fellowship is for high-performing rising leaders from all backgrounds living in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and working in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Applicants should have at least 5-10 years of demonstrated leadership experience in a professional or volunteer environment.

Apply now to be a 2013 DiverseCity Fellow.

Recognition is a critical component of DiverseCity onBoard. It is a powerful tool on many fronts:

• Creating awareness of the need to include all members of the population in leadership positions;
• Influencing the behavior of other organizations and providing them with examples of approaches that work;
• Sharing with organizations the critical success factors, e.g. the importance of leadership, vision, and being intentional about change; and
• Celebrating the success of organizations that are diversifying their boards by providing a sense of achievement.

Change is difficult. It’s a journey that sends an extremely powerful message to every level of the organization, its clients, stakeholders, and community by giving a sense of pride and motivation to keep going.

Cathy Winter, Project Leader of DiverseCity onBoard at Maytree, reflects on why the Diversity in Governance Awards are essential to growing leadership diversity in the Greater Toronto Area.

Join us on June 19 for the 2013 Diversity in Governance Awards.

“It’s very important for residents to know about civic literacy,” explains Tara. “They need to know who they can go to. They need to know why they can go to them. And they need to know how they can do it.”

Providing civic literacy education has been important for the community, but equally important has been providing it in languages community members speak. It should be taught the way that the three Rs are taught, it’s that important. Adds Beatriz: “It’s like learning a skill that will help them in their day to day survival.”

Mobilizing voice through digital storytelling

NYCH is mobilizing the voice of local newcomer communities, especially living with low income, through its digital storytelling project. In this project, staff worked with residents to create videos to tell their life story through voice, images and music.  While the project provided newcomers with new computer and video skills, it also sought to combat the isolation felt by many newcomers.

Here’s one story:

Related:

• CollaborAction: Opening welcome from Alan Broadbent, opening panel – with Shelley Zuckerman, North York Community House
• Building Blocks – Create possibility where you live