In a April 18, 2012, cover story, the Globe and Mail reported that as Canada marks the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – a document that enshrines the rights of equality and diversity – a review of superior court appointments reveals at least one area that falls short: the very judiciary responsible for upholding and interpreting the country’s laws.
In this Toronto Star op-ed, published on March 20, 2012, DiverseCity co-chairs Ratna Omidvar and John Tory challenge the boardrooms in the corporate, the voluntary and the public sector in the GTA to open themselves to the voices, perspectives, ideas and connections of the other invisible majority.
In a letter to DiverseCity Co-Chairs Ratna Omidvar and John Tory, Premier McGuinty writes: “I know I speak for all Ontarians when I say that I am delighted that DiverseCity onBoard has been singled out as a model of diverse leadership and as an exemplar of the unique assets and perspectives that visible-minority and under-represented immigrants communities can bring to agencies, boards, commissions and voluntary organizations.”
Toronto, January 19, 2012: Twenty-eight rising leaders have been selected as the new cohort of DiverseCity Fellows. Fellows is a one-year leadership development and network-building program that aims to harness the potential of a diverse cross-section of leaders so that they can address the challenges that lie ahead for the greater Toronto region.
We are so very, very excited to congratulate Ratna Omidvar on being appointed a Member of the Order of Canada! We think this is a great opportunity to reflect on some of Ratna’s recent thoughts and insights about her experience coming to Canada, and her hopes and dreams for our country.
At the fourth UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Forum in Doha, the DiverseCity onBoard project won second prize in the Intercultural Innovation Awards. OnBoard was chosen from over 400 proposals from 70 countries considered for the award.
October 20, 2011: Twenty-five GTA leaders were introduced today as part of the launch of a new training program in civic engagement. DiverseCity Building Blocks is the ninth in the collection of DiverseCity initiatives designed to accelerate prosperity in the GTA by enabling diverse leaders to assume leadership positions.
August 30, 2011: The DiverseCity Fellows, a group of 25 rising leaders from across the public, private and non-profit sectors, have announced this year’s six collaborative city-building projects addressing a range of social and economic issues in the Toronto region.
From 2009 to 2011, diversity in leadership grew by 8%. This movement is in the right direction – but progress is still too slow.
On May 9, 2011, DiverseCity onBoard recognized Peel Children’s Aid, The Redwood, the Town of Richmond Hill, and TD Bank Group for embracing diversity in board governance and making it a priority to recruit board members from diverse backgrounds.