On June 13, an Anti-Racism Rally took place at the Innisfil Recreation Complex to protest the systemic anti-Black racism that led to the death of George Floyd, and others.
Among the 200 or so participants protesting the racism and discrimination embedded in Canada’s social, cultural and judicial systems were several members of Innisfil Council, including Mayor Lynn Dollin, Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson, and Councillors Bill Van Berkel, Ken Fowler and Kevin Eisses.
The issue came up again at the June 24 virtual meeting of Innisfil Town Council, when staff presented a new report on ways in which the municipality can move forward by “supporting diversity and Inclusion corporately and in our community.”
“Let us start by stating definitively that Black Lives Matter in the Town of Innisfil,” the staff report stated. “Through this report we hope to start a discussion around racism and how it manifests in our communities, specifically in Innisfil.”
The report recommended consulting with community members, and using Innisfil’s new Culture Master Plan to support the goal of creating an official Diversity and Inclusion Policy for the Town.
The municipality already has several policies designed to protect the work environment, and a code of ethics that bans the use of discriminatory language based on “race, ancestry, place of origin, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, colour, marital status or disability.”
The new policy would go beyond those restrictions to not only foster an environment in which all Innisfil citizens “feel safe, respected, valued and comfortable,” but in which municipal workplaces reflect the diversity of the community, and address the systemic barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, racialized and marginalized people.
It will take “attention and planning” and a commitment in the budget, to provide the training and education, and the consultation needed to turn the Culture Master Plan into something more than just another town document, noted the report.
The recommendations were well-received by council.
“We do not have a diversity policy, an inclusion policy,” said Mayor Dollin, calling the report a “first step.”
She added, “We know we can do better. We know we need to do better. This is our starting point.”
Coun. Eisses said that the Innisfil Black Lives Matter protest was “really valuable” in highlighting the needs of the community. “It was pretty clear from that event we need to do better… This is our opportunity to make our community better.”
Deputy Mayor Davidson, who had prepared a statement for the Innisfil Rally, in part highlighting the barriers faced by the LGBTQ2S community, commended staff for bringing the recommendations forward.
“I’m hoping we go forward in a more progressive way,” Davidson said. “Maybe we can be One Town, One Team, with Diversity.”
He noted that community feedback will be vital to identify areas where change is needed, and to meet the goals of the report.
“The importance of inclusivity is key as we are changing,” he said. “I’m glad to see this on the agenda.”
Council unanimously voted to direct staff to consult with the community, provide recommendations through the 2021-2022 budget process on ways to use the Culture Master Plan to promote diversity and inclusion in the municipality – and to prepare a Town Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
