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Diversity and Inclusion

What’s on this page?

Overview

The County of Lennox & Addington is committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, creating workplaces that welcome, value and respect the diversity of employees and supports them to actively engage in the workplace and reach their full potential.

Accommodation

The County of Lennox & Addington is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, where the rich tapestry of our employees’ backgrounds is celebrated, and all are encouraged to engage fully and realize their potential. Our commitment is anchored in our Human Resources policies, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, ensuring equal treatment and opportunities for all employees and job applicants, free from discrimination. To support this commitment, we have developed a suite of guides, policies, and programs aimed at enhancing awareness and meeting our collective responsibility to accommodate individuals based on disability, family status, creed, pregnancy and breastfeeding, gender identity, and gender expression, thus creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

Implementation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework

The County of Lennox & Addington developed this framework, identifying how the County will work towards the goals of improved diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. This framework will outline the goals of the County to (1) foster an inclusive workplace, (2) engage in EDI activities and opportunities, and (3) attract and retain and diverse workforce, along with activities and timelines to support each goal. It is acknowledged that DEI is not quick or easy work, rather it is ongoing and this framework is a living document.

Training, Resources and Our Work to Date

As County of Lennox and Addington staff, we value diversity in our community and show this by communicating clearly, respectfully and with inclusive language. Our inclusive language guide can help increase awareness about relevant terminology and help us avoid using language that is insensitive or demeaning.

All staff are provided with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training, including sexual and gender diversity, racism, four seasons of reconciliation. This training supports our collective goal of improved workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Cultural and religious observances are an important part of many peoples’ lives and being aware of these occasions through our Days of Significance Calendar fosters harmony in our personal and working lives. We know that simply getting to know each other fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Lennox and Addington has developed a Speaker Series where we invite informed speakers to lead insightful discussions with staff on various diversity and inclusion topics. We know staff play multiple roles at work, and in their life outside of work, therefore the Speaker Series allows for informed discussions with experienced speakers to learn about a variety of topics that may be of value to them.

A DEI Newsletter has been developed by the County of Lennox and Addington to promote upcoming events, training, dates of significance, awareness, education and success stories. The newsletter is provided to County employees on a regular basis to raise awareness and recognition of important information.

Lennox and Addington have developed Employee Resource Groups as a type of support system for employees that creates a safe space for individuals to come together based on common interests, backgrounds or demographic factors such as gender, race, or ethnicity to support each other.

In 2023, the County of Lennox and Addington launched its first Workplace Diversity Identification Survey that asked employees questions about identifiers, awareness and perceptions of diversity and inclusion at the County. The information will provide strong data points to measure the Lennox and Addington’s current diversity and inclusivity that will create a baseline and allow the County to measure our efforts to date and as we move forward to our commitment to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace.