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:

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