Ottawa, April 23, 2021 – On the occasion of Diversity Month in Canada, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), today, issued the following official statement on equity, diversity and inclusion:
“CICan recognizes that inequities, bias, discrimination, racism, and oppression exist in our communities and that the Black Lives Matter movement has brought to the forefront the impact of systemic racism and discrimination on Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC).
CICan is committed to using its privilege and network to advocate and support marginalized people who are being negatively impacted by institutional and systemic racism. CICan will use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4 (Quality Education) as the foundation of its actions, activities, and programs in Canada and abroad. CICan will strive to dismantle systemic racism and advocate for equal access to education, career development, and learning opportunities for all building on this foundation.
CICan will also look inwardly and work through an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) lens to become a stronger ally in its strategic focus on advocacy, building capacity, and driving knowledge. CICan’s EDI committee will lead its efforts to uncover and address any potential bias or barriers in our own systems, policies, and practices. CICan is committed to becoming a leader for all of its members in anti-racism and anti-oppression.
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
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For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
Email: jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Phone: 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter: @CollegeCan