DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN PICKERING

JACLYN SAN ANTONIO

Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

As the world grappled with an unprecedented global pandemic over the past two years, there emerged a rising consciousness around issues in equity, diversity and inclusion.

From the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement around the world; to the disproportionate rise of hate crimes against Asian communities scapegoated for COVID-19; to the tragic Islamophobic attack of a family out on an evening walk in London, Ontario; to growing accounts of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at former residential school sites across Canada, there has been no shortage of social problems demanding transformative change. These events have not only awakened the public to world issues but to their local realities. For governments like the City of Pickering, these realities have prompted deeper reflection on ways to better serve diverse communities.

The shifting focus on matters of equity, diversity and inclusion is particularly important for cities like Pickering that are on the cusp of dramatic urban growth as new residential communities like Seaton take shape while other developments around Durham Live and the City Centre move forward. As these changes inevitably create an influx of new residents, employees, and visitors, so too will the diversity of interests among these community stakeholders increase. In fact, the City’s population is expected to reach 150,000 residents by 2036, making Pickering the most populous city in Durham Region.

There are many ways to consider Pickering’s diversity. According to the 2016 Census, a third of the city’s population self-identify as “visible minorities” with the largest representation coming from South Asian, Black and Filipino communities. Approximately 66% of population growth in Pickering is also attributed to immigration, further shaping the diversity of residents through newcomers. Additionally, Pickering has an aging population compared to other areas in Durham Region, reflected in the fact that residents aged 90 and older tripled from 250 to 630 in the last decade. Estimates also suggest that 14,000 Pickering residents live with one or more disabilities. These are only a few of the demographic features that influence diversity in Pickering, not including other aspects like gender, sexual orientation, faith, class, and language, among others, and further not accounting for the intersections among people’s varying identities and life experiences. Nevertheless, these demographics highlight the importance of accounting for the diverse needs, interests and experiences of stakeholders with an equity-based approach to government service and an overall vision to build and foster inclusive communities.

To this end, the City of Pickering has committed to developing a 10-year Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. In 2020, an interdepartmental steering committee was struck to inform the development of this strategy with representation from Human Resources, the Office of the CAO, City Development, Community Services, Engineering Services, Fire Services, and Economic Development. Central to this process is having an external consultant conduct an objective assessment of how existing City policies, practices, and programs reflect equity, diversity and inclusion. This involves engaging Members of Council, senior management, frontline staff and other community stakeholders through surveys, interviews, focus groups, town halls and other consultation methods to identify existing gaps and recommend areas of opportunity to advance EDI at the City. This approach recognizes better serving diverse communities must begin with improving the internal organizational structure, operations and culture of those responsible for that service in the first place. Preliminary research has been underway since June 2021 with results to be synthesized and shared in 2022.

To support these efforts, the City also created a new position of Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and hired Jaclyn San Antonio in July 2021. Jaclyn joined the City with more than 15 years of experience in EDI-based research, education and community advocacy. Her work includes local and transnational research on topics such as hate crimes, interpersonal violence, and poverty; teaching social justice