Arcola East Community Association Inclusion Policy
Preamble
The Arcola East Community Association (“AECA”) recognizes the importance of the rights of each community member and is dedicated to the protection of these rights, while, at the same time, maintaining both the diversity and individuality of a multicultural society. We expect people from each ethnic group to have respect for other groups and for each individual and to be proud of her or his own Culture.
The AECA serves a community, which has a diverse cultural make-up and the population in our designated area is a reflection of this. We believe everyone is due equal respect from us and from each other regardless of Race or religion.
Purpose of this Policy:
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all community members are afforded an environment in which there is no Discrimination on the basis of Race, gender, gender identity and expression, ethnic or social origin, religion, colour, sexual orientation, disability, conscience, belief, Culture, or language preference while participating in any of our community programs.
Application and Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to the AECA Board of Directors, AECA staff, AECA members, volunteers and all participants of AECA programming.
Values Behind the Policy
The objective of the AECA is to work together as neighbours to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Arcola East Community. We strive to provide affordable, inclusive programming to members of the community. The values that ensure the AECA upholds our mission are:
Definitions
5.1 Culture - A social system of meaning and custom that is developed by a group of people to assure its adaptation and survival. These groups are distinguished by a set of unspoken rules that shape values, beliefs, and habits, patterns of thinking, behaviours and styles of communication.
5.2 Discrimination - The unequal treatment of members of various groups based on Race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion and other categories.
5.3 Diversity - The wide range of national, ethnic, racial and other backgrounds of Regina residents and immigrants as social groupings, co-existing in Canadian culture. The term is often used to include aspects of Race, Ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and much more.
5.4 Ethnicity - A social construct that divides people into smaller social groups based on characteristics such as shared sense of group membership, values, behavioral patterns, language, political and economic interests, history and ancestral geographical base.
5.5 Inclusion - Inclusion brings traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision/policy making.
5.6 Prejudice - A pre-judgment or unjustifiable, and usually negative, attitude of one type of individual or groups toward another group and its members. Such negative attitudes are typically based on unsupported generalizations (or stereotypes) that deny the right of individual members of certain groups to be recognized and treated as individuals with individual characteristics.
5.7 Race - A social construct that artificially divides people into distinct groups based on characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly color), ancestral heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, ethnic classification, and the social, economic and political needs of a society at a given period of time. Racial categories subsume ethnic groups.
5.8 Racism - A belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others. And/or a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination and/or hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Role of the AECA and Community Members
Result of the contravention of any of the abovementioned rules:
Conclusion:
AECA is proud of the fact that we respect all members of our community irrespective of Race, individual identity, colour, or creed. All participants who attend our programs are treated with respect because we are stronger as a community when members feel included and respected.
Preamble
The Arcola East Community Association (“AECA”) recognizes the importance of the rights of each community member and is dedicated to the protection of these rights, while, at the same time, maintaining both the diversity and individuality of a multicultural society. We expect people from each ethnic group to have respect for other groups and for each individual and to be proud of her or his own Culture.
The AECA serves a community, which has a diverse cultural make-up and the population in our designated area is a reflection of this. We believe everyone is due equal respect from us and from each other regardless of Race or religion.
Purpose of this Policy:
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all community members are afforded an environment in which there is no Discrimination on the basis of Race, gender, gender identity and expression, ethnic or social origin, religion, colour, sexual orientation, disability, conscience, belief, Culture, or language preference while participating in any of our community programs.
Application and Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to the AECA Board of Directors, AECA staff, AECA members, volunteers and all participants of AECA programming.
Values Behind the Policy
The objective of the AECA is to work together as neighbours to enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Arcola East Community. We strive to provide affordable, inclusive programming to members of the community. The values that ensure the AECA upholds our mission are:
- Accountability: We need to be accountable for our actions and realize that any discriminatory remarks or actions have serious consequences. In order to build an inclusive community, it starts at the individual level.
- Respect: We are a diverse community, and a key value of the AECA is to respect all. We need to respect the feelings, wishes, or rights of others no matter their Race, gender, ethnic or social origin, religion, colour, sexual orientation, disability, conscience, belief, Culture, or language preference.
- Integrity: It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. We, as individuals at AECA make personal choices to hold ourselves to consistent moral and ethical standards.
- Value Diversity: Value Diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. As a community association we understand each individual is unique and we recognize our individual differences
- Commitment: We need to be committed in upholding all the rights of our constitution and the guidelines in this policy.
Definitions
5.1 Culture - A social system of meaning and custom that is developed by a group of people to assure its adaptation and survival. These groups are distinguished by a set of unspoken rules that shape values, beliefs, and habits, patterns of thinking, behaviours and styles of communication.
5.2 Discrimination - The unequal treatment of members of various groups based on Race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion and other categories.
5.3 Diversity - The wide range of national, ethnic, racial and other backgrounds of Regina residents and immigrants as social groupings, co-existing in Canadian culture. The term is often used to include aspects of Race, Ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and much more.
5.4 Ethnicity - A social construct that divides people into smaller social groups based on characteristics such as shared sense of group membership, values, behavioral patterns, language, political and economic interests, history and ancestral geographical base.
5.5 Inclusion - Inclusion brings traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision/policy making.
5.6 Prejudice - A pre-judgment or unjustifiable, and usually negative, attitude of one type of individual or groups toward another group and its members. Such negative attitudes are typically based on unsupported generalizations (or stereotypes) that deny the right of individual members of certain groups to be recognized and treated as individuals with individual characteristics.
5.7 Race - A social construct that artificially divides people into distinct groups based on characteristics such as physical appearance (particularly color), ancestral heritage, cultural affiliation, cultural history, ethnic classification, and the social, economic and political needs of a society at a given period of time. Racial categories subsume ethnic groups.
5.8 Racism - A belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others. And/or a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination and/or hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Role of the AECA and Community Members
- Create an environment free from all Discrimination.
- Create an environment of mutual respect for, and tolerance of, racial and cultural differences. Minimize the negative influences of Prejudice and ill-feeling or hatred, as propagated by members of previous generations, on the youth of today.
- Create awareness among staff and community participants of the unacceptability of the use of racial slurs, "hate speech", derogatory or disparaging remarks based on stereotyping, by all members of the community.
- Report behaviour patterns among individuals that are not responding to informal corrective measures, and, if necessary, their removal from community programs.
- Recognize internal biases that may be present and stop those biases from impacting personal behaviour in the community. For example, be open to engaging neighbours who are different than you and attempt to connect with those people. Encourage others around you to do the same.
Result of the contravention of any of the abovementioned rules:
- All forms of abuse by any person within the AECC are treated seriously.
- At the discretion of the Board of Directors, a participant who is in breach of Section 6 may be removed from community programs.
Conclusion:
AECA is proud of the fact that we respect all members of our community irrespective of Race, individual identity, colour, or creed. All participants who attend our programs are treated with respect because we are stronger as a community when members feel included and respected.
