The Richness of Diversity and Inclusion
Register for the Richness of Diversity and Inclusion training on Saba.
When we foster a workplace that allows everyone to be their authentic selves—where our individual differences are valued—we strengthen our ability to work together on behalf of Canadians.
Building and sustaining such an environment takes work, which we can learn to do with dedicated training to increase our intercultural competence. Demonstrating the intercultural competency means showing your ability to interact with people from different cultures and diverse backgrounds.
The Richness of Our Differences was redesigned and updated as The Richness of Diversity and Inclusion with the intention of further challenging our unconscious biases and expand our worldviews.
Canada is one of the world’s most diverse nations; strengthen your respect for others’ differences to ensure that Canadians and our ESDC colleagues feel respected and included in our workplace and through all of our work.
Course Design
This new 2-hour course is the foundation of the new Diversity and Inclusion Learning Program and a requirement for all employees as part of the ESDC Essential (formerly Mandatory) Training Curriculum for Employees.
Course objectives
- Reflect on what makes each of us unique and similar at the same time;
- Learn about inclusion and the richness that diversity brings to any environment, in both an organization and in society; and
- Understand the role each of us plays as public servants in holding up the principles of diversity and inclusion to improve our programs, services & work environments for clients and colleagues.
Course structure and concept
The course introduces each Diversity Dimension through a case study, where you will answer questions from a fictional character named Lapiz.
The main character: Lapiz
Lapiz is an alien from the planet Lazure. The use of an alien allows for a gender, age and ethnic-neutral character that sometimes raises questions and makes comments that are unacceptable in our workplace. You should not be tempted to associate this character with any particular person or population. It is completely normal to feel uncomfortable with some of the course scenarios and Lapiz’ questions or comments: this demonstrates that you already have some understanding of the concepts being presented.
Partnerships
This new course is the result of a wide consultation with the following partners:
- Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Employee Pride Network
- Employees with Disabilities Network (EwDN)
- ESDC Manager’s Community
- Indigenous Employees’ Circle (IEC)
- Office of Values and Ethics (OVE)
- Unconscious Bias Working Group (UB)
- Visible Minorities Network (VMN)
- Youth Mandate for Greater Involvement (YMAGIN)
Other key contributors were the Diversity and Employment Equity Directorate (DEED) and management groups in the Human Resources Service Branch (HRSB), specifically Labour Relations, Office for Disability Issues and Harassment.
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If you have questions about this mandatory training, contact your Learning Coordinator (XLSX, 31 KB) (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).