Please click on the image above to download the October 2023 calendar of dates significant to communities in Chatham-Kent. The calendar can also be found under the 'Resources' section of the DEIJ Employee Portal.

We've made changes to the format of the calendar. We'll continue to make changes as we refine this format. We welcome your feedback.

Please contact us if you notice dates missing or errors deij@chatham-kent.ca or x. 2447

Uses for the calendar:

• Use this calendar to inform programming, scheduling, and to better understand colleagues and communities we serve.
• To ensure everyone can participate and show respect for each other, avoid scheduling events (for staff or community) on important days of significance.
• Some holidays involve fasting from certain foods or more prayer - keep this in mind if you are scheduling a meeting or event.
• Supervisors: People may ask for time off in honour of some of these dates. Employers have a duty to accommodate employee's creed to the point of undue hardship, including providing time off for religious holidays. Learn more from the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Community Events:

Find more information about community events to honour days of observance in the 'Engage' section of the DEIJ Employee Portal.

Chatham-Kent Welcome Week is happening September 8th - 17th. The week is an opportunity to connect newcomers to services in Chatham-Kent, celebrate the contributions of newcomers to Chatham-Kent, and to promote diversity in our community.

Events are happening all week, but the week starts on September 8th with a flag raising at Chatham-Kent Civic Centre at 3:30PM followed by networking and speakers. More details on the flyer above.

A full list of events is available on the Living CK website.

Hope to see you there!

Please click on the image below to download the September 2023 calendar of dates significant to communities in Chatham-Kent. The calendar can also be found under the 'Resources' section.

Please contact us if you notice dates missing or errors deij@chatham-kent.ca or x. 2447

Uses for the calendar:

• Use this calendar to inform programming, scheduling, and to better understand colleagues and communities we serve.
• To ensure everyone can participate and show respect for each other, avoid scheduling events (for staff or community) on important days of significance.
• Supervisors: People may ask for time off in honour of some of these dates. Employers have a duty to accommodate employee's creed to the point of undue hardship, including providing time off for religious holidays. Learn more from the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Community Events:

Find more information about community events to honour days of observance in the DEIJ Outlook calendar (contact us if you want access and don't have it) and the 'Engage' section of the DEIJ Employee Portal.

We will share a schedule of events related to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The Municipality has partnered with CK Pride and community member Joel Emery to distribute free 2SLGBTQIA+ ally signs for local businesses, organizations, and residents. A brochure that goes with the sign has resources and information about how to support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Signs are meant to be displayed in visible places to show support during CK Pride week (Aug 11-19) and all year long.

Signs are available at all Municipal Service Centres, at Bill’s Place for pick up on Aug 10^th or 16^th 3:30-6:30PM, August 26^th 1:00-3:00PM or by emailing info@ckpride.com

More information is available at the CK Pride Facebook page.

The August 2023 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice calendar is ready. Please click on the calendar below to enlarge. Or, visit the DEIJ Calendar under the 'Resources' section or the Portal.

Use this calendar to inform programming, communications, to better understand colleagues and the communities we serve, and to avoid scheduling events on significant days. Please reach out if you see any errors or dates missing.

The Outlook DEIJ calendar is updated and available, for folk who have access.

Remember, you can visit the DEIJ Employee Portal anytime to learn about DEIJ-related events in the community and see resources to help you in your work.

And, our DEIJ Coordinator is here to help you consider or support specific communities, support you to fill out the DEIJ section on the Report to Council template, or learn more about our work to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the Municipality. Contact deij@chatham-kent.ca or x. 2447

Thank you!

Join Municipal DEIJ Champions in the 2023 CK Pride Parade!

Please RSVP, share comments, or questions with Rebecca DEIJ@chatham-kent.ca or x. 2447.

The parade is Saturday, August 12, at 11AM. Starts in front of Civic Centre on King Street and ends at Sons of Kent.

Directly following the parade, the Pride Festival happens at Sons of Kent from 12-3PM.

Open to all Municipal employees. Bring family and friends.

This is a family-friendly event. Strollers, wagons, or mobility devices welcome.

Learn more about CK Pride week events: https://staging.jadeddesigns.ca/ckpride/pride/

The July 2023 DEIJ calendar is now available. Click on the image below to open the calendar.

Use this calendar to inform programming, communications, to better understand colleagues and the communities we serve, and to avoid scheduling events on significant days.

I am updating the Outlook DEIJ calendar to match this hard copy, for folk who have access. And, I continue to share local DEIJ-related events on the DEIJ Employee Portal you may participate in or share.

Please reach out if you see any errors or dates missing.

Thank you!

Tonight, we will present the high-level details of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Strategy at Municipal Council.

With four areas of focus, the Strategy aims to support the Municipality, as a workforce and service provider, to be an active leader committed to prioritizing equitable opportunities, promoting diversity, and building a strong sense of belonging.

The Council report summarizing our work to date and Appendix with details about the Strategy are available along with the full agenda on the Municipal website (see agenda Item 16).

Thank you to all of the people and organizations who shared their perspectives and ideas to shape the Strategy, we couldn't have done this work without you.

The Strategy is being shared through an Information Report. Later this year, during our new 4-year budget process, Council will be asked to approve funding to support full implementation of the DEIJ Strategy. In the meantime, we will continue to implement action items that do not require additional resources.

Please reach out to Rebecca if you have any comments, questions, or concerns deij@chatham-kent.ca.

The June 2023 DEIJ calendar is now available. Click on the image below to open the calendar.

Use this calendar to inform programming, communications, to better understand colleagues and the communities we serve, and to avoid scheduling events on significant days.

I am updating the Outlook DEIJ calendar to match this hard copy, for folk who have access. And, I continue to share local DEIJ-related events on the DEIJ Employee Portal you may participate in or share.

This month, we encourage colleagues to learn about Pride and share what actions you're taking this month and year-round to make the Municipality a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace and community for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.

The May 2023 DEIJ calendar is posted below. The calendar is embedded with links for you to learn about the days in more detail.

Ways to use the DEIJ calendar:

• Share the calendar with colleagues
• Consider days of significance when scheduling important meetings or events to avoid potentially excluding some groups of people
• Know that some people may ask for time off to honour days of significance to them
• Ask colleagues if they are celebrating or honouring anything this month as a way to open dialogue about days that are important to your team members.
• Print the calendar and post in the workplace or in public-facing settings

If you’re an employee of the Municipality, you should also have access to the DEIJ Outlook calendar which is updated frequently with learning resources and local events taking place this month.

We also continue to post information and events in the 'Engage' section of our DEIJ Employee Portal.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. We always welcome your perspectives.