Welcome to the Town of Cobourg's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion page!
This page will have all the up to date information on the Town of Cobourg's strides in becoming more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. The Town of Cobourg is incorporating their Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into the Accessibility work we are completing through the Mutli-Year Accessibility Plan.
Traditional Land Acknowledgement
The Town of Cobourg respectfully acknowledge that we are located in the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig (Mississauga) and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Williams Treaties First Nations have been stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters, and that today remain vigilant over their health and integrity for generations to come.
In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, we acknowledge that these treaties have not always been honoured, and often they’ve been broken. We also acknowledge that we are all a part of building good relations.
We are all a Treaty people.
Truth, Reconciliation, and Justice
Support for survivors and their families of residential schools is available. If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll free line at 1-800-721-0066. Children and youth in crisis can also call and speak to a counsellor at Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 and youth identifying as 2SLGBTQIA+ persons could call 1-800-268-9688.
The Town of Cobourg is committed to providing their support by:
- Meeting the requirements for municipalities under the 94 Calls to Action.
- Providing Indigenous Awareness Training through Indigenous Awareness Canada to all Council and Senior Staff Members, which has been in progress since March 2021, with follow up for all staff, volunteers, Board and Committee members within the next eight (8) months.
- Hosting a talk with Bryanna R. Brown from Indigenous Climate Action through the Women in Governance Program who will be talking about Indigenous Climate Action and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children.
- Supporting small, youth-owned Indigenous businesses by gifting all speakers and presenters from the Women in Governance Program with a scarf from Kokom Scrunchies.
- Working with our Indigenous communities on the naming and renaming process.
- Council endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
We are here to listen and take suggestions moving forward on ensuring we have the Truth, before moving to Reconcilation and Justice.
Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities
Mayor John Henderson has signed a declaration to have Cobourg join the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities (CIM) through the Canadian Commission of UNESCO to continue to support diversity and inclusion and to work against racism and discrimination locally on January 4th, 2021.
Read the full press release to learn more about the Town of Cobourg's commitment to end racism and discrimination.
Personal Pronouns
Town of Cobourg employees can include their personal gender pronouns in their email signature block. This is optional, not mandatory. We have let our employees know that this is optional and to do so if they feel comfortable.
Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment. It can be offensive or harassing to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns if that is not how that person wants to be known.
Or, worse, actively choosing to ignore the pronouns someone has stated that they go by could imply the oppressive notion that intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people do not or should not exist.
When we use pronouns like “she” or “he” to identify a person without asking them what pronouns they use, we might be making an assumption about that person’s gender that differs from their gender identity.
Some people express their gender in a non-binary way and use pronouns such as they/them or ze/hir/hirs.
People who look to be one gender to you may identify as another gender.
Women in Governance Program: Leadership and Mentoring Program
The Town of Cobourg has announced and approved the Women in Governance: Leadership and Mentoring Program. This program is designed to begin to break down the barriers for women to enter into the political sphere, whether they are starting their careers or wanting to pivot to something new.
The Women in Governance: Leadership and Mentoring Program is a twelve (12) week program for women and gender non-conforming individuals to learn more about working in public sector. The program will allow each participant to be matched with a mentor who identifies as a woman or gender non-conforming and is an elected official.
Applications are now closed for the program - keep a watch for our next cohort!
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee of Council
The Town of Cobourg's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee of Council has been established and held their first meeting on March 25, 2021. They will meet on the second Thursday of every month via Zoom teleconferencing at 6:00 p.m. EST.
If you self-identify as Indigenous and would like to participate as a voting member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee of Council, please contact Yasmyn Belle, Accessibility Coordinator, at diversity@cobourg.ca!
You can read the Terms of Reference for the EDI Advisory Committee of Council.
You can learn more about the EDI Advisory Committee.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy
As part of the Council Resolution, and the signing to become a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, the Town of Cobourg created an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 2022-2026 Strategy.
Dates of Significance Calendar
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (EDIAC) is requesting that Council endorse the 2022 Dates of Significance Calendar as selected by the EDIAC.
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