The Halton Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter was created through the voices of the community. Both quantitative and qualitative data were captured in the research collection methods of the Charter project. The process involved the development of a survey, with a set minimum of 200 participants. In addition to utilizing surveys for data collection, the project also involved conducting consultations in the community. Focus groups, through collaboration with community partners and organizations, were hosted with diverse demographics in Halton. A total of five public consultations were conducted, ranging from 1.5 to 2 hours in length. The consultations were targeting diverse, vulnerable and marginalized groups within the community.
Represented demographics:
- Immigrant, refugee, and newcomer populations
- Youth
- Seniors
- Individuals identifying with LGBTQ+
- Female-led, single parent families
- Low-income families
Intentional Outreach
Ensuring the Charter is reflective and representative of the diverse demographics throughout the Halton Region was paramount. Selection factors were considered of where the community consultations would be conducted.
Factors of outreach selections:
- Reaching diverse demographics
- Engaging residents from all municipalities in Halton
- Working collaboratively with community partners and stakeholders
- Utilizing neutral venues to host consultations
- Ensuring time of consultations is suitable for resident participation
In addition, the surveys were sent to organizations across Halton that service vulnerable and marginalized populations in order for the data collected to reflect the realities of Halton’s residents and their experiences.
Voices of the Community
Overall we surveyed 202 residents in addition to over 50 residents who participated in the public consultations. The following is a summary of their voices:
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ….
“means humility and a willingness to recognize that each person carries inner biases; it is making an effort to intentionally reach out to individuals/populations that may or may not be easy to connect with; it means taking time to listen and reflect.”