Diversity is a combination of differences and similarities among people. It is more than race, ability, sexual orientation, language, gender or any other descriptive category. Diversity means understanding and utilizing different views, ideas, life experiences, skills and knowledge.

Halifax Regional Municipality is successful in a number of internal initiatives designed to recognize, increase and celebrate diversity of its employees. These initiatives include educational opportunities in the area of cultural competency, human rights/workplace rights, disability awareness, respect in the workplace, as well as assisting individual business units based on their unique requirements.

Since 2000, HRM has designated a week in October to celebrate HRM Workplace Diversity. During this week, business units report on their diversity initiatives, employees display their diversity through panel discussions, forums, cultural displays, potluck luncheons, etc. In 2008, HRM sponsored a Corporate Diversity Festival to celebrate the cultural mosaic of the HRM staff and the community.

HRM Diversity Plan for 2009

Halifax Regional Municipality adopted a Community & Race Relations Policy for the region. Its goal is to ensure that residents from the many diverse communities that make-up HRM have an equal opportunity to develop their individual potential.

The four policy objectives are Equality of Opportunity, Education and Sensitization Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity.

HRM is committed to working to eliminate racism and to promote understanding and acceptance between the diverse communities residing in the municipality.

More information on our new Diversity Logo

Significant Dates:

February

African Heritage Month

www.gov.ns.ca/ansa

March

International Womens' Day                                             March 8th

www.internationalwomensday.com

International Day for the Elimination of Racism              March 21st

www.un.org/depts/dhl/racial

April

Refugee Rights Day                                                            April 4th

www.ccrweb.ca//RRDay.htm  

May

Asian Heritage Month Halifax
http://asianheritagemonth.halifax.chebucto.org/

Asian Heritage Month
www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi-asian-asiatique/index_e.cfm

June

World Refugee Day                                                          June 20th

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/refugee

Access Awareness Week                                            June 1st -7th

http://accessawareness.nsnet.org/aaweek.html

National Aboriginal Day                                                    June 21st

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nad/index-eng.asp

       

July

Pride Week                                                             July 20th - 27th

http://halifaxpride.com

National Aboriginal Day                                                    June 21st

http://www.pch.gc.ca/canada/11/aboriginal_e.cfm

October

HRM Corporate Diversity Week                        1st week in October

Treaty Day                                                                    October 1st

http://www.gov.ns.ca/abor/content/treatyday.asp

December

International Day of People with Disabilities             December 3rd

http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=22&pid=109

International Human Rights Day                             December 10th

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/humanrights

For more information, contact:

Laughlin Rutt

phone:  (902) 490-6154

e-mail:  ruttl@halifax.ca