A Pathway Forward: Building a Culture of Human Rights and Belonging shares the efforts of staff to create learning and working environments that are free from discrimination and harassment.

About the Pathway Forward

This approach aligns with the Ontario Human Rights Code:

“… having as its aim the creation of a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of each person, so that each person feels a part of the community and able to contribute fully to the development and well-being of the community…”

This pathway forward will help us keep moving towards the  WRDSB North Star” to ensure that identity and social location will no longer predict outcomes, TOGETHER we will transform our systems, structures, physical environments and practices to center the needs, lived experiences, abilities, and stories of students and staff to ensure success for ALL.

Six Pillars of the Pathway Forward

This pathway focuses on six pillars:

  • Policy and Procedures
      • Describes the principles, values and intents that form our expectations and provides a basis for decision-making and acceptable behaviour
  • Data Gathering and Tracking Tools
      • Describes efforts to capture qualitative and quantitative data from our system 
  • Staff – Education, Learning and Identity Affirmation
      • Describes efforts to increase the capacity of Board staff to create positive working and learning environments
  • Student – Learning, Supports and Identity Affirmation
      • Describes how the system supports students as they grow and develop
  • Guidelines and Tools
    • Compile information about best practices and advise internal staff on how to best proceed as they do their work
  • Families and Community
    • As the first teachers of children, families and communities represent our most critical stakeholder partnership

The Measures We’ve Put in Place

The WRDSB endeavours to combat hate and racism through specific and intentional actions. This overview helps us point to those actions and consider their impact. 

Systemic change requires a deliberate look at:

  • Policies and procedures
  • Systems and structures
  • Culture

In this overview, we take these elements into consideration with the main goal of improved student achievement and student and staff well-being. 

The WRDSB is committed to preventing, addressing and tracking incidents of hate and harm. A Pathway Forward: Building a Culture of Human Rights and Belonging is a direct response to the voices of our:

  • Students
  • Staff
  • Families and Caregivers
  • Community members
  • Stakeholders

They have repeatedly shared that the WRDSB needs to pay attention to the hate and harm that continues to take place within our school board. 

This is not an exhaustive list of all the things the WRDSB is doing to create a human rights culture and combat hate. It highlights policies, practices, capacity building opportunities and tools that continue to support a human rights culture in an ongoing way.

Key Resources