Creating a culture of human rights is aligned with the WRDSB Strategic Plan. It guides us in building a school system where all students are able to reach their full potential on their chosen pathway in learning and life. We’re transforming education in partnership with those we serve. Three plans guide us as we build a public education system that serves the needs of all students in partnership with:

  • Students
  • Families
  • Community

The 2022-23 Human Rights Branch (HRB) Annual Report outlines the work of the department in building a culture of human rights at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and addressing human rights complaints. This report encompasses the 2022-23 academic year, September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023.
 

HRB Case Management

Human Rights Education

Strategic Leadership

Accessibility Portfolio

About the Human Rights Branch

The Human Rights Branch has grown out of Ministry of Education direction to address matters specific to the Human Rights Code (“the Code”) and related issues. The Code prohibits discrimination and harassment in services and employment based on 17 grounds:

  • Age
  • Ancestry 
  • Colour 
  • Race
  • Citizenship
  • Ethnic origin
  • Place of origin
  • Creed
  • Disability
  • Family status
  • Marital status (including single status)
  • Gender identity
  • Gender expression
  • Sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding) 
  • Sexual orientation
  • Record of Offences (employment)
  • Receipt of public assistance (housing) 

The Human Rights Branch works with objectivity and independence from other system structures for the purpose of addressing matters specific to the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) including Code-related harassment and discrimination complaints. 

It supports the WRDSB in fostering inclusive and respectful learning and working environments for:

  • Students 
  • Staff 
  • Trustees 
  • Other WRDSB community members 

It achieves this by:

  • Reviewing the board’s policies and administrative procedures on an ongoing basis to ensure they are compliant with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Board Policy 1017 – Human Rights
  • Providing human rights education and training to all members of the WRDSB community
  • Confidentially reviewing, addressing, and resolving complaints brought forward in a fair, just and equitable manner
  • Identifying and remedying policies, procedures or practices that contribute directly and indirectly to systemic discrimination
  • Providing analysis and advisory support on human rights matters, including:
    • Religious accommodation
    • Inclusion strategies
    • Support tools for traditionally marginalized communities
    • Other equity issues

As a part of our ongoing efforts to be transparent to internal and external stakeholders, the HRB has prepared this Annual Report. It describes the important and ongoing work of the HRB in addressing human rights complaints in compliance with Ontario’s Human Rights Code (the Code) as well as leading and supporting the WRDSB through human rights and accessibility education, learning and professional development.

Background and Mandate

In January 2020, with the financial support of the Equity Secretariat at the Ministry of Education, the WRDSB hired their first ever Human Rights and Equity Advisor (HREA). Through the Transfer Payment Agreement, the mandate of the HREA is clearly outlined as twofold:  

Building and maintaining a culture of respect for human rights

The HREA:

  • Supports the WRDSB to identify and address systemically-based human rights and equity issues
  • Builds the WRDSB’s capacity to ensure compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code

The HREA does this through:

  • Leadership
  • Education and training
  • Relationship-building
  • Participating in system-level decision-making

The Human Rights and Equity Advisor reports directly to the Director of Education and is a member of the Senior Team.  

Supporting the resolution of human rights complaints

The HREA oversees the Board’s internal human rights complaints procedure. They use their expertise and proven experience in:

  • Human rights investigations 
  • Complaint resolution 
  • Restorative justice

With the mandate already established, the first steps for the HREA included:

  • Establishing a Human Rights Branch
  • Developing a new human rights policy 
  • Creating a new human rights complaints procedure 

Human Rights Branch Staff 

The HRB was beginning to take shape in the Fall of 2020 with the addition of a Human Rights Officer. Shortly thereafter, another Human Rights Officer and a Human Rights Investigator were added. The role of the Human Rights Officers include liaising with the various internal service departments in leading, developing, planning and managing aspects related to human rights and equity. 

This includes support of the Board’s equitable hiring practices, and oversight of the Accessibility Plan. The HRB guides the Accessibility Committee and its shared responsibility of championing accessibility and providing education and leadership on all matters related to accessibility and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance.

The Human Rights Investigator is responsible for supporting the resolution of Code-based complaints of discrimination and harassment using formal and informal investigation methods.  

In summary, the HRB was comprised of four full-time positions during the 2022-2023 reporting year;

  • Human Rights and Equity Advisor
  • Human Rights Investigator
  • Human Rights Officer
  • Human Rights Officer and 1 part-time position
  • Administrative Assistant

Policy and Procedures

The HRB is deeply committed to building respectful learning, teaching and working environments that are free from discrimination and harassment. The work of the HRB is guided by ensuring the Board’s commitment to and compliance with its legal obligations to address issues of Code-based discrimination and harassment under Board Policy 1017 – Human Rights, which came into effect on April 26, 2021. Policy 1017 – Human Rights is based on Ontario’s Human Rights Code, which provides equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of the 17 Code protected Grounds. 

On November 16, 2022, the Human Rights Procedures were officially launched publicly. Through extensive stakeholder consultation, including review with Union group executives, WRDSB Advisory groups, staff affinity groups, and Student Senate representatives, the WRDSB approved two complaint resolution procedures: 

The approval of AP1210 and AP1215 does not prevent schools and other departments from responding to matters that may also be appropriately addressed through other processes. This could include:

  • Student progressive discipline
  • Bullying and harassment processes available to staff through human resources 

The procedures also specify that the Human Rights Branch will not undertake a resolution process where the matter is actively being reviewed or addressed by another department or area of the board, even if it may be Code-based (i.e. the matter is the subject of a grievance). 

However, those who are covered by the Policy may contact the HRB for a confidential assessment to provide WRDSB constituents with information about their rights and responsibilities, including where complainants describe a Code-based human rights violation. The HRB promotes early resolution processes wherever possible and may offer guidance, information and support to someone who is making efforts to respond to a human rights complaint at the site level (i.e. school or department level).