In the 2022-23 school year, Human Rights Branch staff contributed to the strategic leadership of the organization through various activities that align with directives from:

Human Rights and Equity Advisors Community of Practice

The Ministry of Education facilitates a community of practice with Human Rights and Equity Advisors (HREAs) and other human rights practitioners working at school boards across the province. The purpose of this community is to:

  • Share resources 
  • Discuss systemic human rights issues
  • Provide support

The HREA and/or Human Rights Investigator regularly attend these meetings. 

Policy 5000 – Employment (Fair, Equitable and Inclusive Hiring)

Policy 5000 Training

In April 2023, training took place to help Administrators and System Leaders understand how to implement Policy 5000 – Employment (Fair, Equitable and Inclusive Hiring). This policy was created in response to the Ministry of Education Policy and Program Memorandum 165 (PPM165). This training:

  • Outlined new expectations for hiring
  • Helped iterate the need to hire teachers and leaders who are representative of the students and families that we serve
  • Explained some new terms, such as “lived experience” 

There are 403 staff who are considered to be System Leaders at the WRDSB, which includes:

  • Managers and Officers
  • Senior Managers
  • Executive Managers
  • Superintendents
  • Associate Directors and Director

Hiring Fair, Recruitment Events

Our third annual Job Recruitment Event targeting Indigenous, Black, and Racialized job seekers occurred in March, 2023. Fifty people attended this event, where they received information about:

  • How to apply
  • What to include on their resumes 
  • What to expect in the interviews
  • What specific jobs entail

Several breakout sessions were available for candidates to speak directly to hiring managers and ask questions.

Joint Work with Human Resources and Equity Services (HRES)

Regular meetings occur involving leadership from both departments. Long-term planning occurs including:

  • Major training initiatives 
  • Procedural changes
  • New programs
  • Special Programs approvals
  • Accountability 

This team also helped develop the definition for “lived experience”, also referenced in PPM 165, which was used in the training on Policy 5000

Staff Mentorship and Support

As outlined in PPM 165, “The promotion of human rights and equity is vital to achieving a diverse and representative teacher workforce to meet the needs of a diverse student body.” Data collected from our student census highlighted that students in our schools are very diverse. However, our staff census highlighted that school staff do not proportionately represent that diversity. Some of the efforts to address this are supported by the Human Rights Branch. These include:

  • The Indigenous, Black and Racialized Employee Network (IBREN)
  • Staff Affinity Groups. 

Indigenous, Black and Racialized Employee Network (IBREN)

The IBREN was created in the 2022-2023 school year. Under this umbrella, several different network groups come together three times a year. This includes:

  • Indigenous, Black and Racialized Administrator Mentorship and Support (IBRAMS) 
  • Indigenous, Black and Racialized Teachers for Leadership (IBRT) 
  • Indigenous, Black, and Racialized OT support (IBROT)
  • Seven race-based Affinity Groups

Staff Affinity Groups

Staff Affinity Groups were created for people from similar backgrounds to come together and co-create a space where they feel valued, and where they can connect with a network to facilitate their thriving and flourishing in the workplace. There are currently 10 Staff Affinity Groups for staff who identify as:

  • Indigenous
  • African-Carribean-Black-identifying
  • Jewish
  • Muslim
  • Asian
  • South Asian
  • Sikh
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ 
  • Disability
  • Neuro-Diverse

Key Contact Network

The Human Rights Branch facilitates regular meetings with key contact persons in various Service Departments including:

  • Finance
  • Facilities
  • Information Technology Services 
  • Research, Communications
  • Planning 
  • Extended Day Program

The key contact meetings are organized as networking sessions that engage discussions and exchange of ideas on human rights and equity issues arising in the Service Departments. During the networking sessions, the HRB offers information on emerging issues and responds to requests for support such as staff training on specific human rights related topics and participation in recruitment processes.