Intake Summary

During the reporting year, September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, the HRB received:

  • 56 requests for support
  • 46 new complaints

This made for a total of 102 new intake files.

There were also six files carried forward from the 2022-2023 school year. In total the HRB managed 108 files during the 2023-2024 school year.

Complaints

Complaints come to the HRB from various sources. These include:

  • Referrals from internal and external stakeholders
  • The Incident Reporting Form
  • The human-rights@wrdsb.ca email address
  • Through direct contact with an HRB staff member

The table below illustrates the social areas and protected grounds that were identified through the 46 new complaints. Please note that a complainant may have multiple intersecting grounds of identity so the number of social areas will not match the number of complaints.

Code-Protected Ground Social Area
Employment Services
Age 0 0
Ancestry, colour, race 9 7
Citizenship 0 0
Ethnic origin 2 1
Place of origin 1 0
Creed 3 9
Disability 7 8
Family Status 0 0
Marital status 0 0
Gender Identity/Gender Expression 1 3
Sex 0 2
Sexual Orientation 1 0
Record of Offences 0 Applies in employment only
Receipt of Public Assistance Applies in accommodation (housing) only

Resolution Process

In the 2023-2024 school year, the HRB supported the resolution of 51 case files*. All open case files were resolved and no files carried over into the 2024-2025 school year.

Human Rights concerns can be addressed and resolved at all levels within the Board. As outlined in AP 1210 and AP 1215 there are multiple legitimate ways to respond to human rights complaints:

  • Early resolution
  • Alternative resolution
  • Formal resolution

Early Resolution

Early Resolution is a process where a concern is directly addressed at the site level (i.e. at the school or department level) by a manager or supervisor.

Alternative Resolution

Alternative resolution processes seek to bring resolution to human rights concerns without investigating or assessing the merits of the allegations. Alternative resolution processes could involve:

  • Mediation
  • Dialogue
  • Restorative justice

They are only appropriate where all parties voluntarily agree to participate.

Formal Resolution

Formal resolution involves a full investigation of the allegations by the Human Rights Branch or a designated independent third-party investigator.

Case Resolution Summary

Resolution Pathway Number of Cases Percentage of Cases
Threshold Assessment 11 22%
Referral – Non-code 8 16%
Referral – Code (Early Resolution) 24 47%
Alternative Resolution 5 10%
Formal Resolution 3 6%

Regardless of the pathway to resolution, complaints are taken seriously.

*Please note: some case files were carried over from the 2022-2023 school year and as such the number of resolved files is greater than the number of new files for the 2023-2024 school year.

Consultations, Coaching and Requests for Support

The HRB responds to requests for support from WRDSB staff who are seeking guidance and clarity on human rights matters, where there is not a specific complaint or incident to be resolved through AP1210/AP1215.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the HRB received 56 requests for support. These requests come from:

  • The staff facing “Human Rights Request for Support Form”
  • Direct contact to HRB staff members
  • Email requests to human-rights@wrdsb.ca
  • Referrals from Human Resource and Equity Services

Such requests may result in a consultation, identification of opportunities for training and education or proactive efforts to establish and sustain a human rights culture.