Media Centre
Maytree’s media inquiries are handled by:
Markus Stadelmann-Elder
416-944-2627 ext. 284
mselder@maytree.com
Press Releases
Too much too fast: Immigration changes make Canada less welcoming
October 4, 2012. The pace and scope of change inCanada’s immigration system in recent years leaves one breathless. From 2008 to July 1, 2012, the federal government has made changes to every aspect of immigration policy, including the way in which reform is undertaken, and more changes are proposed. While some of the recent changes are positive, many are problematic, concludes a new report, Shaping the future: Canada’s rapidly changing immigration policies, written by Naomi Alboim and Karen Cohl and published by Maytree. The changes could have a dramatic impact on both the social and economic fabric of Canada and how the country is perceived by potential immigrants from around the world.
How will changes to immigration policies affect Canada’s future? A new Maytree report explores.
On October 4, 2012, join Maytree for an online press conference as report author Naomi Alboim discusses the individual and cumulative impact of recent changes and proposes how the government can create a better immigration system.
Changing the face of leadership: Awards recognize four GTA-based organizations
May 9, 2011: At an awards ceremony on Monday evening at Cisco Canada’s head office, DiverseCity onBoard recognized Peel Children’s Aid, The Redwood and the Town of Richmond Hill for embracing diversity in board governance and making it a priority to recruit board members from diverse backgrounds. A new corporate award, presented by the Canadian Board Diversity Council, recognized TD Bank Group.
New hope for human trafficking victims in Ontario
February 17, 2011: Today’s announcement by the Ontario government to launch a new three-pronged approach to fight human trafficking will mean better resources for police to disrupt and prosecute traffickers and greater support for victim services. This support is desperately needed to end this form of modern-day slavery. Ontario is home to the largest number of foreign human trafficking victims in Canada. Traffickers recruit and advertise girls as young as 14 for the sex trade often using coercion, deception and force. They are bought and sold like cattle to “pimps” or “boyfriends” who lie, threaten and deceive them. Until now, the province lacked a coordinated approach to combat the insidious crime of human trafficking.
New report: Almost 900,000 children in Canada are missing out on education grants – organizations and government must do more to help
December 1, 2010: Low-income families do not know that they can receive a grant from the federal government for their child’s education, reveals a report published today by Maytree, written by May Wong, Executive Director of the OMEGA Foundation.
New research findings on visible minorities in leadership include the media
June 10, 2010: Just 14 per cent of leaders in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are visible minorities (relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied), up marginally from last year’s 13.5 per cent, finds a research report which measures diversity in leadership released today by Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute on behalf of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. DiverseCity Counts: A Snapshot of Diverse Leadership in the Greater Toronto Area tracks 3,348 leaders across the corporate, public, elected, education and nonprofit sectors. Findings from this second annual report continue to point to a serious lack of visible minority leaders. Building on last year’s baseline results, this year’s report reveals new insights that can help expedite progress.
Study on Diversity in Leadership in the GTA
On June 10, 2010, DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project and the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University will release the second DiverseCity Counts Report, highlighting the number of visible minorities in senior leadership roles across the corporate, public and nonprofit sectors in the GTA. For the first time the report also includes a review of the news media.
Fourth Annual June Callwood Lecture
May 12, 2010: Maytree president and immigration and settlement advocate, Ratna Omidvar, will deliver the fourth annual June Callwood Lecture on Thursday, May 13 at 7.30 p.m. at the Toronto Reference Library. She will speak about her journey from exile to belonging, from refugee’s perspective to one of leading social activist creating opportunities for a better Canada.
From recent immigrant to integrated citizen: cities across Canada share solutions that work
May 4, 2010: Urban centres in Canada welcome hundreds of skilled immigrants, whose education and training can significantly enrich their communities. On May 6th and 7th, 175 delegates from urban communities across Canada will meet in Halifax at the 2010 ALLIES Learning Exchange to share and discuss practical and successful solutions for immigrant employment that can be adapted to other cities.
Changing the face of leadership: Awards recognize two GTA-based organizations
February 4, 2010: At an awards ceremony on Thursday night, DiverseCity onBoard recognized United Way Toronto and Women’s College Hospital for embracing diversity in board governance and making it a priority to seek out board members from diverse backgrounds. This year’s winners of the third annual Diversity in Governance Awards stand as models. Their deliberate strategies have enriched their own boards, and their example is changing the face of leadership across the GTA.
Celebrating two organizations that have met the diversity challenge
February 3, 2010: On Thursday, February 4, DiverseCity onBoard will recognize the winners of the third annual Diversity in Governance Awards – United Way Toronto (nonprofit board category) and Women’s College Hospital (public board category). This year’s winners are recognized for being well ahead of the curve in embracing diversity at the highest levels of their organizations. They exemplify good practices in building and benefiting from racially and ethnically diverse boards of governance. The two organizations understand that since the GTA is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world, organizations and institutions should reflect the people they serve.
Appreciating David Pecaut
December 14, 2009: With David Pecaut’s passing, Toronto has not only lost a great civic leader, but Maytree has lost a great friend and partner. David was the pivotal figure in the establishment of the Toronto City Summit Alliance, which he built into a dynamic civic presence which brought together leaders from business, civil society, government, labour, and academia. Using David’s preferred method of establishing a common fact base, he worked with a variety of coalitions to create solutions to persistent poverty, immigrant access to the labour market, diversifying the leadership in the city, environmental degradation, and connecting our regional research capability.
Has your board taken up the diversity challenge?
November 26, 2009: DiverseCity onBoard is now accepting applications for the 2009 Diversity in Governance Awards. The awards recognize GTA-based nonprofits and public agencies that have embraced diversity at their highest levels. Award recipients exemplify good practices in building and benefiting from racially and ethnically diverse boards of governance.
First Anniversary for DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project
November 12, 2009: It’s been one year since DiverseCity launched with a bold and detailed plan to transform the leadership landscape. On Monday, November 16, 2009, we will be releasing a report to our partners – a growing group of multi-sectoral organizations that have signed on to the DiverseCity movement.
New Report Puts Forward Plan to Reform Canada’s Refugee System
September 10, 2009 – Changes are needed to ensure that Canada meets its international obligations to protect refugees and to maintain confidence in the system states the report “Fast, Fair and Final: Reforming Canada’s Refugee System” by Peter Showler, released today by Maytree. It details how Canada’s current inland refugee system can take up to eight years to finalize a claim, leaving thousands of claimants in limbo and attracting frivolous claims.
Report lists recommendations to fix Canada’s economic immigration policies
July 22, 2009 – Recent federal policy shifts have altered the landscape for economic immigration without public debate states the report “Adjusting the Balance: Fixing Canada’s Economic Immigration Policies” released today by Maytree.
New National Mentoring Initiative to Help Canadian Urban Centres Integrate Skilled Immigrants into Workforce
June 11, 2009: More skilled immigrants will now find employment in their field because of a new mentoring initiative. TD Bank Financial Group and ALLIES, a joint program of Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, announced today the launch of a new National Mentoring Initiative at the 2009 ALLIES Learning Exchange conference at the Westin Bayshore Hotel (1601 Bayshore Drive) in Vancouver, B.C.
Toronto delegates to share ideas at Vancouver conference how to give skilled immigrants access to employment
June 8, 2009: Urban centers in Canada are in the fortunate position of being home to hundreds of skilled immigrants, whose education and training have the potential to significantly enrich their communities. When the economy improves, the readiness of these communities to tap into this global talent will be an important factor in their economic success. From June 11-12, close to 200 delegates from 17 urban communities meet in Vancouver, BC, to discuss practical solutions that will enable them to best integrate skilled immigrants into the local labour market.
First-time Study: Visible Minorities Under-represented In Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Leadership
May 27, 2009: Just 13 per cent of Greater Toronto Area (GTA) leaders are visible minorities, relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied in the region, finds a report released today by Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute on behalf of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. DiverseCity Counts: A Snapshot of Diversity in the Greater Toronto Area looked at 3257 leaders in the GTA across the corporate, public, not-for-profit and education sectors. The report is the first to look across sectors and to provide a benchmark of how well our region’s visible minorities are reflected in its senior leadership roles.
Policy in Focus webinar
How diverse is the senior leadership in the Greater Toronto Area? Watch the DiverseCity Counts Webinar with Wendy Cukier, the Diversity Institute, Ryerson University and author of DiverseCity Counts.
New online rolodex for journalists
April 1, 2009: GTA journalists looking for diverse perspectives in their reporting now have a new online rolodex to source subject-matter experts. Together with the Toronto City Summit Alliance (TCSA), Maytree has just launched DiverseCity Voices, a free online rolodex listing diverse experts who can speak on issues ranging from human rights to the economy.
Maytree releases policy paper to highlight the need for stronger enforcement of the Employment Standards Act
March 24, 2009: In a policy paper released this week, Maytree highlights recommendations from the report “Working on the Edge, 2007″ by the Workers Action Centre. In particular, Maytree’s policy paper “Policy in Focus: Protecting workers in a recession is important for a stronger economy” focuses on issues as they relate to the enforcement of the Employment Standards Act.
Over 100 partners announce their support for DiverseCity project
January 26, 2009: Over 100 partners announce their support for DiverseCity project and commit to taking Toronto from a “diversity deficit” to a “diversity dividend.”
Diversity in Governance Awards 2008
November 12, 2008: The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, Harbourfront Centre and YMCA of Greater Toronto receive awards at a gala event on November 12, 2008.
2007 Diversity in Governance Awards
Five organizations have been honoured with the first Maytree Foundation Diversity in Governance Awards. The awards celebrate public institutions and voluntary organizations that have demonstrated commitment and innovation in creating inclusive boards.