TORONTO, ON, 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.

“This year, we dug deeper and our results show that the sector averages mask a big gap between leaders and laggards,” says Wendy Cukier, Associate Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management, who co-authored the report and is the founder of the Diversity Institute. “We also took a special look at the news media given its profound influence on how we think about leaders and leadership.”

When examining the news media, the study reviewed two aspects of the media: who makes decisions at major print and broadcast media organizations serving the GTA, and who gets represented in their news coverage.

Previous research has shown a link between diversity in leadership and prosperity. Diverse leadership fuels organizational performance, expands access to global talent pools and new markets and is linked to innovation. The DiverseCity Counts report tracks progress on diversity in the GTA’s leadership, drawing attention to the challenges and practices worth emulating.

The report finds that a significant percentage of organizations (21.9 per cent) have high levels of representation (more than 20 per cent), but the majority (56.6 per cent) have no visible minority representation in leadership roles, indicating a large gap between the strong and weak performers. The report also found that the top performing organizations measure and track their progress.

Other key findings:

• Government agencies take the lead spot with education (top last year) in second place; the corporate sector remains at the bottom
• City of Toronto public agencies demonstrate the best results overall with an impressive 33 per cent visible minority representation in leadership roles
• Federally regulated companies subject to the employment equity legislation tend to perform better than others
• Leadership in news media corporations mirrors corporate sector leadership (4.8 vs. 4.1 per cent)
• While visible minorities are under-represented in leadership roles in the news media (decision makers), news coverage (who is seen) offers opportunity for media to diversify. Total visible minority representation in news media coverage is 19.6 per cent

“The good news is that we’re moving in the right direction and improved results are within reach,” says Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree, who together with John Tory is co-chairing the DiverseCity Project, which commissioned the research. “The Counts report gives us a roadmap to reap the benefits of diverse leadership.”

DiverseCity Counts is the second of three annual reports commissioned by DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. For more on DiverseCity and to read the full report go to: www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project is an initiative of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance and is funded in part by the government of Ontario.

The Diversity Institute at Ryerson University focuses on fact-based strategies for increasing inclusion. www.ryerson.ca/diversity.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

• Julia Howell, on behalf of DiverseCity, (416) 402-4274, julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca
• Kathleen Powderley, on behalf of the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, (416) 803-5597, kathleen@responsiblecommunications.ca
• Emma Jowett, Counsel Public Relations, (416) 909-6463, ejowett@counselpr.ca

About DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project
DiverseCity is the latest project of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. With its eight initiatives, the project is changing the face of our region’s leadership. It is expanding our networks, strengthening our private and public institutions, advancing our knowledge on the role of diversity in leadership and tracking our progress. For more information, visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

About the Diversity Institute in Management and Technology at Ryerson University
The Diversity Institute in Management and Technology is located in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. The Diversity Institute undertakes diversity research with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, disabilities and sexual orientation in the workplace. The goal of the Institute is to generate new, interdisciplinary knowledge about diversity in organizations to contribute to the awareness and the promotion of equity in the workplace. Visit www.ryerson.ca/diversity for more information.

WHAT
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.

WHY
Last year’s report showed that just 13 per cent of leaders were visible minorities relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied. Find out what this year’s report tells us.

WHEN
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Briefing begins at 10 a.m. sharp
Doors open for media check-in and set-up at 9:30 a.m.

WHO
Ratna Omidvar and John Tory, Co-Chairs, DiverseCity
The Honourable Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Dr. Wendy Cukier, Associate Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management and founder of the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University

WHERE
The Design Exchange
234 Bay Street, Toronto
Trading Floor

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MEDIA CONTACTS

• Julia Howell, on behalf of DiverseCity, (416) 402-4274, julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca
• Kathleen Powderley, on behalf of the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, (416) 803-5597, kathleen@responsiblecommunications.ca
• Emma Jowett, Counsel Public Relations, (416) 909-6463, ejowett@counselpr.ca

TORONTO, 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.

The annual June Callwood Lecture honours the life and legacy of journalist, author and social activist June Callwood (1924-2007). It provides a platform for the exploration and discussion of contemporary social justice issues.

• What: Fourth Annual June Callwood Lecture: A Canadian in the Making
• Where: Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
• When: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 7:30 pm (Doors/cash bar open at 6:30 p.m.)
• Who: Guest speaker: Ratna Omidvar
• Music: Dan Hill

Dan Hill joins a prestigious list of social activist, singer/songwriters who have performed at the annual lecture, including Molly Johnson, Jon Brooks and Lorraine Segato.

Previous speakers at the annual lecture have been human rights activist Sally Armstrong, lawyer James Lockyer and theologian and social activist Mary Jo Leddy.

Toronto Public Library is the world’s busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 17.5 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 31 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit the website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

For further information: Media Contact: Helen Lanteigne, Communications Officer, (416) 397-5971, Media@torontopubliclibrary.ca

TORONTO, 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.

“Through ALLIES, we are proud to be building a pan-Canadian project that is connecting employers across the country and leveraging their capacity to tap into the talents of skilled immigrants,” said Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree.

In Halifax, the Connector program has opened professional networks to over 100 skilled newcomers in the past year. In Edmonton recent immigrants are matched to professionals in their field through mentoring. In Montreal, employers are sharing their best practices on the recruitment and retention of skilled workers through round tables. In Calgary, an immigrant employment council is bringing employers and immigrant agencies together for a coordinated approach to mentoring. In Toronto, employers who actively embrace newcomers are recognised in a yearly award ceremony. Across the country, online videos and roadmaps guide employers to recruit diverse employees through hireimmigrants.ca.

The ALLIES 2010 Learning Exchange is a catalyst for sharing ideas, connecting with others, and inspiring action from the participants from 12 cities across Canada. Funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by ALLIES, a joint project of Maytree and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the 2010 Learning Exchange will allow delegates to learn how to engage employers, set up successful and sustainable programs, and work with all levels of government.

By 2011, we will rely 100% on immigrants for our net labour market growth. Proactive local action is key to ensuring that the integration of this new labour force is as seamless as possible.

Details on the 2010 Learning Exchange can be found at http://www.maytree.com/integration/allies/allies-events/2010-learning-exchange.

ALLIES (Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies) is a five-year project jointly funded by Maytree (www.maytree.com) and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (www.mcconnellfoundation.ca). ALLIES provides the information, learning and funding required by communities to adapt and implement successful immigrant employment approaches used by multi-stakeholder initiatives across the country. The project brings local players together to develop their own practical solutions for the integration of skilled immigrants into the labour market.

For further information:

Valeisha Sobhee
Coordinator of Programs, ALLIES, Maytree,
Email: vsobhee@maytree.com
Phone: (416) 944-8915 ext. 351,
Cell (May 5th-7th only): (902) 412-7550

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.

“Good practice in board governance includes finding the right people to lead,” explained Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree and co-chair of DiverseCity. “In a city region as diverse as ours, this involves embracing the full spectrum of skills, experiences and connections available. Capitalizing on our immense talent pool is an imperative for today’s nonprofit and public boards.”

Research conducted by The Conference Board of Canada in the fall of 2008 linked diverse leadership to greater financial and organizational performance and enhanced innovation and creativity, among other outcomes.

“We are honoured to be recognized for our long-standing work in the area of diversity and equity,” said Marilyn Emery, President and CEO, Women’s College Hospital. “This award is shared with all our board members and staff – past and present – whose diverse representation underscores our abiding commitment to equity for our patients, our workforce and our partners.”

“This recognition by DiverseCity onBoard means the world to United Way,” said Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way Toronto. “We’re working very hard to become an inclusive and culturally fluent organization – at all levels. Our goal is for diversity and inclusion to become an integral part of who we are and what we do. While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, this award further strengthens our commitment to be as diverse and inclusive as the communities we serve.”

Read Women’s College Hospital’s diversity story.

Read United Way Toronto’s diversity story.

DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint initiative of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. The project aims to transform the leadership landscape across the GTA. DiverseCity onBoard connects qualified candidates from Aboriginal, visible minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors. Since 2005, Diversity onBoard has made 323 appointments to public and nonprofit boards from its roster of more than 1,100 candidates.

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ABOUT MAYTREE: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

ABOUT UNITED WAY TORONTO: Established in 1956, United Way Toronto is a charity working to advance the common good and create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our city. Working in partnership with others, we mobilize people and resources to address the root causes of social problems and to change community conditions for the better. United Way supports agencies that provide services to strengthen individuals, families, and communities. www.unitedwaytoronto.com.

ABOUT WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL: For the past 100 years, Women’s College Hospital has been dedicated to groundbreaking advances in women’s health. Women’s College Hospital collaborated in the invention of the Pap test, opened Ontario’s first regional Sexual Assault Care Centre and was the first hospital in the province to use mammography. Today, Women’s College Hospital is Ontario’s first and only ambulatory care centre and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto focused on state-of-the-art care, research and education in women’s health. www.womenscollegehospital.ca.

Media contacts:

Maytree: Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, p: 416-944-2627 x 284, c: 416-271-5654, mselder@maytree.com

United Way Toronto: Caitlin Stidwill, Communications Officer, p: 416-777-1444 ext. 396, c: 416-525-5632, cstidwill@uwgt.org

Women’s College Hospital: Jodi Salem, Media & Internal Relations, Strategic Communications, p: 416-323-6400 ext. 4054, jodi.salem@wchospital.ca

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.

What:
2009 Diversity in Governance Awards

Who:
• Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree; Co-Chair, DiverseCity
• Alan Broadbent, Chairman & CEO, Avana Capital Corp.; Chairman, Maytree
• Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way Toronto
• Alnasir Samji, President of the Board of Trustees, United Way Toronto
• Marilyn Emery, President and CEO, Women’s College Hospital
• Michele Landsberg, Board Member, Women’s College Hospital

When:
Thursday, February 4, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Awards ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m.

Where:
Currie Hall, Canada’s National Ballet School
105 Maitland Street, Toronto

DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint initiative of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. The project aims to transform the leadership landscape across the GTA. DiverseCity onBoard connects qualified candidates from Aboriginal, visible minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Research conducted by The Conference Board of Canada in the fall of 2008 linked diverse leadership to greater financial and organizational performance and enhanced innovation and creativity, among other outcomes.

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ABOUT MAYTREE: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

ABOUT UNITED WAY TORONTO: Established in 1956, United Way Toronto is a charity working to advance the common good and create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our city. Working in partnership with others, we mobilize people and resources to address the root causes of social problems and to change community conditions for the better. United Way supports agencies that provide services to strengthen individuals, families, and communities. www.unitedwaytoronto.com.

ABOUT WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL: For the past 100 years, Women’s College Hospital has been dedicated to groundbreaking advances in women’s health. Women’s College Hospital collaborated in the invention of the Pap test, opened Ontario’s first regional Sexual Assault Care Centre and was the first hospital in the province to use mammography. Today, Women’s College Hospital is Ontario’s first and only ambulatory care centre and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto focused on state-of-the-art care, research and education in women’s health. www.womenscollegehospital.ca.

Media contacts:

Maytree: Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, p: 416-944-2627 x 284, c: 416-271-5654, mselder@maytree.com

United Way Toronto: Caitlin Stidwill, Communications Officer, p: 416-777-1444 ext. 396, c: 416-525-5632, cstidwill@uwgt.org

Women’s College Hospital: Jodi Salem, Media & Internal Relations, Strategic Communications, p: 416-323-6400 ext. 4054, jodi.salem@wchospital.ca

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.

David brought a strong suite of personal abilities to the Alliance work. He had enormous energy, high intelligence with a keenly honed analytical ability, boldness, and a knack for finding the appropriate tactics. He assembled a small but strong Alliance team, headed by the irrepressible Julia Deans.

Maytree partnered with the Alliance in the creation of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, which focuses on strengthening immigrants getting into the Canadian labour market. Previous efforts had generally focused on making the immigrant fit for work in Canada, but TRIEC recognized that both employers and employees needed to get fit. David was invaluable in bringing the employer community to the table in a dedicated and powerful way. It has made all the difference. More than 5000 skilled immigrants today have work in Toronto. The model is being adapted in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, Edmonton and as far away as Auckland, NZ.

Maytree partnered again with David and The Toronto City Summit Alliance when we created “DiverseCity” a courageous look at how far diversity has permeated the structures of power and privilege in the city.

Through “DiverseCity”, slowly but surely we are seeing new faces around the board rooms, in the media, on election ballots, and the power plays in the city.

David also had a strong sense of how to shine the public light on important issues, to encourage the press to pay attention, and to create enthusiasm for shared participation in implementing solutions. His smart scheduling of events and meetings always helped to keep shoulders to the wheel and, where it was necessary, feet to the fire.

David was a great colleague for us at Maytree, and a great citizen of our city, province and country. He had that rare gift to leave things better than he found them. We will miss him.

Alan Broadbent, Chairman  |  Ratna Omidvar, President

TORONTO, Nov. 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. Research conducted by The Conference Board of Canada in the fall of 2008 connected diverse leadership with greater financial and organizational performance and enhanced innovation and creativity, among other outcomes.

In 2008, the winners were the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), YMCA of Greater Toronto and Harbourfront Centre. Winning strategies and practices included developing an inclusive board recruitment plan; creating a Diversity and Social Inclusion Report Card to monitor targets; and holding training sessions to create a work environment that supports diversity.

This year’s winners will be celebrated at a reception and ceremony on February 4, 2010. Application deadline is December 11, 2009 and forms can be found on Maytree’s website at www.maytree.com.

DiverseCity onBoard is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a three-year partnership of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. The project aims to transform the leadership landscape across the GTA. DiverseCity onBoard connects qualified candidates from Aboriginal, visible minority and under-represented immigrant communities to agencies, boards and commissions in the public and nonprofit sectors.

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ABOUT MAYTREE: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

For further information: on the awards: Danielle Griffin, Program Assistant, DiverseCity onBoard, Maytree, p: (416) 944-2627 x 262, e: dgriffin@maytree.com

Media contact: Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, Maytree, p: (416) 944-2627 x 284, c: (416) 271-5654, e: mselder@maytree.com

WHY: It’s been one year since DiverseCity launched with a bold and detailed plan to transform the leadership landscape. We will be releasing a report to our partners – a growing group of multi-sectoral organizations that have signed on to the DiverseCity movement.

WHO:

• Julia Deans, CEO, Toronto City Summit Alliance,
• Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree
• Leaders from Toronto area businesses, nonprofits and public agencies that have committed to the DiverseCity project as partners

The event will also feature short presentations from three organizations that have successfully diversified their leadership:

• Brian Toda, Senior Vice-President, Global Talent Management, Scotiabank
• Frances Lankin, CEO of The United Way of Greater Toronto
• Adam Vaughan, Toronto City Councillor, Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina; City of Toronto Civic Appointments Committee Chair

WHEN: Monday, November 16, 2009, 5:00-7:00pm

WHERE: 150 Bloor Street West, Suite 900 (at Avenue Road), Ontario Medical Association

DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project is the latest project of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. With its eight initiatives, the project will change the face of our region’s leadership. It will expand our networks, strengthen our private and public institutions, advance our knowledge on the role of diversity in leadership and track our progress. For more information, visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

RSVP and more information:

Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, Maytree, 416-944-2627 x284, mselder@maytree.com

Julia Howell, Community Investment Partners, 416-699-3838, mailto:mselder@maytree.com

Toronto, 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.

“Reform is needed, but not the kind of reform the government is planning,” explains Peter Showler, Director of the Refugee Forum at the University of Ottawa and former Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). “Making refugee decisions is an incredibly difficult task. To meet this challenge, a reformed system needs to be based on the following three pillars: A good first decision; a reliable appeal; and the prompt removal of failed claimants.”

In particular, the report recommends the creation of a new Refugee Tribunal with two divisions, a Refugee Claim Division and a Refugee Appeal Division, to replace the IRB. The tribunal members would be appointed solely on merit. The Refugee Claim Division would employ informal procedures to allow refugees to tell their story, and each claimant would be represented by a lawyer. By creating a strong system, the Pre-Removal Risk Assessments, “back-end” Humanitarian and Compassionate applications (H&C) and their associated judicial reviews could be removed from the system.

Under the proposal, refugee claims would be decided in six months, reviewed in four months and removed within three months of a negative appeal decision. The new refugee system would produce accurate and fair decisions, and result in the timely removal of failed claimants.

To download the proposal, visit http://www.maytree.com/policy.

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About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

Media contact:
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, 416-944-2627 ext. 284, mselder@maytree.com.

Toronto, 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. These shifts suggest that the Foreign Temporary Worker Program, provincial nominee programs and the Canadian Experience Class will soon overtake the Federal Skilled Worker Program, traditionally the cornerstone of immigration to Canada. This could make our immigration system less competitive internationally for attracting potential immigrants, and could have negative long-term consequences on our labour markets and economy.

“What we have found is that the changes made were individual ad-hoc, short-term fixes without looking at their cumulative impact,” explains the report’s author Naomi Alboim, Maytree Senior Fellow, and Adjunct Professor and Co-Chair, Policy Forum at the School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University. “Fixing Canada’s economic immigration policies has to be done in a coordinated way to have a positive long-term impact.”

The report recommends that the federal government articulate a national vision for economic immigration through public dialogue and debate, in which a revised Federal Skilled Worker Program becomes the priority. The revisions should include more points for younger immigrants and trades people, as well as mandatory English or French language testing. In addition, the federal government should create a database with the resumes of overseas skilled immigrant applicants, which would be searchable by employers before the immigrants even arrive. Among its fifteen recommendations, the report also suggests that the Foreign Temporary Worker Program for low-skilled workers be halted, and that Canada should adapt and improve its services to ensure that immigrants succeed.

For the full report and a description of all 15 recommendations, visit www.maytree.com/policy.

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About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

Media contact:
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, 416-944-2627 ext. 284, mselder@maytree.com.

The goal of the initiative is to establish mentoring as a successful labour market strategy to give skilled immigrants better access to employment in Canada. The initiative builds on the knowledge and experience of the Mentoring Partnership, a Greater Toronto Area-wide program first launched by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), a multi-stakeholder council working to improve access to employment for immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

“Mentoring is a simple, yet powerful idea that builds on the strength of networks,” said Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree. “One of the major barriers faced by skilled immigrants in finding employment in their occupation has always been the lack of professional networks and understanding of Canadian workplace culture and expectations. A strong mentoring program, where workplace ready immigrants are matched with Canadian professionals based on occupational criteria, has proved to be a successful strategy to lower those barriers. To have TD Bank Financial Group come on board as the funder for the Canada-wide initiative will ensure that we can replicate the success we had in the GTA much faster.”

“We’re an enthusiastic supporter of mentoring as a means to employment,” said Sue Cummings, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at TD Bank Financial Group. “In our years of experience with this model the results speak for themselves. Where else can you find a program that helps more than two-thirds of participants to find employment in their field or profession, and delivers a 67% increase in their average annual salary? This investment has a real impact on people’s lives and pays long-term social and economic dividends for our society.”

Participants entering an occupation-specific mentoring program possess the education, experience and language skills needed to excel in the workforce – all they need are the connections and knowledge that can only be gained from real-life experience.

Details on how organizations can get tools, resources and support to set up or expand their mentoring program are available online at www.maytree.com/integration/allies.

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ALLIES (Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies) is a five-year project jointly funded by Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. ALLIES provides the information, learning and funding required by communities to adapt and implement successful immigrant employment approaches used by multi-stakeholder initiatives across the country. The project brings local players together to develop their own practical solutions for the integration of skilled immigrants into the labour market.

About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office. www.maytree.com.

About The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation: Established in 1937 by philanthropist and entrepreneur John Wilson McConnell, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation funds projects in Canada that foster citizen engagement, build resilient communities and have the potential for national scale or impact. In the process of developing and supporting programs, the Foundation has come to appreciate better the importance of innovation, the exploration of new and effective ways of addressing intractable social problems and the challenge of ensuring that these new approaches are sustained. www.mcconnellfoundation.ca.

TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together Children’s health, literacy and education, and the environment are the three main areas of focus for TD’s community giving. Flagship programs within these areas include: TD Children’s Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian Children’s Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership; and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD is involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2008, TD donated $35 million to more than 2,100 organizations across Canada.

Toronto, ON, 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.

“Skilled immigrants are a key resource for building and strengthening Canada, particularly in light of our declining birth rate,” says Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree. “Unfortunately, skilled immigrants often face obstacles in finding employment. Some prospective employers may not want to hire someone who has a degree from an unfamiliar international university. Or the skilled immigrants often lack the necessary professional networks to connect them with employment opportunities.”

Funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by ALLIES, a joint project of Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the 2009 Learning Exchange invites communities to share ideas, strategies and experiences about successful immigrant employment approaches. In panel discussions, workshops and special presentations, delegates will learn how to engage employers, how to set up a successful internship program and how to work with all levels of government, among other topics.

Research has shown that the integration of skilled immigrants is necessary for Canada to succeed. In particular, the Canadian-born workforce is shrinking and the demand for labour is growing which skilled immigrants can fill; skilled immigrants can help Canadian companies do business with the world as they bring international expertise; and as many local markets are changing and becoming more diverse, skilled immigrants will give companies a better understanding about how to do business with them.

Details on the 2009 ALLIES Learning Exchange can be found at www.maytree.com/integration/allies/2009-learning-exchange.

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ALLIES (Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies) is a five-year project jointly funded by Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. ALLIES provides the information, learning and funding required by communities to adapt and implement successful immigrant employment approaches used by multi-stakeholder initiatives across the country. The project brings local players together to develop their own practical solutions for the integration of skilled immigrants into the labour market.

About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office. www.maytree.com.

About The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation: Established in 1937 by philanthropist and entrepreneur John Wilson McConnell, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation funds projects in Canada that foster citizen engagement, build resilient communities and have the potential for national scale or impact. In the process of developing and supporting programs, the Foundation has come to appreciate better the importance of innovation, the exploration of new and effective ways of addressing intractable social problems and the challenge of ensuring that these new approaches are sustained. www.mcconnellfoundation.ca.

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Toronto, ON, May 27, 2009: Just 13 per cent of Greater Toronto Area (GTA) leaders are visible minorities, relative to 49.5 per cent (1) 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.

“Now that we have a clearer picture of where we stand as a region, we’re in a much better position to do something about it,” says Wendy Cukier, co-author of the report with Margaret Yap, and Founder of Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute.

Previous research has shown a clear link between diversity in leadership and prosperity. Diverse leadership improves organizational financial performance and stimulates innovation, among other well-documented benefits. “Diverse leadership has a profound effect on the hopes and aspirations of citizens, and consequently, their achievements and social inclusion,” Cukier notes.

“We found significant differences within sectors and between sectors and also surfaced some high performing examples. What’s interesting is that organizations that make a point of tracking and reporting on their results tend to have higher levels of diversity. What gets measured gets done,” adds Cukier.

The boards of the City of Toronto’s public agencies scored highest with 31 per cent of their membership comprised of visible minorities. Since building in mechanisms to measure their performance in this area, these boards have seen a 40 per cent improvement in just four years. Also of note, boards in all but one sector had much higher levels of representation than the executive staff of their organizations.

Other key findings:

• Across sectors, the education sector came out on top with college boards showing the best results at 27 per cent;
• The business sector trailed other sectors at the board and executive levels (3 per cent and 5 per cent respectively);
• Comparisons within sectors found significant differences. For example, only 10 per cent of councillors are visible minorities in the five municipalities studied, compared with 23 per cent of MPPs.
• The report also identifies a number of successful strategies to increase diversity across sectors.

“These results are a wake-up call,” says Ratna Omidvar, President Maytree and Co-Chair of the DiverseCity Project that commissioned the research. “We’ve got work to do to give the GTA the edge it needs to compete on the world stage.”

DiverseCity Counts is the first of three annual reports commissioned by DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. For more on DiverseCity and to read the full report, go to: www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project is an initiative of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance.

The Diversity Institute at Ryerson University focuses on fact-based strategies for increasing inclusion. www.ryerson.ca/diversity.

(1) Based on Statistic Canada data for the five regions included in this study. (Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Markham and Richmond Hill).

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About DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project
DiverseCity is the latest project of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. With its eight initiatives, the project will change the face of our region’s leadership. It will expand our networks, strengthen our private and public institutions, advance our knowledge on the role of diversity in leadership and track our progress. For more information, visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

About the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University
The Diversity Institute in Management and Technology is located in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. The Diversity Institute undertakes diversity research with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, disabilities and sexual orientation in the workplace. The goal of the Institute is to generate new, interdisciplinary knowledge about diversity in organizations to contribute to the awareness and the promotion of equity in the workplace. Visit www.ryerson.ca/diversity for more information.

TORONTO, 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.

“For a long time now, the Greater Toronto Area has been welcoming people from around the world with the promise of opportunity and prosperity,” explains Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree. “We live in one of the most diverse regions in the world. But while there is no absence of diverse voices in the media on such issues as immigration, multiculturalism or diversity, these voices are absent on a wider range of issues. With the launch of DiverseCity Voices, we make it easier for journalists to connect with diverse experts across a variety of subject areas. It is now up to the media to go beyond the ‘same old’ sources to report news in the GTA that reflects the region it serves.”

DiverseCity Voices is one of eight initiatives of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. The project’s main goal is to transform the leadership landscape in the GTA by enabling a new group of diverse leaders to emerge. The goal of the Voices initiative is to identify diverse subject-matter experts across a variety of subject areas and connect them with journalists to enrich the quality of print, radio and television news in the GTA.

Journalists and candidates can register free at maytree.com/voices.

ABOUT MAYTREE: Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. In particular, it focuses on creating diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office, changing the face of leadership in the Greater Toronto Area and Canada. www.maytree.com.

ABOUT THE TORONTO CITY SUMMIT ALLIANCE (TCSA): TCSA is a multi-sectoral coalition of civic leaders who develop and support initiatives addressing issues critical to the future health and wealth of the Toronto region. Since its inception in 2002, over 6,000 volunteers have been involved in TCSA initiatives aimed at, among other things, better integrating skilled immigrants (Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, with Maytree), promoting affordable housing (Make Housing Happen), and realizing a regional environmental vision (Greening Greater Toronto). www.torontoalliance.ca.

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Contact:
Tina Edan, Manager, Leadership and Learning, Maytree, 416-944-2627 x245, tedan@maytree.com
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, Communications Manager, Maytree, 416-944-2627 x284, mselder@maytree.com

The paper points out that today more than 37 percent of workers in Canada work in labour situations where little enforcement of employment standards exist. Surveys have found that 25 percent of employers are in widespread violation of labour laws and that 50 percent are in partial violation.

“Many of today’s low-wage workers work part-time, on contract, work through temp agencies, or in self-employed situations – not by choice, but by necessity,” explains Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree. “This leaves their working conditions unprotected or unenforced by provincial labour laws. It’s important during the current economic crisis that the labour rights of the most vulnerable in society are protected.”

“Our report uncovered some of the worst labour practices in Ontario,” says Deena Ladd, co-ordinator of the Workers’ Action Centre. “While it didn’t come as a surprise that for many their work violates their basic labour market rights, it was still shocking that this exploitation is not just a matter of a few bad employers who engage in unlawful practices but a structural problem in our labour market.”

Recommendations to the Ministry of Labour include to educate workers, employers and the general public on their rights; investigate employers when they have been found to violate the rights of one employee; and ensure that unpaid wages are paid.

A copy of Maytree’s policy paper can be downloaded at www.maytree.com/policyinfocus. A copy of Working on Edge, 2007 can be found at www.workersactioncentre.org/Policy.htm.

ABOUT MAYTREE: Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. In particular, it focuses on creating diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office, changing the face of leadership in the Greater Toronto Area and Canada.

ABOUT THE WORKER’S ACTION CENTRE: The Worker’s Action Centre is a worker-based organization committed to improving the lives and working conditions of people in low-wage and unstable employment.

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Media contact:
Maytree: Markus Stadelmann-Elder, communications manager, 416-944-2627 x284, mselder@maytree.com
Worker’s Action Centre: Deena Ladd, co-ordinator, 416-531-0778 x222, deena@workersactioncentre.org

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2009 - Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance today announced the first wave of over 100 partners that have committed their support to “DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project”. Partners include private, non-profit and public organizations that are committed to more diverse leadership in the Greater Toronto Area (a full list can be found online at http://www.diversecitytoronto.ca/our-partners).

Over 600 CEOs and other civic leaders gathered today for a sold-out Canadian Club luncheon to discuss the social and economic benefits of diverse leadership and the strategies required to enable a new generation of diverse leaders to emerge.

“It is our goal that, over the next three years, 1000 new diverse leaders will be identified and helped to move into positions of leadership and influence,” says Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree. “Ultimately our city will benefit from the competitive advantage diverse leaders bring to the public, private and non-profit sectors.”

The GTA has a higher proportion of immigrants than any other city, surpassing Miami, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York: forty-four per cent of the city region’s population is foreign born. Despite the GTA’s multicultural strength, visible minorities are currently under-represented in its leadership. The partners of DiverseCity are committed to change this by realizing the full potential of our people and transforming the GTA’s leadership landscape through DiverseCity’s eight-point plan (see details below).

A Conference Board of Canada report, “The Value of Diverse Leadership”, analyzed many of the issues and benefits of diversity in Canadian leadership circles. The report showed that diverse leadership can benefit the GTA and other regions in the following areas:

• Increased financial performance
• Greater employee productivity and organizational performance
• Greater ability to attract and retain talent
• Enhanced creativity and innovation
• Increased civic engagement

“It is time to reap the benefits of creating a more diverse leadership in the GTA and we are thrilled to be partnering with so many strong organizations,” says David Pecaut, Chair, Toronto City Summit Alliance, and Senior Partner, The Boston Consulting Group. “Toronto has the opportunity to turn its diversity deficit into a huge diversity dividend.”

Participants in the Canadian Club lunch discussed the eight concrete projects of DiverseCity including:

Initiatives to expand the region’s networks:

• DiverseCity Nexus will bridge business and social connections between established and rising executives through an annual salon-style speaker series.
• DiverseCity Fellows will equip 25 next generation civic leaders each year through a fellowship that combines leadership, diversity, exposure to top leaders, and action projects.

Initiatives to strengthen the region’s institutions:

• DiverseCity onBoard will strengthen public and voluntary institutions by matching their governance positions with highly qualified candidates from racially and ethnically diverse communities.
• DiverseCity in Civic Leadership will broaden involvement in the political process by identifying, training and mentoring diverse leaders who will run for elected office and manage election campaigns.
• DiverseCity Voices will enrich the quality of print, radio and television news by identifying and training diverse spokespeople across a variety of subject areas and connecting them with journalists.

Initiatives to advance the region’s knowledge:

• DiverseCity Advantage will build and communicate the body of knowledge on the economic and social benefits of diversity in leadership.
• DiverseCity Perspectives will create opportunities for dialogue and surface new ideas on the systemic conditions that encourage or discourage diversity in leadership.

An initiative to track the region’s progress:

• DiverseCity Counts will produce an annual check-up on the extent to which the GTA’s leadership reflects our demographic realities.

ABOUT MAYTREE: Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. In particular, it focuses on creating diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office, changing the face of leadership in the Greater Toronto Area and Canada.

ABOUT TCSA: The Toronto City Summit Alliance is a multi-sectoral coalition of civic leaders who develop and support initiatives addressing issues critical to the future health and wealth of the Toronto region. Since its inception in 2002, over 6000 volunteers have been involved in Alliance initiatives aimed at: expanding knowledge-based industry (Toronto Region Research Alliance); better integrating skilled immigrants (Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, with Maytree); promoting affordable housing (Make Housing Happen); strengthening neighbourhoods (Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force); supporting working-age adults (Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults Task Force); promoting our cultural and tourism assets (Toront03 and Luminato); connecting and supporting emerging city-builders (Emerging Leaders Network, the Social Entrepreneurship Summit); and realizing a regional environmental vision (Greening Greater Toronto).

DiverseCity OnBoard: New Leaders at the Board Table

Maytree Foundation Announces Winners of its Annual Diversity in Governance Awards

TORONTO, NOVEMBER 12/08 -  For the second year in a row, Maytree Foundation announced and celebrated the winners of its Annual Diversity in Governance Awards at a gala event held Wednesday, November 12. Just as U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, with his African, Hawaiian and Indonesian roots, is now the world’s most prominent symbol of diversity, the Diversity in Governance Award winners are leaders in diversity; well ahead of the curve in embracing and engaging the skills, experience and commitment of Toronto’s racially and ethnically diverse communities onto their boards of governance.

DiverseCity OnBoard, an initiative of Maytree works to ensure that the governance bodies of public agencies, boards and commissions as well as voluntary organizations reflect the diversity of the people who live and work in the GTA.

The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, winner of this year’s Public Governance category is thrilled to be honored by DiverseCity onBoard. “Three years ago we started out with 12 board members and have grown to 40.

One third of our board now reflects the cultural and regional diversity of Ontario, a microcosm of our world,” says Linda Lamoureux, Chair.  Harbourfront Centre is being honored with the Nonprofit Governance Award and the YMCA of Greater Toronto is being recognized as a Trailblazer.

Ratna Omidvar, Maytree’s President, said it is urgent to improve the diversity of Toronto’s public and nonprofit institutions.  “Toronto is the most culturally diverse city in the world, organizations and institutions should reflect the people they are serving. It is time we diversify Toronto’s leadership. DiverseCity on Board is committed to changing who is sitting at the board table of public and nonprofit organizations in the GTA.”

Maytree is a private charitable foundation that promotes diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and public office, changing the face of leadership in our country.

WHO WAS THERE: Guest speakers: Alok Mukherjee, Toronto Police Services Board; Mark Cohon,                           Ontario Science Centre. The awards were presented by Alan Broadbent, Chair, Maytree

WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT:      Second Annual Diversity in Governance Awards

WHEN DID IT TAKE PLACE:     Wednesday, November 12^th, 6:00 pm

WHERE DID IT TAKE PLACE:   Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West , Toronto, Ontario

WHY DID IT TAKE PLACE:       “Toronto needs diverse leadership. By 2017 it’s expected that more than half of the region’s residents will be members of visible minority groups.”

For more information contact:

Sangeeta, Subramanian, 416-944-2627 ext 235

ssubramanian@maytree.com; www.maytree.com

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.

The 2007 recipients are The Ontario Trillium Foundation, The City of Toronto,
Seneca College, Dixon Hall and an honourable mention to The York Region Police Services Board.

The awards were supported by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration as part of the Ontario Government’s Volunteering-Citizenship in Action strategy.

Award recipients were selected based on best practices for recruiting, appointing and engaging board members from diverse communities. Successful strategies include well-established diversity policies, outreach to diverse communities, measurement and reporting on diversity goals and professional development of board members.

ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION

Category: Provincial Agency, Board or Commission

The Ontario Trillium Foundation has achieved a more culturally reflective Board of Directors and Grant Review Teams (GRT) by outreach to newcomer communities, including advertising and PSAs. The Foundation proactively supports the application process by tracking the progress of applications from diverse candidates and makes diversity part of the orientation for all new Board and GRT members.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation supports the voluntary sector through investments in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services, and sports and recreation sectors.

CITY OF TORONTO

Category: Municipal Agency, Board or Commission

The City of Toronto recognizes that the City is best served by boards that reflect the geographic distribution and diversity of the communities they serve. To achieve this objective, the City implemented pro-active strategies including new public appointments policies and benchmarks and extensive outreach to under-represented groups. The City of Toronto defines “citizens” to include all residents, including permanent residents, refugees, refugee claimants and residents without homes. Applicants are asked to identify their diversity status to track the City’s progress in achieving its goal.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. The city appoints 282 community members to 29 City boards during each term of Council.

SENECA COLLEGE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Category: Other Public Institutions

Seneca’s best practices include diversity and equity as specific criteria for appointments, an appointment committee that is mandated to build a diverse roster from alumni and college committees and an annual voluntary survey in which, most recently, 45% of the board self-identified as visible minority.

With more than eight campuses across the GTA, Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology provides internationally and nationally recognized career education and training to more students than any other college in Canada.

DIXON HALL

Category: Nonprofit organization

At Dixon Hall, one-third of the board members come from the community and social services sector. Dixon Hall is deliberate about its board composition and engages its multicultural constituents to fill vacancies and strengthen community partnerships.

Dixon Hall is a United Way agency located in Regent Park, Canada’s largest public housing complex. The agency assists local residents with housing, employment, education, personal growth, cultural enrichment and recreation.

THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK POLICE SERVICES BOARD

Honourable Mention, Municipal category

The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board has made specific commitments to diversity in its business planning, including: increasing the appeal of policing as a profession amongst diverse young people through its Recruiting with Vision Strategy; increasing the sensitivity of new officers to multicultural communities through its Recruit Community Insight Program; and establishing a Civic Leadership Award to honour stellar community leaders who promote understanding and tolerance in the community. As one of the most diverse Police Services Boards in Ontario, the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board considers the implications on the diverse community when formulating its governance policies that provide direction to the York Regional Police.

The Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board is the seven member civilian board that oversees the York Regional Police. The Board oversees police services including crime prevention in the York Region.