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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

We All Belong Here!

EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION & BELONGING

We All Belong Here!

EQUITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION & BELONGING

Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) aims to break down barriers to ensure that everyone regardless of race, age, ability, culture, gender, or sexual orientation is able to live, work, play and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment.

Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging is about celebrating what makes each person unique, while emphasizing the humanity we all have in common.

As an organization, the Township of Woolwich is on a journey to better serve our vibrant and diverse community by incorporating an EDIB lens in all Township business, including our policies and practices, the language we use, how we plan neighbourhoods, and how and what services we provide.

The Township of Woolwich supports a number of initiatives to promote and advance equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility. Some examples can be found below:

We All Belong Here! Regional Anti-Hate Campaign

We All Belong Here: Standing Together Against Hate

The Region of Waterloo has launched the “We All Belong Here” anti-hate campaign to promote inclusion, raise awareness, and encourage reporting of hate incidents. This initiative is part of the Community Safety & Wellbeing Plan and responds to rising hate crimes in our region.

The campaign was led by the Combatting Hate Action Team (CHAT). The campaign features powerful messages like “We all belong here” and “Hate is not ok. Name it. Report it.” You’ll see these messages across the community, including on bus shelters, wrapped Grand River Transit bus and in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

The Township of Woolwich is proud to partner and support this campaign by amplifying the messaging and working with community partners to ensure everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. Together, we can create a community where hate has no place.

Visit the We All Belong Here website to learn more about how to identify and report hate, and join us in building a more inclusive and welcoming Woolwich.

Celebrating PRIDE in Woolwich

The Township of Woolwich celebrates Pride month each June, including our Pride flag-raising at the Woolwich Memorial Centre at the beginning of the month.

The Township is also pleased to support Woolwich Pride and their annual Pride Festival held in Elmira. This event brings our community together to honour 2SLGBTQ+ communities within Woolwich. Events like this allows us to reflect on key moments in the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights and to renew our personal and collective commitment to combating homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia wherever they occur.

Throughout the Township we are dedicated to supporting and welcoming all gender identities and expressions within our community We strive to address barriers, both visible and implicit, that may prevent individuals and employees from flourishing in ways that are true to who they are and what they aspire to become.

2SLGBTQ+ Ad-Hoc Committee

The Township of Woolwich has committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for all residents and rejects all discrimination and hate directed towards any person or group of people.

In 2023, Woolwich Council appointed a 2SLGBTQ+ Ad-Hoc Committee in order to advise on making Woolwich more inclusive. The Ad-Hoc Committee made several recommendations aimed at supporting celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ people, friends, family and allies who live, work and play in the Township.

You can read the Final Report or see below for the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendations and status.

2SLGBTQ+ Ad-Hoc Committee Recommendations

Recommendation	Status
1. Include Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB) in the Township's Strategic Plan	Completed
2. Advance inclusivity including: a) Organize an annual pride flag raising ceremony b) Join the UNESCO Coalition of Inclusive Municipalites c) Provide EDIB grants during annual budget deliberations d) Consider a shared EDIB staff role e) Provide EDIB staff training	Event occurs annually Completed EDIB grant category created with opportunity for annually grants Township created a part-time position Ongoing
3. Direct staff to explore EDIB programming and partnerships	Ongoing
4. Promote inclusive symbols including: a) Pride window stickers b) Consider installing rainbow benches c & d) Consider installing community and professional murals e) Consider installing rainbow crosswalks or sidewalks	Completed Currently 1 bench at the WMC - looking for other potential locations 3 community murals completed to date Ongoing
5. Direct staff to establish avenues for continuing community engagement and feedback on the Ad-Hoc report implementation as needed	Ongoing

EDIB in our Community

The Township of Woolwich is fortunate to have some amazing volunteer based organizations doing great work around EDIB initiatives in our community!

Hearts Open for Everyone

Hearts Open for Everyone (H.O.P.E.) is a not for profit organization whose vision is to foster a multicultural rural community where everyone can be truly authentic and welcome! HOPE creates a shared community experiences while promoting compassion, togetherness, and a deep sense of belonging.

H.O.P.E.'s programming includes workshops, local events and the Multicultural Festival of Elmira, held at Gibson Park, Elmira in September annually.

Woolwich Pride

Woolwich PRIDE is a local volunteer group that organizes the Township's PRIDE Festival taking place in Elmira in June annually.

EDIB Grants

Did you know that the Township has EDIB specific grants?

Funding may be awarded to eligible individuals and organizations for initiatives, activities or events in the community that support equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Check out our Grants and Special Assistance page for more information.

If you are organizing an event or initiative that aims to promote and advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility or have any questions, concerns or feedback regarding EDIB in the Woolwich Community please contact us!

Indigenous Reconciliation

The Township of Woolwich is committed to taking the necessary steps towards healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous Community.

September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In previous years, this date has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, a day to witness and honour the healing journey of residential school survivors and their families. For the second year in a row, municipalities across Waterloo Region will be commemorating September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

Orange shirts commemorate the story of Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor who was stripped of her new orange shirt when she attended residential school as a six-year-old child. In Phyllis’ words, “The color orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing.”

Indigenous communities have called upon non-Indigenous people to be accountable for their own learning as an important part of the Truth and Reconciliation process, and the enclosed kit includes a list of events and ideas for learning on September 30th and beyond.

While September 30th is an important moment to stop, reflect, learn and act, we would like to make clear that this is a year round process and continual journey forward.

Land Acknowledgement

The Township of Woolwich Council has adopted the practice of including a land acknowledgement statement at all Council and Committee of Council and other formal meetings.

While offering a land acknowledgement is a meaningful step, we recognize it as only the beginning of a larger journey toward reconciliation. True progress requires ongoing learning, dialogue, and action—without which a land acknowledgement risks becoming a symbolic gesture rather than a sincere commitment.

The following statement is provided as a model to guide the creation of your own land acknowledgement.

“We are grateful to the First Peoples who have lived on and cared for this land, and who continue to do so today. In particular, we recognize:

The Chononton (Chi-nawn-ton), also known as the Attawandaron (Add-a-won-da-run)
The Anishnaabe (Ah-nish-naw-bay)
The Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-oh-show-nee)

We honor their deep connection to this land, and we acknowledge their wisdom, resilience, and leadership. These communities have protected and cared for the land with respect, responsibility, and a sense of shared trust.

As we move forward, we hope to build a future based on mutual respect, shared responsibility, and stronger relationships with one another.

May we continue to learn together — to care for each other and to honor all who share this place with us.”

Reconciliation Action Partnership

The Reconciliation Action Partnership is a region-wide collaboration between the Region and all area municipalities, to address key themes of concerns expressed by local Indigenous communities, see meaningful relationships enhanced between settlers and Indigenous people, and to uphold our commitments made to respond to the Calls to Action laid out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This approach will support the many voices of the local Indigenous communities to address the systemic issues and barriers for Indigenous peoples that are inherent in municipal processes, services, programs, and spaces in Waterloo Region. Embarking on the development of a region-wide Reconciliation Action Partnership in collaboration with local Indigenous communities is an important next step in the Region’s journey toward truth and reconciliation.

As we continue this journey of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we are learning along the way. We recognize the importance of being open, transparent, and accountable for the Reconciliation Action Plan and all subsequent actions.

It was quickly identified that a siloed approach to reconciliation initiatives will not benefit the Indigenous communities that we serve. A Reconciliation Action Partnership (RAP) consisting of staff from the Region and all area municipalities was formed to work closely with Indigenous communities to advance reconciliation, including working collaboratively on the development of a municipal Reconciliation Action Plan.

Through the RAP, municipal partners provide support and leadership to move the work forward within their respective municipality consistently and collaboratively. Within the working group, several sub-committees have been established to support this work. The themes explored by the subcommittees impact every part of the organization. To further advance this work, staff from the Region and area municipalities have formed six (6) subcommittees to lead work in specific areas of focus as outlined in the figure below.

Community Events

For more information on upcoming community events, check the RAP website Reconciliation Action Partnership (rapwr.ca)

Many resources were made available to Township staff to educate themselves on the legacy impacts of the Residential School System, and the overall history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The following list of materials provide an opportunity to watch, read and listen.

Watch Videos/Film

Title	Source	Producer	Length
Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Presentation	Watch on YouTube	Orange Shirt Society	7 minutes
Senator Murray Sinclair: What is Reconciliation?	Watch on YouTube	Truth & Reconciliation Commission	3 minutes
Reconciliation is Dead by Lori Campbell	Watch on YouTube	TEDx KitchenerED	10 minutes
What non-Indigenous Canadians need to know	Watch on YouTube	TVO	5 minutes
Survivor Panel on Missing Children	Watch on YouTube	National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation	2 hours
We Were Children	Rent online	National Film Board	1 hour 23 minutes
The Walk a Mile Film Project	Borrow by mail	CommonWord	1 hour 8 minutes
We can’t make the same mistake twice	Stream online	National Film Board	2 hours 43 minutes
ConnectR Video Library	Stream online	Various	Various
Indigenous Film Catalogue (Various films)	Stream online	Various	Various

Read

Below is a list of reading materials to help broaden your knowledge of Indigenous History in Canada and the Residential School System.

If possible, purchases can be made from an Indigenous book seller such as GoodMinds.

Title	Author
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America	Thomas King
Unsettling Canada	Arthur Manuel
The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land Rebuilding the Economy	Arthur Manuel
Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader	John Mohawk
We share our matters	Rick Monture
And Grandma Said...Iroquois Teachings, as passed down through the oral tradition	Tom Porter
Seven Fallen Feathers	Tanya Talaga
Indigenous Writes: A guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada	Chelsea Vowel
A reconciliation reading list: 15 must read books	Various
River Woman	Katherena Vermette
In My Own Moccasins	Helen Knott
If I Go Missing	Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose
North Wind Man	Clarence Cachagee and Seth Ratzlaff

Listen

Below are a number of podcasts available on multiple platforms to hear from subject matter experts on Indigenous matters.

Title	Host/creator	Availability
One Dish One Mic	Sean VanderKlis and Karl Dockstader	Listen live
Residential Schools	Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais for Historica Britannica	Apple or Spotify
Still Here Still Healing	Jade Roberts	Apple or Spotify
Unreserved	Rosanna Deerchild	CBC Listen
Warrior Life	Pam Palmater	SoundCloud
7 Indigenous-themed podcasts	Various	CBC Listen

Learning

Ideas for Teams

Gather your team to choose an idea for group learning.

Purchase orange shirts from an Indigenous organization (see resource list) or wear your own orange shirts
Post a team photo featuring your orange shirts on the Portal and share your team commitment to action
Watch a video together and discuss as a team (see resource list)
Sign up for the ‘Silent No More: Virtual Tour of the Former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School’ on September 17, 2026.
Make a team donation to the Woodland Cultural Centre or to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or its affiliated funds
Make plans to visit the Huron Natural Area to view Indigenous murals
Start a book club (see resource list) and commit to regular group discussions

Ideas for Indiciduals

Ask your supervisor if you can spend work time on independent learning on September 30.

Purchase an orange shirt from an Indigenous organization (see resource list) or wear your own orange shirt
Using your personal social media accounts, begin following Indigenous accounts (see resource list)
Sign up for the TRC newsletter
Sign up for the ‘Silent No More: Virtual Tour of the Former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School’ on September 17, 2026.
Check out resources provided by local public libraries, including book recommendations, programs and more virtual library resources
Listen to a podcast or watch a video (see resource list)
Commit to reading Indigenous books, websites and reports (see resource list)
Make a donation to the Woodland Cultural Centre or to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or its affiliated funds

Ideas for Personal and Family Learning

Share these resources at home with family and friends to continue your personal learning outside of work hours.

Learn how to talk with kids about residential schools
- Help get youth from kindergarten to grade 12 involved in Imagine a Canada
Choose an action to take from the list of 150 Acts of Reconciliation

Resources

Orange Shirt retailers

*Note that due to high demand, there is limited availability.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Orange Shirt Day

Websites

Orange Shirt Day – website of the Orange Shirt Society

Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
An Overview of the Indian Residential School System – a resource by the Union of Ontario Indians/Anishinabek Nation
Reports of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada
Interactive map of residential schools
21 things you may not know about the Indian Act
Chanie Wenjack

Woolwich Community Art Murals

We are pround to display a number of community art murals throughout our Township!

About the Mural

On June 14, 2025, the spirit of unity and creativity came to life at the Woolwich Pride Festival. Designed by local artist Jonathan Munz, the community came together to paint and leave their mark on a living work of art that reflects the diversity and togetherness of the Pride community and its allies here in Woolwich. The mural stands as a joyful symbot of collective expression and support, created by many hands with one shared message: everyone belongs.

Rainbow Pine can be viewed at the Woolwich Memorial Centre, 24 Snyder Ave. S, Elmira

About the Mural

“Braided Paths” was painted collaboratively during the 3rd Annual Multicultural Festival of Elmira, and now finds its permanent home at the Breslau Library. Designed by Jennifer Horst, the mural weaves together Mennonite and Indigenous heritage in a quilt-like design featuring tulip, feather, and white pine motifs. Each element holds its own meaning, yet together they tell a larger story of shared memory, resilience, and peace — a vision of renewal and hope rooted in the land and carried forward by Spirit.

Braided Paths can be viewed at the Waterloo Regional Library - Breslau Branch, located in the lower level of the Breslau Community Centre, 100 Andover Dr., Breslau.

“Unity in Bloom" is a vibrant, community-created masterpiece that symbolizes diversity, inclusion and the interconnectedness of all people. Developed as a collaborative paint-by-numbers project during the 2nd annual Multicultural Festival of Elmira (MFE) in 2024, this mural was designed by artist Alana Decker and co-created with the MFE Planning Committee. The mural represents the spirit of togetherness, as community members came together to bring this artwork to life.

The two figures with intertwined hair embody the unity that emerges when people embrace their shared humanity, while the bright flowers and bold colors symbolize the growth and beauty found in each individual and culture. The book represents the importance of learning from one another and fostering mutual understanding.

"Unity in Bloom" stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the belief that when a community unites, it can create something beautiful, diverse and harmonious. This mural reflects the shared effort of everyone who participated, celebrating the strength found in coming together and honouring the beauty of our differences.

Unity in Bloom can be viewed at the Woolwich Memorial Centre, 24 Snyder Ave. S, Elmira