Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island — The PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games Host Society has officially partnered with the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity & Workplace Equity to implement a comprehensive Anti-Racism & Anti-Discrimination Framework for a Safe & Brave Spaces Program.
The first of its kind in the Canada Games since its origin in 1967, the Safe & Brave Spaces Program encompasses in-depth equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism, and anti-discrimination training programs for staff, volunteers, and key stakeholders of the Canada Games movement. The program is designed to ensure the equitable recruitment and balanced representation of over 5,000 volunteers, managing a diverse network of community and corporate stakeholders, reviewing and enhancing the policies from an EDI lens, and a prompt and effective process to proactively manage and prevent racism in sport.
“We believe Canadians should all have opportunities to get involved and excel in sport, regardless of gender, ability, or personal characteristics,” said Kyle Dudley, CEO of the 2023 Canada Games Host Society. “Partnering with a reputable national organization like the Canadian Congress further strengthens our mission to make sport safe and welcoming for everyone, and we look forward to working together to make the 2023 Games a safe and inclusive environment that is free of abuse, harassment, or discrimination.”
The Canadian Congress will utilize experienced staff from their Atlantic Canada office to train Host Society staff and volunteers and will also seek input from different corporate and community stakeholders like the Black Cultural Society of PEI, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and Pride Canada to achieve the desired objectives.
“From time immemorial, sports have been a great unifier of people. It has brought people together from every ethnic and gender group, bridging generational gaps for the sake of inspiration and enjoyment,” said Alex Ihama, the Executive Director of the Canadian Congress and President/CEO of the International School of Greatness Canada. “However, to ensure the desired harmony in such a volatile time, organizations must become intentional about protecting their people against the unfortunate rise of hate, discrimination, and racism. We applaud the 2023 Canada Games Host Society for taking this bold step to elevate what they have always stood for and making us their Official Diversity Partner. We thank and look forward to working with all the stakeholders to make this the most inclusive and equitable Games ever.”
Experts from the Canadian Congress who will be working with Canada Games officials and all stakeholders to implement the comprehensive Anti-Racism & Anti-Discrimination Framework for a Safe & Brave Spaces Program includes Chrissy Benz, a seasoned sports executive with years of experience in multi-sport Games including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games, the World Police and Fire Games, and the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), as well as Henry Luyombya, a mental health professional and experienced community builder who resides on PEI.
About Canadian Congress
The Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity & Workplace Equity is a national organization with access to over 100 academic & experiential experts, researchers, and facilitators in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) that offer an end-to-end strategic framework for organizations, institutions, and the government to eliminate systemic racism from their brand, culture, systems, policies & management. To enable our clients to foster a cohesive, inclusive, and progressive corporate culture, we facilitate customized training programs, audit policies & processes from a critical EDI lens, engage their staff and coach their executives to attract, retain and maximize inclusive diversity & workplace equity. While we organize some of the largest and most impactful diversity events in the country, empowering thousands of Canadians each year to stand up for social justice, we also help organizations to develop & implement short & long-term corporate EDI strategies, specialized EDI initiatives, content for Learning Management Systems (LMS), and a three-to-five-year strategic roadmap to facilitate the transformation of their corporate culture.
The Canadian Congress exists to be a voice that will linger for generations, advocating for love, kindness, unity and the human rights and civil liberties of Canadians, while empowering people, corporations, institutions, communities, and the government to foster inclusive diversity & workplace equity.
Last night, the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games came to a close with an epic Closing Ceremony overlooking The Falls.
The 2023 Canada Winter Games Host Society announced today the addition of four new organizations to its growing roster of sponsors: Grant Thornton, Maritime Electric, Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus, and Dairy Farmers of PEI.
The Prince Edward Island 2023 Canada Games Host Society invites interested musicians and artists to submit an Expression of Interest to create a Mascot Theme Song for the purpose of providing accompanying music for Wowkwis when she is attending community events.
The Canada Games Winter Games Host Society is creating a database of creators and performers living in Prince Edward Island, to draw from as paid performance opportunities arise leading up to and during the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
To celebrate the official opening of the Volunteer Centre, located at 121B Sandstone Road in Charlottetown, the 2023 Canada Games Host Society is welcoming Islanders to an open house on Thursday, April 7 from 3 to 7 p.m.
With just two years to go until the start of the 2023 Canada Winter Games, the PEI Host Society today launched its brand and announced a new sponsorship with Atlantic Lottery.
Calling all kids! The challenge to create the official mascot for the 2023 Canada Games is on.
The 2023 Canada Winter Games Host Society recognizes and values the opinion of Island youth, who are the leaders of tomorrow, and encourage them to participate in a survey where they can share ideas and suggestions for the 2023 Canada Games festival site.
The Canada Games Council (CGC) is thrilled to announce that Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) has renewed its longstanding commitment as a national partner of the Canada Games for the upcoming events in 2023, 2025 and 2027.
Sarah MacEachern and Logan MacDougall understand what it’s like to represent P.E.I. at the Canada Games. They agree Team P.E.I. members are in for a memorable experience when Canada’s smallest province hosts the 2023 Winter Games from Feb. 18 to March 5...
Biathlon athletes and volunteers alike tested their skills ahead of the 2023 Canada Winter Games this weekend.
With just 10 days to go from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, athletes around the globe are gearing up to compete on the world’s biggest stage. Among the many Canadian athletes heading to Beijing is PEI’s very own, Brett Gallant, who will be making his Olympic debut on the ice.
Every February, Canadians across the country celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have played a significant role in making Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation that it is today.
Learn more about Rustico's Katherine Morrow, our 1000th volunteer!
Myla Doucette felt a feeling of accomplishment as the 2023 Canada Winter Games official mascot made its first appearance.
Summerside's Billy Bridges and Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., heading to Beijing with different hopes
Jess Cameron and Luke Beck will be the head coaches for Prince Edward Island’s hockey teams on home ice when P.E.I. hosts the Canada Games in 2023. Hockey P.E.I. announced the staffs for the girls and boys teams on Tuesday, June 29...
The 2023 Canada Games Host Society interviewed four Islanders about volunteering with the Games.