Inclusion Statement

Introduction

Few will deny the existence of racist behaviour in our society – that is, the fact that people treat other people differently on the basis of their skin color, their alleged ethnicity, or their religious beliefs. It is thus easily recognized that racism, which can be defined as an ideology according to which there is a hierarchy between human groups, leads to discrimination "when such a distinction, exclusion, or preference has the effect of destroying or compromising [the rights and freedoms of a person]."

Because it is more insidious, systemic racism can be more difficult to detect. It has been defined as "the sum of disproportionate exclusionary effects resulting from the combined effect of attitudes marked by prejudices and stereotypes, often unconscious, and of policies and practices generally adopted without taking into account the characteristics of members of groups targeted by the prohibition of discrimination” (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse, p. 6). Despite its sometimes involuntary nature, this form of racism perpetuates the inequalities experienced by racialized people, particularly in terms of education, income, employment, access to housing, and public services.

The CKA is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion in its administration of policies, programs, and activities. The purpose of this policy is to ensure CKA provides equity-deserving groups with a full and inclusive range of opportunities to participate in and lead CKA programs and activities. With this purpose in mind, this policy is intended to articulate a core set of principles that have led to the development and implementation of directives for how CKA promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion for all participants in all CKA activities.

The CKA holds the duty, the right, and the legal and moral responsibility to ensure that all participants affiliated with the organization are treated fairly, equitably, and respectfully, and to provide a learning, working, and living environment that is free from discrimination on the basis of characteristics of identity, including but not limited to sex, age, gender, gender expression, race, sexuality, disability, religion, ethnicity, and creed.

Definitions

The following terms have these meanings in this policy:

Discrimination: Differential treatment of an individual based on one or more prohibited grounds that include race, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, and disability.
Diversity: The demographic mix of the CKA community. Involves recognizing and respecting everyone’s unique qualities and attributes but focuses particularly on groups that remain underrepresented.
Equity: The fair and respectful treatment of all people. Involves the creation of opportunities and the reduction of disparities in opportunities and outcomes for diverse communities. It also acknowledges that these disparities are rooted in historical and contemporary injustices and disadvantages.
Equity-deserving groups: Communities that identify barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination, and actively seek social justice and reparation. This marginalization could be created by attitudinal, historic, social, and environmental barriers based on characteristics that are not limited to sex, age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, sexual orientation, and creed.
Gender: A person's internal sense of being male, female, some combination of male and female, or neither male nor female. It can also be defined as the totality of physical and behavioural traits that are designated by a culture as masculine or feminine.
Gender equity: The fair allocation of resources, programs, and decision making to all individuals without discrimination based on gender. Gender equity also involves addressing any imbalances in the benefits available to individuals of different gender identities. For the purposes of this policy, when we consider gender equity issues, we are referring to the experiences of all participants who identify as women.
Inclusion: The means of creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected, focusing on groups that remain underrepresented. It means creating the conditions to have the opportunity to fully participate within CKA. It is important to note that while an inclusive group is diverse, a diverse group is not always inclusive. An inclusive sport organization strives for equity and respects, accepts, and values difference.
Members/Affiliates: Any recognized PKAs and Kinesiologists interested in furthering the purposes of the Corporation (CKA) that have applied for and been accepted into membership in the Corporation by resolution of the Board or in such other manner as may be determined by the Board.
Participants/Clients: Individuals who are engaged in activities that are provided, sponsored, promoted, supported, or sanctioned by the CKA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, participants include but are not limited to the following:
- Board of directors
- Employees and contract staff
- Vendors, suppliers, sponsors, and partners
- Affiliated Kinesiologists
- Recognized provincial kinesiology associations and their volunteers
- Volunteers participating in CKA-sanctioned events, standing committees, working committees, and working groups
- Clients and the general public who participate in the CKA’s events and who receive kinesiology services

Benefits of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The CKA recognizes the following benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion:

Building a larger, stronger, and more effective organization: by fully representing the population base and tapping the resources of every member/affiliate and participant/client
Attracting more members to the PKAs and the CKA: by being inclusive of all members and participants, appealing to a wider membership base, raising public interest, and inviting greater private investment
Increasing knowledge sharing and improving the safety of active living and physical activity for all: by working together and building equal partnerships
Mitigating risk: by fulfilling its legal responsibility to treat everyone involved in the CKA fairly and making a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive kinesiology community: by helping the CKA provide conditions where all members/affiliates and participants/clients feel welcomed, supported, included, valued, and empowered to succeed

Responsibilities

The subsequent sections convey the CKA’s commitment to enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization:

Learning and Education

Offer annual education to participants, including the wider community, to better understand and implement this policy.
Increase all participants’ knowledge and understanding of barriers that impact equal representation in CKA programs and other opportunities.
Provide educational resources to enhance participants’ understanding of equity and diversity.

Governance

Ensure a governance structure and work environment that encourage, promote, and provide fair and equitable participation.
Encourage gender-balanced representation on the Board of Directors and on all committees by ensuring everything has been done so that the elected positions on the Board of Directors and on committees reflect this inclusion, equity, and anti-racism policy.

Operations

Incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion matters into CKA’s strategic plan, actions, and operations, including management, sponsorship, marketing, media, and communications.

Complaints

Handle any instance of discriminatory behaviour according to complaint procedures outlined in CKA’s procedures for complaint management and discipline measures.
Participants who have grievances in relation to the application of this policy are encouraged to submit a complaint to the CKA’s Board of Directors.

Communications

Ensure that participants from equity-deserving groups are represented in promotional materials and official publications.
Use gender-inclusive language in all communications.

Programming

Ensure that the achievement of equitable opportunities is a key consideration when developing, updating, or delivering programs and policies.
Provide opportunities for leadership development for all individuals regardless of gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, ethnicity, and creed.
Commit to the equitable allocation of resources, financial and otherwise, and the provision of services for all genders.

Human Resource Management

Aim to achieve a gender-balanced representation of staff, administrators, coaches, directors, officials, and volunteers.
Use interview techniques that do not discriminate based on identity.
Adopt a pay scale reflecting equal pay for work of equal value for its employees.
Adopt, when possible, family-friendly work practices such as flex-time, job-sharing, and home-based offices.
Provide a physically accessible workplace environment.
When appropriate, make available access to employee assistance counselling and other support services.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Direct instances of discrimination by way of the CKA’s procedures.
Conduct annual audits to evaluate CKA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion progress.

Ongoing Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in CKA’s strategies, plans, actions, and operations, including code of ethics, code of conduct, volunteers' agreement, technical programs, business management, sponsorship, marketing, media, and communications.
Commit to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion in the practice of kinesiology and in the administration of programs and activities – that is, to hold the duty, the right, and the legal and moral responsibility to ensure that all participants/clients/patients are treated fairly, equitably, and respectfully, and to provide a learning, treatment, working, and living environment that is free from discrimination on the basis of characteristics of identity, including but not limited to age, sex, gender expression, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, ethnicity, and creed.