Diversity and Inclusion

Allison Hector-Alexander is the director of the Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion, & Transitions at Durham College. She oversees the College’s Diversity & Inclusion services, the First People’s Indigenous Centre, the Ontario Access and Inclusion program (RISE), the Institute of Student Leadership, the College’s Sexual Violence mandate, and all Orientation & Transitions programming for new students.

She was also recognized as a Champion by PFLAG Canada Durham Region for her work in creating all gender washrooms on campus. Through her work in all areas of diversity on campus, the Region of Durham (Local Diversity & Immigration Partnership Council) has recognized her work on campus with the Diversity Champion award. The Region of Durham also recognized Allison’s advocacy and community development work with the Madiba Award at last year’s Black History Month’s celebrations.

Recently, Allison led the creation of access, transitions, and retention programming for community members who are facing multiple barriers to accessing higher education.  She co-chaired DC’s first Social Justice Week committee which saw diverse programming that spanned discussions on mental health, incarceration, harm reduction, and Indigenous ways. In 2018, Allison led a group of colleagues to launch the Black Student Success Network on campus.  

Bev has been an elementary school teacher with the Durham District School Board (DDSB) for 23 years.  She is an Indigenous woman who contributes to her community in a variety of roles including: Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Standing Committees - Anti-Racist Education and Indigenous, ETFO Durham - Past Executive Member & Chair- Priority Schools Committee, and as a Team Leader for the Pan Am Games in 2011. 

She has extensive experience working with Indigenous educators and families in the Oshawa/Durham Region in numerous culturally and educational based activities such as the DDSB Indigenous Family Network. Here she gained extensive knowledge of the need for supports for Indigenous People in terms of education and self-advocacy. 

Bev advocated within the EFTO, supporting resolutions to add seats to provincial executive which includes Indigenous representation. Bev is contributing to the Anishnabebobobowin-Teg conference 2020 in relation to Truth & Reconciliation Actions.

Cora Reid is an accomplished Canadian Reggae artist who has received many awards for achievements as a Top Reggae Gospel singer. Cora is also an evangelist, community activist, Life Fitness and Wellness Coach, and orator and motivational speaker. She has recently received award in April of 2018 From MPP Jennifer French for “Leading Women, Leading Girls, Building Communities”

Her New single Black Rose was inspired by her own personal experiences as a marginalized Black single woman. She aims to impact her community through music and art. Her organization Black Rose Movement is about inspiring young black youth to greatness while educating others on the issues of systemic racism, anti- black racism prejudice and seeks to bring positive changes in our society through her personal story of struggle and triumph. Cora is also Queen Mother of Miss Awoulaba Canada that seeks to build self-esteem and change lives of young women in her community.

She runs Experience Pure Energy Connections that gives local artists, singers, poets the opportunity to share their art in a open safe place at Living Room Arts Studio in Oshawa. Her message is about inclusivity of all peoples, races, colours, financial demographics in art and music. She continues to do work in the Durham community working with E-camp Mentoring using song writing and production for racialized students, teaching them how to channel negative emotions and turn it into a positive using songwriting, singing and production through music therapy.

Daniel is a Mohawk of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.  As a Mohawk traditional dancer on the Pow-Wow circuit throughout Ontario and Quebec, he has maintained integral relationships with Indigenous Peoples which provides him with further wisdoms and insights. Daniel has been a longtime activist/advocate on behalf of Indigenous Peoples, as well as an active Anti-Poverty and Disabled Persons activist and advocate.

He has been ardently recovering his Indigenous culture, language and heritage protocol for many years and has developed extensive relationships with many important persons in the Tyendinaga community and other Indigenous communities. He is currently enrolled in Mohawk language classes through Kanyen'ke:ha Ne Atoróhnto and continues his decolonizing journey in recovery and continued discovery of his proud heritage.

Daniel is a man of two worlds. That of his home community of Tyendinaga as well as living in Oshawa for the greater portion of his life. He has a vast variety of education and work experiences.  Daniel attended Eastdale Collegiate V. I., and laterally graduated with Honours in I.T. and Business Applications at the Toronto School of Business in 1998. Daniels work experience exceeds full mention, but, is highlighted with his work as Assistant Custodial Supervisor at the Ontario Ministry of Revenue, as well as Legal Administration for Union Energy. His last place of employment was driving forklift for CEVA up to the advent of the closure of Oshawa's GM facility.

Daniel is closely associated with the Community Living Room Art Studio and has donated much time and artworks for auction to help support the Living Room Art Studio as an Indigenous Artisan. Some of his work currently adorns the front window space of the Art Studio.

His dynamic range of experience and activism combined with his ability to communicate very effectively, as well as listen with full empathy, has found Daniel an eager participant in Oshawa's new, and long time coming, Community for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Donald Igbokwe is the President of George Donaldson and Associates Inc. & One World Immigration Consulting Services. He is also the President of African Canadian Cultural Council Foundation. Donald has strong senior management and governance background having managed a business unit of a multinational corporation and served on non-profit boards in senior governance positions. As a social justice and advocacy volunteer he has more than 34 years’ experience of volunteer service in various capacities most of them at board levels in different communities and countries. 

Donald’s passion to serve humanity started in India when he began actively serving and volunteering on Social Justice and advocacy issues while studying at Punjab University. There he served as a director of Internationalism with Chandigarh City Jaycees. Since he moved to Canada, apart from having served on various boards and committees in the immigration industry, he has organized, participated in numerous multicultural and Multi-Faith programs at the community, personal and family level. He is the founding chairperson of Durham Multi-Faith World Religion Day Committee involved in community development and education on World Faith traditions and elimination of all forms of prejudice.

Donald holds a MA in Public Admin, an Advanced Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution and an Immigration Consulting Diploma. He presently Chairs the Durham Region Multi-Faith World Religion Day Committee, is a member of the Durham Regional Police Services Advisory Committee and is a regional member of the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Eleanor is a secondary Principal within the Durham District School Board. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Kinesiology. She is an advocate for youth and community.

Eleanor is one of the founding members of the Durham Black Educators’ Network (DBEN) since its inception in 2005. She has held executive positions of Treasurer, Vice-Chair and two terms as Chair. Eleanor is a founding member of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE), where she lends her skills and experience to inform policy and programming for educators across the province. Eleanor has been a panelist and presenter at 30 different speaking engagements and conferences since 2012. She has appeared on CTV, Rogers TV, and a variety of Metroland Media local newspapers.

An avid global traveler, Eleanor has visited over 25 different countries around the world and is happy to call Durham region home.

Gary is a youth coordinator and case worker at the AIDS Committee of Durham Region located in downtown Oshawa which is a grassroots community based organization providing support to folks living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. He works specifically with youth across the province in Ontario living with HIV during the often difficult transition from pediatric to adult care. 

Gary has also previously worked as an outreach coordinator in health promotion with gay, bi, queer men and in community development with the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Gary has been a longtime committed volunteer at various organizations in the GTA that value equality, equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and harm reduction.

Hubaib Amin migrated from Afghanistan to Canada in 2018 with his family due to the on-going war and increased security instability in his country. He is a high school student at Eastdale C.V.I. and is engaged in many leadership and community supporting activities. Hubaib is the founder and president of MSA & A (Muslim Student Association & Allies) club; representative senator in Durham District School Board, a self-defence coach, a member of Diversity Club and Huddle Up team at Eastdale. He is actively working to prevent bullying through coaching, arranging meetings, assemblies and inviting athletes from several sports teams including Raptors and Blue Jays to help students know who they can talk to when they experience bullying, and how to prevent it. 

Additionally, Hubaib is a head tutor in his school where he helps students improve academically and help them be more engaged in the community. He is currently working on providing online tutoring to students not just in his school but in the entire DDSB community, free of any cost. He speaks 6 languages that are English, Pushto, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and learning Arabic. He likes to read and play football in his spare time. Hubaib is committed to supporting his community through his volunteer contributions and has shown splendid leadership through his work.

Michelle has over 25 years of experience working within the social service sector that includes facilitation, community liaison, and advocacy. Her extensive experience includes working with marginalized individuals supporting their voice and empowering them through targeted programs. Living a life of service to others, she is honoured, as a counsellor to work amongst the diverse populations in our community that are united in kindness and humanity.

As a child, her family experienced poverty. Michelle dedicated her life to assisting various people remain independent with dignity. Her life experience has stimulated thought-provoking conversations leading to cohesive partnership transformations. In her past and present roles she established, fostered, and expanded community partnerships. An accident that affected her mobility inspired the creation of an accessibility survey of practicum community agencies. This helped her initiate conversations within the college administration to instigate change, innovation and advancement.

Joining the Oshawa Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee will aid in her personal and professional development. As a community liaison, who values and contributes to the union of ideas through community agencies, promoting equitable interactions and understanding. As a committee member and strong contributor, utilizing her skills in facilitation, community connections, media design and workshop creations, Michelle’s goal is to engage all societal demographics, building inclusive foundations, and initiating progressive change.  

Nathan Barnett is a 4th year social work student at Trent University Durham-GTA campus. He currently works as the Trent Durham Student Association (TDSA) vice president of university affairs, focusing on advocating for student needs at institutional, municipal and provincial levels.

Some of his community contribution include: working as a placement student with queer men and those living with HIV/AIDS through the AIDS Committee of Durham Region; promoting health and wellness with students as the Health Promotions Coordinator at Trent University; and working as the Director of Inclusion with the Trent Durham Student Association.

He is a queer man and, in his free time, enjoys watching (and rewatching) Star Trek, Harry Potter and Marvel movies while roping anyone and everyone into a discussion of the societal implications of pop culture.  

Smith is committed to people, a passion arising from her early years in rural Jamaica, where she was immersed in a rich culture sustained by close connections.  Immigrating to Canada as a child allowed her to pursue her career in law and education, to run her own family business and to contribute to the establishment of schools and projects for children and youth in Ontario and overseas.  It also led to her joining the Baha’i community, and collaborating with a host of like-minded organizations devoted to enhancing the lives of all Canadians. 

New to Oshawa, she brings with her experience from Toronto, London and Guelph, as well as Israel, where she focused on training human resources to provide community-based education centred on the principle of oneness of humanity.   Promoting access to justice, specifically when it comes to safe and affordable housing, is her next frontier.  

Uzma is a Trent University alumna currently completing her master’s in social work at York University with a focus on child welfare. Her professional and volunteer work embody her dedicated passion for working with groups who are socially stigmatized, marginalized, and sidelined from meaningful participation in their communities. She also has training in anti-oppressive practice with knowledge in Autism Spectrum Disorder and suicide prevention. She is multilingual and fluent in English, Urdu, and Punjabi. Uzma has initiated and played a central role in the development of the South Asian Initiative, 55+ Desi Connect at the Oshawa Senior Community Centre. This initiative supports South Asian seniors’ integration and inclusion while promoting South Asian culture to other members of the OSCC.

Uzma introduced Urdu language classes with the DDSB and initiated a Ladies Only Swim program at the Ajax and Pickering Recreation Centres. She is presently in placement with Durham Children’s Aid Society, where her focus is Anti-oppression, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Alongside her social work endeavours, Uzma is an Educational Assistant with the Durham District School Board. She is the VP of Rangmanch Canada, a theatrical organization that focuses on integration, peace, and love through art and drama. Living with passion, dedication, and grace, Uzma is honoured to be a part of the Oshawa Community Diversity Equity and Inclusion team.

Veronica Torres is an entrepreneur who has her own home-based business in Oshawa. She also co-manages a woman-owned business out of the US. In her practice she focuses on gender equality, financial literacy, curriculum development, disability inclusion, adolescent girl programming and inclusive education. She has worked with ministries of education, health and gender, international organizations and UN bodies in over 30 countries. She has lived in Oshawa for 18 years with her two daughters and parents. In Oshawa she has advocated for second chances and support to young people as well as volunteering at her daughters’ primary school. She funded the establishment of CDEA in Bolivia, an organization focused on inclusive education and now running for 15 years.

Veronica’s work is highly regarded and program strategies on behalf of adolescent girls have been taken to scale in countries such as Mozambique, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Laos with support from UNFPA, DFID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Veronica has degrees in Economics and Education and speaks Spanish fluently as her family emigrated from Ecuador.

City of Oshawa Diversity and Inclusion Plan Final Accessible Format 

Purpose of the Diversity and Inclusion Plan:

• Act as a Strategic Framework for the City of Oshawa
• Has a dual and integrated focus (internal & external). It identifies ways to weave diversity and inclusion into the City of Oshawa's practices and principles so that:
  • Diversity and inclusion is embraced in the workplace
  • All residents have equitable access to programs and services, employment opportunities and feel welcomed and involved within the community
• Recommends strategies and actions for the City to take over the next 5 to 10 years

Steps Taken:

1. Background Research & Literature Review: Began January 2017
2. Consultations:
   • February – May 2017
   • Staff Consultations
   • Community Agencies and Organizations
   • Public Consultation & Public Online Survey • City Council Consultation
3. Drafting the Plan and Actions: May – August 2017
4. Approval by Council November 2017

Related Resources:

• Council Approved: Research Report: City of Oshawa Diversity and Inclusion Plan
• Public Report CM-17-30 City of Oshawa Diversity and Inclusion Plan
• City of Oshawa's Diversity and Inclusion Plan Development Community Consultation PowerPoint Presentation
• Public Report CM-16-36 Partnership with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to develop the City's Diversity and Inclusion Plan

The Diversity and Inclusion Plan is linked to Oshawa's Other Strategic Plans. 

The Inclusive Language Manual is one of the first deliverables from the Diversity and Inclusion Plan, as it is recognized that language has the power to maintain barriers, or to foster inclusion. Learning and applying inclusive language, is a vital step in becoming an inclusive organization and championing inclusivity in our community.

The Manual provides a guide for staff in choosing language related to seven areas of diversity: 

1. Ability
2. Age
3. Gender
4. Indigenous Peoples
5. LGBTQ
6. Poverty
7. Race

The Inclusive Language Manual also includes an extensive glossary and references. We recognize that the norms of inclusive language will continue to change and evolve. As a result, the manual will be regularly reviewed and updated. 

Read Oshawa's Inclusive Language Manual.

If you see something that requires updating, or you would like to add something, let us know at [email protected] 

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) developed an age-friendly initiative to assist communities in planning for the aging population.  In response to this initiative, the City of Oshawa and the Oshawa Senior Community Centres 55+ led consultations and surveyed the community to develop the Age Friendly Strategy’s 68 recommendations.  Review the strategy by opening the following link: 

 2019 Oshawa Age friendly Strategy