As Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola region of British-Columbia becomes more culturally diverse, the need to create affable communities and organizations that are inclusive and reflective of Canadian diversity is imperative. Specific emphasis on cultural awareness in work environments is essential to promote intercultural and interfaith acceptance in all sectors of Canadian society.
KIS is currently developing a program that will promote and inspire inclusive communities and organizations where people of diverse backgrounds live and work effectively without prejudice and biases; assist employers develop strategies to attract and retain a culturally diverse workforce and; mentor leadership and staff to provide opportunities to alleviate barriers long-experienced by minorities, while developing intercultural aptitude and attitudes.
Our aim is to produce three specific courses that will educate participants to better understand the importance of diversity, and the negative impact of unconscious bias, and stereotypes.
This training will aim to create more inclusive, open, safe and welcoming workplace environments, and build intercultural skills for those practitioners in the education, community, and health services sectors.
A toolkit will also be developed and provided for organizations to develop and incorporate management strategies and policies.
Program Outcomes
Employers and employees who participate in this program will achieve and demonstrate the following outcomes:
Short-Term outcomes
- Identify and recognize the disparities and barriers within their organization’s policies and practices that are discriminatory and systematically effect the recruitment, hiring and retention of a diverse workforce.
- Develop and incorporate management strategies and policies that highlight anti-discriminatory hiring practices, culturally sensitive working environments and ensure that inclusive processes and practices support the recruitment and retention of a diverse and talented workforce.
- Employers and their employees will interact more successfully with their associates, customers and partners as they remove barriers and apply the principals of cultural-competency and develop successful relationships with all their stakeholders.
Medium-term outcomes
- To increase diversity in workplaces with new hiring and retention of individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Encourage acceptance and equity in workplaces, specifically within the education, community and health services sector, where “Cultural Sensitivity Training” will be part of new hire onboarding practices and on-going professional development to vanquish racism and discrimination.
For more information contact KIS Executive Director France Lamontagne at 778-470-6101 or executivedirector@kcris.ca