The Whitby Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee advises Council on the elimination of barriers for the diverse population of our community. It helps foster a greater understanding of ethno-cultural matters within the town through community partnerships. View committee meeting dates, agendas and minutes.

Roles and responsibilities

The committee is also responsible for:

• Taking steps to involve diverse groups in the committee's activities
• Advise staff on policy development to promote awareness of ethno-cultural relations and diversity matters
• Advise on public engagement strategies for Whitby residents with the focus of ensuring discussion and public feedback on current diversity issues
• Provide consultation, research, recommendations and reports on matters of diversity, inclusivity and equity within the town

Terms of Reference

Contact us for an accessible version of the committee's Terms of Reference.

Committee members

Membership consists of one member of Council, seven citizen appointments and two Youth Council liaisons:

• Councillor Elizabeth Roy (Mayor's designate)
• Kim Evans (staff liaison)
• Mallory Dawson (Whitby Public Library Representative)
• Mayline Brown 
• Cheryl Frayne
• Brianna Nelson (vice-chair)
• Catherine Philogene (chair)
• Ayse Yuksel
• Venita Anderson

Diversity and inclusion resources

Learn more about services designed to help new residents, businesses and investors settle in our region. You can contact us for accessible versions of our Diversity Highlights infographic, including local statistics on visible minorities, immigrants and languages, as well as our Inclusive Language Guide.

Diversity and Inclusion Webinar

The Town of Whitby Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DIAC) is pleased to host a series of webinars on Diversity and Inclusion. Our fourth webinar was held on June 14, in recognition of Indigenous History Month. Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard discussed the contribution of Indigenous peoples to our country, the relevance of Land Acknowledgement statements, how systemic racism impacts Indigenous people, and how we can be allies. 

Click on the link to watch the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnvy7x1yRx0

Indigenous History Resources:

• The Whitby Public Library curated an Indigenous History Reading List with important resources about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 
• Trent University offers a learning resource list honouring the 215 children buried at the Kamloops residential school. 

Click here for the learning resource list. 

Champion of Diversity Award

In 2018, the committee was awarded the Champion of Diversity Award, received by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

This year, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Town’s annual in-person bus tour for new residents is being replaced with a virtual tour. Through the tour, newcomers will be introduced to their Town, local government and in some cases their new country.

“More than 20 destinations are included in the new virtual tour, including cultural locations and community gathering places which typically play an important role in the Town and bring diverse groups together,” says Kim Evans, Whitby’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DIAC) Staff Liaison and Supervisor, 55+ Recreation Services.

Visitors to the tour can click on the interactive map and go behind-the-scenes to learn about the history of each building and how it serves the community today. Destinations include Fire Headquarters, The Abilities Centre, Port Whitby Marina, Downtown Brooklin, Station Gallery and more! Each local landmark includes a video, created and narrated by Town youth.

Take Tour of Whitby