COQUITLAM, B.C., April 18, 2023 – This year Coquitlam will start preparing for its first accessibility plan, ramp up public outreach and continue to remove any barriers as part of its broad Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) workplan.
City staff updated Council yesterday on a wide variety of recent and planned EDI initiatives that aim to break down barriers related to ability, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation and other diversity characteristics and experiences.
Coquitlam’s purposeful approach to EDI is focused on ensuring Coquitlam is a safe, welcoming community where everyone is able to live, work and thrive.
2023 EDI Workplan Reflects Coquitlam’s Commitment
Equity, diversity and inclusion is a top business priority for Coquitlam and a focus of ongoing work highlighted at coquitlam.ca/edi. Based on this commitment, the City is incorporating an EDI perspective in all aspects of the organization and its work – including policies and practices, the language used, how neighbourhoods are planned, and how and what services the City provides.
The City’s 2023 EDI workplan uses the Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Benchmarks, an international standard for planning and carrying out EDI work, to help guide City initiatives through four focus areas.
- Foundational – Drive the Strategy: Ensuring EDI priorities are reflected in day-to-day work. Activities in 2023 include preparing to develop the City’s first formal accessibility plan, reviewing policies for inclusivity and accessibility, training staff, and aligning City EDI work with best practices.
- Bridging – Align and Context: Using data to drive and enhance EDI work and communications. Activities in 2023 include outreach to engage the public and collect input, updating the City’s website, writing and design practices for enhanced accessibility, launching EDI-themed street banners and public displays, and recognizing observances such as Celebrate Diversity Month, National AccessAbility Week and Pride Month.
- External – Listen to and Serve Community: Building relationships with external groups and removing barriers to service access. Activities in 2023 include purposefully engaging community groups and committees to inform future City and EDI work, ensuring public communications enhance a sense of belonging and are inclusive and accessible to all, hosting and supporting events and activities promoting multiculturalism and diversity, and continuing to provide programs to reduce accessibility and financial barriers to recreation.
- Internal – Attract and Retain People: Removing barriers to employment and advancement. Activities in 2023 include implementing actions in the City’s Recruitment and Retention EDI Action Plan 2023-2026, ongoing hybrid work policy, creating policies and guidelines to support transgender staff inclusivity, and applying a trauma-informed approach to our work.
View Coquitlam’s 2022-23 Activities and Achievements and adapted Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Benchmarks framework (PDF).
Promoting Accessibility in the City
Changes to the Accessible British Columbia Act taking effect Sept. 1, 2023 will require municipalities to develop a wide-ranging, multi-year accessibility plan that includes input from the community and other interest holders. City staff are planning for this significant project during 2023, with foundational work to begin in 2024.
The plan will build on Coquitlam’s long-term work to make City information, services and spaces accessible to as many people as possible. For example, the City established its Universal Access-Ability Advisory Committee in 2006 to review policies, programs, design plans and other civic matters for accessibility. This ongoing commitment has led to recent City successes such as:
- Earning a Rick Hansen Foundation grant to improve accessibility at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, Dogwood Pavilion and Town Centre Park Community Centre, and to provide accessibility training to staff.
- Earning a grant from the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association’s Reaching Each and Every One program for accessible programming.
- Being the first B.C. municipal government to support Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s GoHere Washroom Access Program, adding 36 washrooms to the GoHere Washroom Locator App.
Visit coquitlam.ca/accessibility for more information about City programs, regulations and policies that promote access for people of all abilities.
Hate Has No Place in Coquitlam
Coquitlam has developed the following statement of allyship, a word that describes active support for people and groups who have been historically marginalized:
“Allyship is not a one-time action, it is a journey of support, learning and commitment. This is a journey that we, as an organization, are also embarking on with purpose, while keeping the safety of our residents and community top of mind.
The City of Coquitlam condemns hate in all forms. We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, including people from equity-deserving groups, such as LGBTQ2S+, racialized and disability communities.”
Learn More
Visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information about how Coquitlam is working towards building a safe and inclusive community for all, as well as resources for learning.
Media contact:
Manisha Dutta
Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
City of Coquitlam
media@coquitlam.ca