Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

OUR COMMITMENT

In keeping with our vision to be a diverse and inclusive community of globally minded leaders and learners, committed to shaping a better world, we recognize the value that diversity brings to the school setting. We understand that individuals are unique, with their own backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and perspectives, and that these differences enrich our life experiences. As a school, we work toward mutual understanding. We strive to create a fair and just environment in which all students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni feel included, safe and supported, and whose different identities are both embraced and celebrated.

This work is ongoing. Below is a snapshot of our achievements to date. And here is how we are living DEI at LCC.

Students

Objective 1: Expand Student Voice & Student Space

Student council meetings with representatives from each grade elected by their peers as a place to share concerns
SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance) group where participants engage in discussions on LGBTQ+ issues and brainstorms ways to support LCC’s inclusivity initiatives
CORE (Coalition of Racial Equity) group whose mission and goals include awareness, education and empowerment of students (2020-2021)
Continuation of student conferences/workshops, for example: Global Perspectives on Social Justice, Youth Action for Global Causes, Our Shared Pandemic Experience organized by Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG), student-led conferences hosted by Bishop Strachan School and Upper Canada College, Sustainable Development Goals Summit hosted by Envoys, Activist Within You hosted by Envoys and three GEBG schools (2020-2021)
School uniform modified to remove gender-specific requirements (2020-2021)
Feminist Club, Creativity for Community (art as a means for advocacy and building awareness) and Middle School CORE (2021-2022)
Lion Tracks Student Handbook and Student Honour Code modified to remove gender-specific guidelines (2021-2022)

Objective 2: Continue and Extend Understanding, Awareness and Celebration of Diversity

A series of guest speakers and presentations to increase DEI awareness, understanding and action (e.g., Dr. Amal Elsana Alh’jooj, Rabbi Lisa Gruschkow, Malek Shaheed, Dr. Marjorie Rabiau)
Orange Shirt Day, Pride Week, Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Indigenous Month
Student diversity heads engage students, organize events, create content for assemblies
Assembly addresses and presentation to celebrate diversity and promote understanding
Land acknowledgement crafted and integrated into assemblies, formal events, published materials (2021-2022)
Review of guidelines and documents to be inclusive of transgender and gender variant students (2021-2022)
Cultural diversity sessions presented to Middle School by the non-profit organization Ensemble, addressing the issue of coexistence in a pluralistic, multicultural society and providing an overview of the history of discriminatory legislation in Canada (2023-2024)

Objective 3: Review and Revise Curriculum

Review and revision of:
- Social studies curriculum in Junior School to incorporate multiple perspectives and more accurately represent the Indigenous experience/perspective (2020-2021)
- History curriculum in Middle & Senior School to incorporate under-represented perspectives (e.g., the Indigenous experience) (2020-2021)
- Curriculum to identify effective ness, range of content, as well as gaps for development (2021-2022)
- Language and Literature curriculum (2021-2022)
- Advisory program to add more content related to developmentally appropriate topics in relation to DEI and positive education
Library website updated regularly to share books and resources on a range of topics

Faculty & Staff

Objective 1: Continue & Extend Training in Global Competence and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Objectives 2: Human Resources Practices

Objective 1: Continue & Extend Training in Global Competence and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Library website updated regularly to share books and resources on a range of topics
Voluntary 45-member DEI group with representation from faculty and staff to discuss identity, diversity, inclusion and equity and define areas of focus for the action plan and provide a foundation for faculty and staff to integrate into their respective functions (2020-2021)
Professional development on anti-bias in admissions for members of the admissions and academic advising departments, and some members of leadership
Sessions and workshops on intercultural competence, diversity, culturally responsive literacy instruction, global writers and global literature, gender identity and neurodiversity (2020-2021)
Action plan based on DEI committee and student feedback (2020-2021)
Assessment of the clubs and activities mandates through a DEI lens leading to the establishment of new opportunities (e.g., CORE, Feminist Club, Creativity for Community) (2021-2022)
Data collection on gaps and areas for development for teachers to foster learning and professional growth that are rooted in global awareness, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practices (2021-2022)

Objectives 2: Human Resources Practices

Expansion of alumni executive to include members from across Canada, the US and in Europe, of different ages and with diverse backgrounds and interests, and appointment of a DEI representative (2020-2021)
Removed assumed titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms.) in our mailings to alumni (2020-2021)
Alumni participation as guest speakers in student clubs (e.g., Coalition for Racial Equality) (2021-2022)
Focus groups to solicit input from alumni with the goal of expanding programs and offerings to be more inclusive (2021-2022)

LIVING DEI AT LCC
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

OUR COMMITMENT

Students

Objective 1: Expand Student Voice & Student Space

Objective 2: Continue and Extend Understanding, Awareness and Celebration of Diversity

Objective 3: Review and Revise Curriculum

Faculty & Staff

Objective 1: Continue & Extend Training in Global Competence and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Objectives 2: Human Resources Practices

Community

Objective 1: Board of Directors - Continue and Extend Understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Objective 2: Parents/Guardians - Develop Educational Program and Mechanism for Dialogue

Objective 3: Alumni - Develop a Mechanism for Dialogue and Sharing

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