Building a Diverse Workforce

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Your identity matters. Your race, gender, who you love, ability, faith or creed. It’s an important part of who you are and what you can offer.

We are on a journey to strengthen the diversity of our workforce. We want to see more staff of equity-deserving groups succeed, grow and become future leaders.

At the OCDSB, we’re proud to serve students and families who represent more than 300 ethnic/cultural backgrounds. But we need more staff across our organization with a variety of lived experiences to better understand, connect with, and inspire students to realize their full potential. 

Equitable recruitment, hiring and promotion - Putting policy to action

In 2021, the OCDSB approved a new policy focused on equitable recruitment, hiring and promotion. The objective: “To set out the principles that will govern the development and implementation of fair, consistent, transparent, and equitable practice for the recruitment, hiring and promotion for all positions within the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) that will result in a qualified and diverse workforce with the knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to ensure all students reach their full potential, regardless of their background or identity.”

Since this was approved, we’ve focused on changing our structures to eliminate barriers and blindspots that have prevented candidates from being hired or qualified staff from being promoted.

This work has been coupled with training and professional development, particularly for senior staff and school leaders, to better understand and enhance equity and inclusion of historically disadvantaged identities.

Read more: OCDSB Equitable Recruitment Framework (PDF)

Employee affinity groups

It’s important our staff members can connect and support one another. We are proud to have a number of employee affinity groups for Black, Indigenous, Jewish, Muslim and 2SLGBTQ+ staff. We welcome the creation of new groups.

Professional development and training

The OCDSB regularly shares resources and offers professional development training for staff to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn how we can create the conditions for equity in our schools and workplaces. For example, we are proud partners with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) and Hire Immigrants Ottawa (HIO). As Employer Partners, these organizations offer all OCDSB staff free training opportunities that provide valuable insight into the latest thinking about diversity and inclusion.

With our various reimbursement programs, professional development days and orientation programs, OCDSB staff have the flexibility to learn and grow together with colleagues as well as at their own pace. Learn more about Leadership and Growth at the OCDSB.

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