Human Rights and Equity
Our Shared Faith
Together, we are a diverse learning community gathering in Catholic faith. The CDSBEO recognizes our collective responsibility to spiritually nourish community, providing opportunities to develop relationships with Christ, and to understand the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
Catholicism is practiced diversely and inclusively across the CDSBEO. The CDSBEO is a Catholic community that recognizes and accepts Catholics who are on their unique faith journeys. We also acknowledge that some of our students, employees, and stakeholders are not Catholic but value the tradition and morals practiced within the Catholic faith and respectfully work, learn, and belong with our educational setting.
Human Rights and Equity at the CDSBEO
Human rights and equity are foundational to the CDSBEO. The CDSBEO has a duty to provide a safe and accessible learning and working community, where human rights are protected, and everyone has the opportunity to succeed. As part of our responsibility to challenging colonial systems and practices, we focus on eliminating barriers, creating spaces free from oppression, and building relationships that promote human rights and foster belonging. In doing so, we are understanding our privilege and responsibilities as a Catholic community to create an educational space for all.
The CDSBEO recognizes that all people are created equal, in the image of God, and are deserving of dignity and respect. The CDSBEO is committed to providing a Catholic educational and workplace environment, free from discrimination and harassment, which supports and enables diversity within its Catholic community.
Achieving equity is a collective effort that requires the participation and commitment of everyone. Let us all take ownership of our part in promoting human rights and equity while working collaboratively towards a more just and equitable world.
Commitment to Reconciliation
Residing on Indigenous Lands, we support the ongoing work of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Together, we repeatedly revisit and explore our historical narratives at the CDSBEO. As such, the CDSBEO responds to the articles from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the Calls for Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
The CDSBEO continues to recognize the need to explicitly acknowledge and address the history and ongoing impacts of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and communities. Understanding our privilege and responsibilities as a Catholic community, we focus on listening to authentic voices and integrating the realities of Indigenous lived experiences within education. Although this work can be uncomfortable at times, we continue with teaching and educating that supports Indigenous peoples’ traditions, cultures, and worldviews.
We also support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in their work of remembrance, reclamation, and resurgence. The CDSBEO aspires to provide a holistic and safe educational learning and working experience for all to belong.
The CDSBEO understands that reconciliation is a continuous journey that we must actively engage and explore. To learn more about our commitment to reconciliation, please explore CDSBEO Indigenous Education.
Human Rights Code
The Human Rights Code is the law that protects human rights in Ontario. The Human Rights Code protects Ontarians from discrimination and harassment in areas like school/education, and in employment. The protected grounds are age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, record of offences (in employment only), sex, and sexual orientation.
Contact
The Human Rights and Equity Office nurtures, advocates for, and protects human rights and equity across the CDSBEO.
Dr. Danica Vidotto
Human Rights and Equity Advisor
Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
1-343-774-2103
danica.vidotto@cdsbeo.on.ca