(Excerpt from July 2010 DiverseCity newsletter)

We live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. Almost half of our residents are visible minorities. And if we are to believe the projections of Statistics Canada, by 2031 this figure will rise to over 60 per cent.

This diversity is reflected almost everywhere – in schools, on campuses, in the TTC, in the shops and malls of Toronto. Yet the same cannot be said for places of privilege and power, in the leadership echelons of our city – on Bay Street, in Queen’s Park, or in board rooms.

The second DiverseCity Counts report, presented by Ryerson’s Diversity Institute on behalf of DiverseCity, points to the disconnect between who lives in the city and who has power and influence. Findings show that just 14 per cent of leaders in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are visible minorities (relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied), up marginally from last year’s 13.5 per cent. While the leadership in some sectors reflects our population quite well – City of Toronto public agencies, for example, show that 33 per cent of those in the top jobs are visible minorities – the majority (56.6 per cent) across the public, nonprofit and corporate sectors have no visible minorities among their leadership ranks.

Why is this important? Because it presents a picture of power and influence that is more and more out of focus with the demographic reality in our city region. It limits our reach in innovation because it fails to tap into the breadth and scope of new ideas that are required today to solve new and complex problems. It robs our workplaces of fresh talent and it limits the scope and capacity of our public institutions to be responsive to a new public. It fails to put out role models to a growing youth population with significant consequences for their future aspirations. Most importantly, it tells us that our road to prosperity has met a roadblock which we must collectively overcome to meet our promise.

Diversity in leadership has benefits in the workplace, in the boardroom and in the broader society. It can play a key role in a country’s economic prosperity because when there is diversity around the decision-making table, the performance of organizations improves, innovation happens and new solutions are generated.

So, ultimately, we need to bring diversity to leadership not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it will contribute to our shared social and economic prosperity.

Read full newsletter.

DiverseCity Counts report points the way to capitalize on diverse leadership

TORONTO, ON, June 10, 2010 - Just 14 per cent of leaders in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are visible minorities (relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied), up marginally from last year’s 13.5 per cent, finds a research report which measures diversity in leadership released today by Ryerson University’s Diversity Institute on behalf of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project.

DiverseCity Counts: A Snapshot of Diverse Leadership in the Greater Toronto Area tracks 3,348 leaders across the corporate, public, elected, education and nonprofit sectors. Findings from this second annual report continue to point to a serious lack of visible minority leaders. Building on last year’s baseline results, this year’s report reveals new insights that can help expedite progress.

“This year, we dug deeper and our results show that the sector averages mask a big gap between leaders and laggards,” says Wendy Cukier, Associate Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management, who co-authored the report and is the founder of the Diversity Institute. “We also took a special look at the news media given its profound influence on how we think about leaders and leadership.”

When examining the news media, the study reviewed two aspects of the media: who makes decisions at major print and broadcast media organizations serving the GTA, and who gets represented in their news coverage.

Previous research has shown a link between diversity in leadership and prosperity. Diverse leadership fuels organizational performance, expands access to global talent pools and new markets and is linked to innovation. The DiverseCity Counts report tracks progress on diversity in the GTA’s leadership, drawing attention to the challenges and practices worth emulating.

The report finds that a significant percentage of organizations (21.9 per cent) have high levels of representation (more than 20 per cent), but the majority (56.6 per cent) have no visible minority representation in leadership roles, indicating a large gap between the strong and weak performers. The report also found that the top performing organizations measure and track their progress.

Other key findings:

• Government agencies take the lead spot with education (top last year) in second place; the corporate sector remains at the bottom
• City of Toronto public agencies demonstrate the best results overall with an impressive 33 per cent visible minority representation in leadership roles
• Federally regulated companies subject to the employment equity legislation tend to perform better than others
• Leadership in news media corporations mirrors corporate sector leadership (4.8 vs. 4.1 per cent)
• While visible minorities are under-represented in leadership roles in the news media (decision makers), news coverage (who is seen) offers opportunity for media to diversify. Total visible minority representation in news media coverage is 19.6 per cent

“The good news is that we’re moving in the right direction and improved results are within reach,” says Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree, who together with John Tory is co-chairing the DiverseCity Project, which commissioned the research. “The Counts report gives us a roadmap to reap the benefits of diverse leadership.”

DiverseCity Counts is the second of three annual reports commissioned by DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project. For more on DiverseCity and to read the full report go to: www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project is an initiative of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance and is funded in part by the government of Ontario.

The Diversity Institute at Ryerson University focuses on fact-based strategies for increasing inclusion. www.ryerson.ca/diversity.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

• Julia Howell, on behalf of DiverseCity, (416) 402-4274, julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca
• Kathleen Powderley, on behalf of the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, (416) 803-5597, kathleen@responsiblecommunications.ca
• Emma Jowett, Counsel Public Relations, (416) 909-6463, ejowett@counselpr.ca

About DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project
DiverseCity is the latest project of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance. With its eight initiatives, the project is changing the face of our region’s leadership. It is expanding our networks, strengthening our private and public institutions, advancing our knowledge on the role of diversity in leadership and tracking our progress. For more information, visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

About the Diversity Institute in Management and Technology at Ryerson University
The Diversity Institute in Management and Technology is located in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. The Diversity Institute undertakes diversity research with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, disabilities and sexual orientation in the workplace. The goal of the Institute is to generate new, interdisciplinary knowledge about diversity in organizations to contribute to the awareness and the promotion of equity in the workplace. Visit www.ryerson.ca/diversity for more information.

Ryerson University and DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project Release Second Annual Research Report

WHAT
DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project and the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University will release the second DiverseCity Counts Report, highlighting the number of visible minorities in senior leadership roles across the corporate, public and nonprofit sectors in the GTA. For the first time the report also includes a review of the news media.

WHY
Last year’s report showed that just 13 per cent of leaders were visible minorities relative to 49.5 per cent of the population studied. Find out what this year’s report tells us.

WHEN
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Briefing begins at 10 a.m. sharp
Doors open for media check-in and set-up at 9:30 a.m.

WHO
Ratna Omidvar and John Tory, Co-Chairs, DiverseCity
The Honourable Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Dr. Wendy Cukier, Associate Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management and founder of the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University

WHERE
The Design Exchange
234 Bay Street, Toronto
Trading Floor

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MEDIA CONTACTS

• Julia Howell, on behalf of DiverseCity, (416) 402-4274, julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca
• Kathleen Powderley, on behalf of the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, (416) 803-5597, kathleen@responsiblecommunications.ca
• Emma Jowett, Counsel Public Relations, (416) 909-6463, ejowett@counselpr.ca

Applications for DiverseCity Fellows 2011 will be available in mid-August.

Governor General Calls for Cultural Diversity Before
the Canadian Club at DiverseCity Event in Toronto

OTTAWA—Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, delivered today the opening address at a DiverseCity event hosted by the Canadian Club of Toronto.

In her address entitled “Corporate Engagement and the Drive to Inspire: Empowering New Leaders in 21^st Century Canada,” the Governor General spoke about the key role the business community can play to help create a stronger, more prosperous and harmonious Canada.

“Having people from diverse backgrounds in senior management positions can confer better access to lucrative local and international networks and markets. Maintaining a plurality of perspectives and life experiences in an organization can boost creative and innovative output. Employing a greater number of people from diverse backgrounds can help to raise the overall consumption power of a broader proportion of the Canadian population,” said Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean.

“It is simple. Saying yes to diversity is saying yes to modernity, to opportunity, and to the very future of our country.”

Opening address from the Governor General for the DiverseCity event at the Canadian Club of Toronto:

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Thank you so much for your warm welcome and thank you all for being here this afternoon.

It feels so good to be back in Toronto, and I am very honoured to join you today.

I feel particularly touched because the Canadian Club of Toronto has been instrumental in enhancing the scope and quality of public debate in Canada.

Like you, I recognize the importance of open dialogue, critical thought, and freedom of expression, ideals you have helped to promote and cultivate across our country for over one-hundred years.

You must be commended for your contribution.

I am also delighted to have been invited to open the DiverseCity panel discussion, which will shed new light on the kind of leadership Canada needs to prosper in the 21st century.

We are a society of pluralism, and diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

Just look around the room for a moment.

We are of Indigenous descent.

We are of European descent.

We are of African descent.

We are of Arab descent.

We are of South Asian descent.

We are of East Asian descent.

We are of Caribbean descent.

We are of Latin American descent.

Dear friends: we are Canada.

And Canada contains the world.

According to Statistics Canada’s projections, the number of foreign-born and indigenous people in Canada will more than double over the next twenty years.

And this is particularly true for Toronto, which has already been heralded as one of the world’s most multicultural city.

So as we look to the road ahead, let us ensure that the new generation of leaders, of all backgrounds, is fully empowered and integrated into our efforts to build a stronger, more prosperous and more harmonious Canada.

Given these demographic projections and the current turmoil shaking the global economy, I believe our discussion on leadership is both timely and crucial.

And who better to pursue this conversation with than you, the movers and shakers of Canada’s business community.

Many would agree that it is in part, thanks to your openness to bold, new ideas, thanks to your flexibility in the face of shifting market conditions, and thanks to your willingness to embrace financial responsibility, that we were able to weather the worst of the global recession.

It has now become clearer than ever before: Canada’s economy is a model of stability amidst the volatility of the global market.

And I salute you all for your contributions.

Yes, we have many reasons to be proud.

Yes, we have many reasons to be more optimistic.

But pride and optimism should not make us complacent.

For as many economists are warning: the storm may not be over yet.

Economic turmoil abroad may undermine economic recovery at home, adversely affecting the lives of many Canadians, and potentially straining the very fabric of our society. 

So as we strive to regain our footing in the midst of an uncertain world, let us draw strength from the creativity and dynamism of all Canadians, and let us find comfort in the values of solidarity, inclusion and caring that define us as a nation.

Over the last five years of my mandate, I have met thousands of Canadians of all backgrounds and persuasions who live by these very values.

As I traveled across the country, I was not very interested in exploring our differences; because I believe we have already undertaken that exercise. 

What fascinated me was discovering all we have in common.    

Whether I was in the North Point Douglas neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Thetford Mines in Quebec, Clyde River in Nunavut, Edmonton in Alberta, Summerside in PEI, Timmins in Ontario, or Qu’Appelle in Saskatchewan, one thing became very clear.

We Canadians care!

And we are prepared to go the extra mile to help anyone in need!

Just look at our unprecedented outpouring of support for the people of Haiti, in the aftermath of the earthquake, which devastated so many parts of their country.

Just look at the women and men who are casting their differences aside to pursue homegrown solutions to some of Canada’s most intractable problems.

When I ask Canadians:

“Why are you so engaged?

They tell me that it all boils down to refusing to be indifferent. 

Taking ownership of ones responsibility as a citizen.

Renewing a spirit of hope within our communities.

And using the spark of compassion to ignite the hearts and minds of all those who surround us.

Let us be clear: every gesture counts.

And everyone has a role to play.

You name it: ordinary citizens, public officials, law enforcement representatives, faith communities, non-profit organizations, and, of course, you: the private sector.

Please understand that in the places I have visited, Canadians have lauded the role corporations are playing in supporting community-based initiatives.

Whether it is in reaction to in-kind support, to mentoring and internship opportunities, or even to financial donations, corporate engagement is being trumpeted as an integral part of the drive to inspire change in our communities.   

I have seen how it has given rise to new friendships and synergies, how it has brought companies closer to the communities in which they operate, and how it has helped Canadians understand that no matter what the naysayers say, business can be a force for social good!  

It is because I too recognize that you can be a catalyst for change that I would like to speak to you directly about an issue that is very dear to my heart: empowering young leaders.

As many of you probably know, one of the main reasons I accepted to become 27th governor general of Canada is because I wanted to give a voice to the dreams, the aspirations and the perspectives of Canadian youth.

When I worked as a journalist at Radio-Canada, I discovered an almost untapped wealth of talent and creativity, as well as a refreshing outlook on the world, coming from youth.

For numerous young people, the old grudges and prejudices of the past are moot points.

Canadian youth are growing-up in an era in which having friends from a variety of backgrounds is increasingly de rigueur.

Learning about different cultures and languages is cool.

Embracing a more cosmopolitan identity is popular.

And thinking globally to bring about local change is crucial

I find great pleasure in this new culture of respect, openness, and action.

I can relate to it.

It is the story of my life.

Then as now, I am convinced that young people constitute a vital force in our society.

And everyone wins when we nurture, enhance and leverage their full potential.

That is why as governor general, I have dedicated so much time and energy to engaging youth, from every corner of the country, in a dialogue on building a stronger, more prosperous and more harmonious Canada.

We live in a country of many possibilities, and our history reflects the very triumph of hope over adversity.  

Yet, our society is not sheltered from the scourge of social exclusion.

During several of my Youth Dialogues, many youth have reminded me that even today: some people are rejected because they are Indigenous.

Because their parents were born in a different country.

Because they are of a different faith. 

Because they are female.

Because they have a partner of the same sex.

Because they belong to a linguistic minority.

Because they have a disability.

Because they are poor.

And it is important to listen carefully, as young people invite us to follow their lead by embracing diversity in all sectors of society.

Why?

Because it is then, and only then, that we will unleash the full potential of our country.

To me, investing in diversity makes sense.

It makes business sense.

Let’s think about it for a moment.

Having people from diverse backgrounds in senior management positions can confer better access to lucrative local and international networks and markets.

Maintaining a plurality of perspectives and life experiences in an organization can boost creative and innovative output.

Employing a greater number of people from diverse backgrounds can help to raise the overall consumption power of a broader proportion of the Canadian population. 

It is simple.

Saying yes to diversity is saying yes to modernity, to opportunity, and to the very future of our country.

But saying no carries a huge price. 

For each time social exclusion closes a door, another door is opened to desolation, frustration, and despair.

We have only to look to our streets, to some of our neighbourhoods or “hoods,” or to some of our more isolated rural and northern communities, to encounter a youth, who has lost faith in society, adrift and sinking.

He once had a big dream that lack of opportunity simply snatched away.

His father may have suffered because his PhD from a university abroad is not recognized in Canada. 

His mother may be an Indian Residential School survivor, who still bears the scars of her harrowing experience.    

His entire family may be unable to find decent and affordable housing, and must scour the streets for a place to sleep.

These situations of vulnerability are fertile ground for predators to sneak in, like thieves in the night, to steal the alienated into their fold.

If anything, the existence of criminal youth gangs and juvenile prostitution testifies to organized crime’s determination to prey on feelings of powerlessness and solitude. 

This can shatter dreams, bring explosions of violence, and even scare capital and investment away.

So we cannot afford to be indifferent, nor can we risk turning a blind eye.

This does entail welcoming diversity with open arms at all levels of our institutions.

But it also requires opening our hearts to the new generation, in its entirety, and investing adequately in developing and harnessing its potential.  

Let’s be honest.

Those of us in this room, who have children—like me—know that it will be very easy for them to find promising internships opportunities, scholarships, and well-connected mentors.

But there are tens of thousands of children and youth who may never have access to these networks, who may never have the right role models, or the right internships.

So how do we fix this imbalance?

Once again, I must turn to the insight of our youth.

When I visited the Remix Project— a Toronto-based creative-arts organization that teaches business skills to underprivileged youth—I asked them what they thought the solution was.

Some of them are here today.

Their answers spoke volumes.

“We need mentors,” they said.

“We need access to more networks in the business community.”

“We need more support from the private sector.”

“We need corporate executives to visit and teach us.”

“We need more scholarships”

“We have a lot to offer, but we need professionals to help us hone our skills and expand our knowledge.”

And guess what?

I think they are right.

When I chose “Breaking down Solitudes” as my motto, I sought to remind us that we must build more bridges of solidarity over the troubled waters of fear of the Other, misunderstanding, and apathy.

We need to take more time to get to know each other, to talk to each other, to support each other, to believe in each other.

This is all about shared responsibilities.

And particularly today, it is about corporate social responsibility.

For if the current economic crisis teaches us anything, it is that our future is inextricably linked to our willingness to abandon the excesses of the past—or what I like to call the “everyone for himself and for his clan” mentality—and cleave tighter than ever before to our most precious, most durable, and most productive resource.

What is that?

Dear friends: It is each other.

So you may be wondering:

“What can I really do?”

“Where can I even start?”

“How can I relate this to the strategic priorities of my company?”

Take the time to meet young people and emerging leaders.

Listen to what they have to say.

Mull over their suggestions.

Take their requests seriously.

Integrate them into your teams.

Build new partnerships.

Realize that in the long run, the new relationships you are forging will pay off, exponentially.  

Why?

Because, empowering youth, enhancing diversity, and investing in our communities, make sense.

And let me say it again.

They make business sense.

So as the world prepares to celebrate the International Year of Youth, which begins on August 12, I encourage you and all Canadians to play your part in reaching out and empowering the new generation of leaders.

Our future, as much as theirs, depends on it.

Thank you.

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Media Information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
613-302-0912 (cell)
meletourneau@gg.ca
www.gg.ca

Lynn Chou
Media Relations
Canadian Club of Toronto
416-364-5591
lchou@canadianclub.org
www.canadianclub.org

Julia Howell
Media Relations
DiverseCity 
416-699-3838
416-402-4274 (cell) 
julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca
www.diversecitytoronto.ca

Who:

• The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada
• Mr. Gordon Nixon, President and Chief Executive Officer, RBC ( luncheon sponsor)
• Mr. John Capobianco, President, the Canadian Club of Toronto
• Ms. Ratna Omidvar, Co-Chair, DiverseCity, and President, Maytree
• Mr. John Tory, Co-Chair, DiverseCity, Chair, Toronto City Summit Alliance and broadcaster
• 700 established and emerging diverse leaders from Toronto`s business community

When:
Monday, May 10, 2010

• 1:00pm – Keynote presentation by the Governor General of Canada
• 1:20pm – Panel discussion on how investing in new leaders can turn our leadership diversity deficit into a dividend
• 2:00pm – Event closes

Where:
Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Centre Hotel
123 Queen Street West, Toronto

About DiverseCity:
DiverseCity, a project of Maytree and the Toronto City Summit Alliance, is working with more than 150 Partner organizations and businesses to accelerate prosperity in the Toronto region by changing the face of leadership. Diverse leadership leads to: improved financial and organizational performance; increased capacity to link to new global and domestic markets; expanded access to global and domestic talent pools; enhanced innovation and creativity; and strengthened cohesion and social capital. www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

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Please note that the luncheon is sold out. Rogers Television will broadcast the event on May 17th at 1pm and a webcast can be accessed via www.canadianclub.org as of May 11th.

Contacts:

Julia Howell
DiverseCity Communications
416-699-3838
416-402-4274 (cell)
julia@communityinvestmentpartners.ca

Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
613-302-0912 (cell)
meletourneau@gg.ca
www.gg.ca

Lynn Chou
Canadian Club of Toronto
416-364-5591
lchou@canadianclub.org

Cameron Bailey first saw the recent Oscar-winner Precious at its world premiere at the Sundance Festival in January 2009.

“I was blown away by the film,” says Bailey, the African-Canadian co-director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Bailey had shown a previous film by the movie’s African-American director Lee Daniels at the Toronto festival. In part due to their shared cultural experience, the two bonded and they stayed in touch, allowing Bailey to connect with the celebrated director at the premiere.

“I walked right up to him and told him I loved it.”

This connection was just the beginning. Bailey’s instincts about the film were right on. Before long he was negotiating with Hollywood studios to bring Precious to Toronto as a gala performance. But showcasing an African-American filmmaker would be a first. And including a film this tough and disturbing would require strong powers of persuasion. As TIFF’s most prestigious offering, galas are considered prime sponsorship opportunities not generally reserved for risky or edgy fare.

“I was in a position to put this forward as a good idea but I had to convince people it would work,” he says.

Bailey succeeded and the gala presentation involved an appearance by entertainment’s “head of state” Oprah Winfrey, along with Mariah Carey and other luminaries from Hollywood’s black elite. These red carpet promotions led to an unprecedented showing from Toronto’s black community.

“A word of mouth campaign swept the city. They bought tickets, they waited outside, they screamed when everyone arrived. I had never seen Roy Thomson Hall with that kind of energy before.”

When the show was over and everyone had left the theatre, the chair of TIFF’s board of directors told Bailey he had never seen anything like this before at the Festival. According to Bailey, “we would never have played it this big if I hadn’t been in this position.”

Cameron Bailey was appointed co-director at TIFF in January, 2008 after 12 years as a programmer where he founded the Planet Africa section and headed the Perspective Canada Series. He is an accomplished writer, print and broadcast journalist and has been a guest curator for festivals around the world.

What: Meet the DiverseCity Fellows

Highlights:

• Remarks by DiverseCity Co-Chairs, Ratna Omidvar, President, Maytree & John Tory, Chair, Toronto City Summit Alliance
• Announcement of the 2010 DiverseCity Fellows
• Presentations of the 2009 DiverseCity Fellows action projects

When:

• Thursday, February 18, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Remarks will begin at 7:25 p.m.

Where: 918 Bathurst St., Toronto (north of Bloor St.)

Representing the public, private, and non-profit sectors, this year’s Fellows were selected for their broad range of contributions to their communities and their potential to become the next wave of civic leaders.

“I want to use my private sector experience, personal passion, and concern for the community to make real change that benefits those less fortunate,” explains Jasmine Tehara, Associate Vice-President, Wealth Management, TD Bank Financial Group and 2010 DiverseCity Fellow.

By providing Fellows from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds with opportunities to build new networks and develop leadership skills, the program will equip them with a stronger voice in making the region a better place to live, work, and play.

“My vision for the Toronto region is one where citizens are aware that we share responsibility for the social and economic growth of our community. And therefore just voting is not enough,” says another 2010 DiverseCity Fellow, Fabio Crespin, who moved with his family to Canada from Brazil three years ago and currently works at Woodgreen Community Services.

The 27 Fellows work in a wide range of fields, including environment, arts, human resources, law, and health. They speak 18 languages and have experience living and working in over 20 countries.

John Tory, Co-Chair of DiverseCity and Chair of the Toronto City Summit Alliance, says, “I believe firmly that when we can broaden the horizons of our leadership landscape, our city will benefit from the knowledge, culture, ideas, and expertise of our diverse population.”

For the full list of the 27 Fellows, please visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca/diversecity-fellow.

About DiverseCity Fellows: DiverseCity Fellows is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project and is one of eight initiatives designed to diversify the Toronto region’s leadership landscape. DiverseCity is a joint initiative of the Toronto City Summit Alliance and Maytree. To learn more, visit www.diversecitytoronto.ca.

Media Contact:
Cindy Tan, Project Officer, Toronto City Summit Alliance
T: (416) 309-4480×501, C: (416) 937-3958
email: cindy.tan@torontocitysummit.ca