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Gender Justice & Pride Inclusion

This page includes highlights about what actions are happening now, our hopes for the future and roles involved in this stream. 

Gender justice speaks to addressing inequities and ensuring that regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, all individuals have the same opportunities, rights, access and representation in both law and practice. Our hope is for all individuals who are part of the Pride community to feel welcomed and included within our spaces, programs and services.

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Pride is about personal rights, visibility and acceptance. It promotes inclusion and equality by celebrating self-affirmation and dignity in the lives of Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and all other sexual orientations and gender identities (2SLGBTQIA+).

What Evidence Tells Us

Our 2023 JAIDE Survey, Employee Insights Survey and feedback from our diverse communities demonstrated:

Representation matters.

18% of employees feel there is not representation of equity deserving groups at all levels of the YMCA of Three Rivers.

Belonging matters.

9% feel that the YMCA of Three Rivers does not challenge discrimination against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

Stopping harm matters.

19% of employees feel a lack of safety and acceptance in their gender indentity.

1 in 2 individuals who identify as genderqueer/ gender non-conforming or transgender have both witnessed and experienced abuse, harassment and discrimination. This is the highest percentage of any group that participated in our surveys. 

The Impact We Hope to Achieve

By actively supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, our YMCA will work to create a more inclusive workplace that fosters a sense of belonging and encourages diverse talent to join and thrive. 

 

Our intentions in providing resources, accountable spaces, and policies that support 2SLGBTQIA+ employees and the greater community is to reduce harmful incidents and increase the sense of belonging, which will positively impacts mental health and overall well-being. 

 

We will work to increase the access, presence and connection for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community within our programs and spaces so that underrepresented, under engaged and equity-deserving groups can have deeper impact and pathways to build their Y story with us.

Click into the sections below to see the steps we are currently taking to make an impact in this stream. This section is updated frequently and a part of our ongoing commitment and accountability towards action.

IN ACTION

  • Change room and washroom lnclusivity Assessment Framework in partnership with members and employees with lived experience.

  • Removal of gender from Health & Wellness Membership system.

  • Activate educational resources and support for members UAIDE in Action at the Yin Member Newsletter).

  • Capital renovations improvements for change room spaces at Chaplin and Stratford (based on assessment feedback).

  • The creation of a gender inclusion statement across all camp locations.

  • Transitioned to all gender washroom and cabin options at camp.

  • All signage updated to be non-gendered within all camp locations.

  • Rainbow family drop in programs at EarlyON (Roger St) in partnership with Spectrum.

  • Creation of tools for community facing staff to support them in stopping harm.

  • Toolkits for leaders to bring learning from trainings in lntersectionality, Accountability and Allyship into staff meetings for team learning.

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