Racial Equity | YMCA of Three Rivers

Racial Equity & Intersectional Understanding

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

Racial equity is a process of eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for everyone. It is the intentional and continual practice of changing policies, practices, systems and structures by prioritizing measurable change in the lives of Black, Indigenous and racially diverse people with the intention to create racial equity for all.

Intersectional understanding refers to the way in which we work to learn and understand the intersections of different identities (cultural practices, ideologies, faith-based perspectives, lived experiences) of others and how those identities affect a person's experience.

The underlying assumption is that different identities can coexist peacefully and enrich our community.

What Evidence Tells Us

Our 2023 JAIDE Survey demonstrated:

Representation matters.

24% of employees speak a language other than English most often at home.

Belonging matters.

9% feel that culture and heritage are not recognized at the YMCA of Three Rivers.

Stopping harm matters.

9% feel like the YMCA of Three Rivers does not challenge systemic racial discrimination.

7% of participants do not feel safe practicing their religion.

Download our 2025 Roadmap

The Impact We Hope to Achieve

By fostering racial equity and intersectional understanding, we can build a thriving workplace where individuals can be themselves as we work towards reducing incidents of hate and harm, while spreading love.

By being an organization that challenges and confronts racism, discrimination, and oppression, - we will make 'just' change to break down systemic barriers to potential and belonging. This in turn will help us build stronger partnerships, attract top talent, reduce turnover and enhance employee engagement and well-being, and build stronger and more resilient communities.

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

Use the JAIDE Advisory Council to continue to include diverse voices and perspective for decision-making.
Continuing with JAIDE Leading Change Training sessions for leaders and employees.
Introduction of website translation in multiple languages.
Creation of tools for community facing staff to support them in stopping harm.
Translation of JAIDE in Action Commitment Document for employees and participants into ten top languages within the Regions we serve.

IN ACTION

6 Month Update

JAIDE Leading Change Training continues for leaders and employees, covering Intersectionality, Accountability, and Allyship, with Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 sessions completed.
We have strengthened support for community-facing employees in handling harm by releasing a comprehensive handling harm toolkit to all leaders, sharing the resources in our Beacon newsletter, and hosting an information session with Child Care leaders. These steps ensure employees have the guidance and tools they need to support building their capacity when it comes to handling harm.
Inclusion of Hate Crime Reporting information in Handling Harm toolkits
The JAIDE in Action Commitment Document has been translated into ten top regional languages, additionally a $10K grant has been secured to provide translation services and client support in EarlyON (pilot program).
Curiosity vs. Judgment training has been introduced for EarlyON teams, offering a learning opportunity through the lens of unconscious bias.

ASPIRATION INTO ACTION

Intersectionality toolkits available on our JAIDE SharePoint for all employees and leaders to enhance and integrate learning into team discussions and meetings.

IN ACTION

1 Year Update

Resources & Evaluation

JAIDE Leading Change Module 1-3 Toolkits completed.
- In person training for all three modules continuing in Spring and Fall 2026.
- Potential training sessions with Child Care supervisors to be orchestrated on how to use these tools.
The third JAIDE Employee Survey is set to launch in May 2026.

Programs

Youth Team partnership with the Black History Month event.

Communications

The People Team Newsletter has expanded its JAIDE section to highlight learning around the various days of recognition.

Partnerships & Commitments

In partnership with the Region of Waterloo and their Access and Inclusion Plan, our Child Care and EarlyON teams have established an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) commitment. Aligned with our JAIDE priorities, such as EDI, the intention is to highlight current commitment within these areas as it pertains to these services and recognize areas of growth.

Access & Integration

Our organization has dedicated resources to co-locate Immigration Services and EarlyON programs at Roger St., creating a partnership that provides accessible EarlyON supports for newcomers.

IN ACTION

1.5 Year Update

Continued in-person training on Intersectionality, Accountability, and Allyship (May & October 2026).
Completed our third JAIDE survey this year, with specific questions around experiences for employees identifying as part of equity deserving groups, including racially diverse and intersectional aspects of equity. The data was shared back to the organization in September (May-September 2026).
Violence Risk Assessment in preparation to be rolled out this fall (October 2026).
Newsletter created for new commers around green initiatives to provide education and learning around what sustainability means (June-August 2026).

Health & Wellness

Curiosity vs Judgement training for our Children's Programs Teams at the Stork YMCA and A.R.K. YMCA and for our Aquatics Team at the Chaplin YMCA (June-July 2026).
Welcome Week events across the YMCA of Three Rivers including a Citizenship Ceremony hosted at the A.R.K. YMCA (September 2026).

EarlyON

Starting School in Canada in partnership with EarlyON and Immigrant Services, returned in-person this year for the first time since COVID (June-August 2026).