SAINT-LAURENT, QC, July 2, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Within the global mobilization in the fight against racism, Saint-Laurent is pleased with the representation of ethnic and visible minorities, Indigenous people and people with disabilities among its employees. The 2019 review of the three-year Action plan for diversity in the workplace that has just been released at the Saint-Laurent Council meeting on June 30, 2020, shows that, for the third consecutive year, the representation rates of these groups are still higher than those within Montréal as a whole.

Quote

"It is not only imperative to denounce racism, systemic discrimination and violence, but also to take concrete action. As its workforce portrait illustrates, the Saint-Laurent Administration is setting an example in continuing to build an inclusive society in which each person has a chance and, in particular, equal access to employment. It is through concrete and measurable actions such as these that we will effectively fight against the rejection of others. I am proud that Saint-Laurent is a model for diversity and inclusion."

Alan DeSousa, Mayor of Saint-Laurent

Highlights

On June 15, 2016, Ville de Montréal's Executive Committee adopted a three-year action plan for 2016-2019, to which Saint-Laurent contributed.

This plan aims to facilitate access to equal employment opportunities for the following groups: women, Indigenous people, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

More specifically, and in cooperation with Ville de Montréal's Service des ressources humaines, the Action plan for diversity in the workplace reiterates the following commitments, which have enabled the Borough to achieve its objectives over the past few years:

1. To increase the hiring and promotion of members of the target groups
2. To ensure optimal integration of new employees
3. To develop employees' skills and support career development
4. To communicate the Action plan for diversity in the workplace and raise awareness about its benefits

The resulting Borough plan contains measures that translate into concrete actions, whose planning is reviewed on an annual basis and presented in a report.

The 2019 plan presents the following findings:

In order to achieve these results, Saint-Laurent took many measures and organized a number of activities during the year.

Among these, the Borough continued to participate in the professional sponsorship program, which encourages the hiring of trainees from the target groups, giving rise to the hiring of seven trainees from these groups over the past three years. 

Awareness workshops on gender diversity were also organized as well as training on cultural diversity awareness and autism spectrum disorder.

Staff from the Section des loisirs et du développement communautaire have also been trained in the various types of disabilities (physical, hearing, visual, etc.).

Work projects to provide universal accessibility was carried out in Borough buildings, such as the installation of a new universal access ramp at Parc Decelles chalet.

Also, an induction program has been set up to help new employees integrate more quickly, while Saint-Laurent's Employee assistance program is being actively promoted.

While reporting on these excellent results, Saint-Laurent is nevertheless pursuing its efforts to continue increasing the representation of the various groups targeted by concrete actions in line with its commitments.

Reference document

2019 report - Borough of Saint-Laurent - Action plan for diversity in the workplace

About the Borough of Saint-Laurent

Having celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2018, Saint-Laurent is one of the 19 boroughs in Ville de Montréal. As sustainable development is at the heart of all its decisions, the Borough declared itself a "sustainable municipal territory" on January 8, 2019. Its population of over 100,000, is one of the most multicultural: 81% of its residents are immigrants or have a parent born in another country. Located at the crossroads of Montréal's main highways with great accessibility to public transit, the Borough extends over 42.8 square kilometres in area. More than 70% of its territory is devoted to industrial and commercial activities. With 4500 companies and 110,000 jobs, it is in fact the second largest employment pool on the island of Montréal. It also boasts one of Québec's main industrial and technological centres. And last but not least, with its two libraries, its Centre des loisirs (recreation centre), its new Sports Complex, its arena and some 50 parks, Saint-Laurent offers a wide range of services in many fields, such as culture, sports and recreation. In this way, the Borough ensures a high quality of life for the families and businesses within its community.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent

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