Reconciliation, equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion
Find out what the city is doing to address systemic barriers and support equity-deserving groups.
On this page
- Learn what actions the city is taking
- Meet the team
- Find resources to learn more
- Find local mental health and wellbeing resources
- Contact the team
Learn what actions the city is taking
There is increased awareness and a sense of urgency about the need to understand the systemic barriers to equity and inclusion that exist, and have persisted for centuries. The City of Waterloo is working to:
Review internal challenges and working to remove systemic barriers:
- support internal training, policy development and evaluation of programs, services, policies and practices to ensure they are accessible and welcoming to racialized populations
- explore how the city can respond to complaints and enforcement with a restorative justice lens;
- support the corporation to meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance;
Collaborate with local action groups:
- work closely with the Waterloo Region’s Reconciliation Action Plan Working group
- develop and maintain relationships with local Indigenous communities, building on a foundation of trust, respect and transparency
- create meaningful relationships based on trust with the numerous equity-deserving groups and members in the community
- support the ongoing efforts of Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Communicate our goals and include the community:
- share resources and information about the work of the team internally and externally
- build relationships with individuals and organizations in the disabled community to ensure their voices are included in the development of the city projects and plans
Meet the team
Divya Handa (she/her), Director
Divya has had many years of experience working in the fields of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Having earned her Master of Public Health degree, Divya has worked for the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Government of Nunavut, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the Region of Peel, and the United Way. The focus of her work has always been on determinants of health and well-being within the Canadian healthcare and social service systems.
Divya moved to Waterloo at a young age from Nairobi, Kenya, and embeds her experience of being an immigrant, a woman of colour, and a caregiver with a chronic illness, in all her work. She is dedicated to taking responsibility for building and caring for the community. She does that by volunteering as a Board Member for the YMCA of Three Rivers, as well as a crisis line counselor for the Toronto Rape Crisis Center.
Contact Divya by email divya.handa@waterloo.ca or call 519-747-6335 x78335
Brian Hill (he/him), Indigenous Initiatives Advocate
Brian is from the Oneida of the Thames First Nation and has been actively involved in the promotion and advancement of Urban Indigenous human rights for over 40 years.
He brings extensive experience building strategic partnerships through his work with City of London, United Way, Thames Valley District School Board, Children’s Aid Society and the London Police Service.
Brian is currently a Board and community member of the N’Amerind Friendship Centre in London as well as the president of the Board of Directors and first vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.
Contact Brian by email brian.hill@waterloo.ca or call 226-750-3845.
Amy Ross (she/her), Accessibility Advocate
Amy is a long-time City of Waterloo employee whose roles have included research and policy analysis, cultural planning and neighbourhood development, strategic implementation and project management. She is an active Staff Association vice-president.
Prior to her career with the city, Amy earned a Master of Public Service from the University of Waterloo, and completed the Core Community Leadership Development Program with Leadership Waterloo Region, served as an HR coordinator for a disability focused organization, an AODA consultant and coordinated the local activities of Special Olympics Kitchener-Waterloo.
Amy has served as a community representative for both the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Grand River Transit Specialized Services Advisory Committee.
Contact Amy by email amy.ross@waterloo.ca or call 519-884-6294.
Paulina Rodriguez (she/her), Anti-Racism and Social Justice Advocate
Paulina has held roles in the non-for-profit and municipal sectors working in community development, research, evaluation, and policy development. She has been a Waterloo Region resident for almost ten years and has worked for organizations like The Working Centre, Immigration Waterloo Region, and the Region of Waterloo’s Office of Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Paulina’s early experiences as a settler in Canada and her education have taught her about the importance of equitable and welcoming communities.
Contact Paulina by email paulina.rodriguez@waterloo.ca or call 226-753-2517.
Adam Nerger (he/him), Project Coordinator
Adam has held roles in municipal governance and Indigenous self-governance with a focus on policy development, strategic planning, and communications.
Adam received his Bachelor of Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University, focusing on Political Science and North American studies. Before his career with the city, Adam worked for a self-governing Indigenous government in British Columbia, resolving tenancy disputes on behalf of the government, developing social communications and government communication strategies, coordinating various aspects of policy and law development, and working closely with council and council subcommittees to meet strategic plan objectives.
Adam has voluntarily served in various capacities, including economic development, community building, and more recently, supporting local climate action.
Contact Adam by email adam.nerger@waterloo.ca or call 226-750-1647.
Find resources to learn more
Race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and other aspects of identity impact everyone’s experience in daily life. Specifically there are disproportionately negative outcomes for members of equity-deserving groups and Indigenous peoples locally and across the globe. More generally, members of equity-deserving groups face systemic barriers to inclusion in all aspects of life.
A surge of international and local movements have influenced and made headlines across the globe and our community over the last number of years.
Regional studies and resources:
- learn about O:se Kenhionhata:tie and Indigenous activities at Landback Camp currently located in regionally identified Laurel Creek Conservation area
- review the OutLook Study conducted in 2016 by Waterloo Region Rainbow Committee
- learn about accessibility standards outlined in the Accessible Canada Act passed by the Government of Canada in 2018
- learn more about well-being and quality of life in our region from the WellbeingWR survey results of 2019
National and international movements:
- read the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- learn more about combatting anti-black racism on the Black Lives Matter website
- learn more about the Me Too Movement which is focused on eliminating sexual violence
Find local mental health and well-being resources
Find a list of local organizations and resources below that help support mental health and well-being needs. Areas of support include:
- mental health
- wellness
- 2SLGBTQ+ organizations
- counselling
- multicultural organizations
- Indigenous organizations
- disability organizations
| Local mental health and well-being organizations and resources |
A | B | C | E | F | G | H | I | K | L | M | O | P | S | T | V | W | YAAl-Anon and Alateen Waterloo Region Anxiety Canada Autism Ontario - Central West Region (Waterloo) BBoots on the Ground Bounce Back Ontario Breakwater Institute CCambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) – Mental Health and Addictions Program Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Waterloo Wellington CaminoWellbeing + Mental Health Community Living Cambridge Connex Ontario EExtend-A-Family Waterloo Region FFamily Care Centre – Parents for Children's Mental Health Waterloo Chapter (PCMH) Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge & North Dumfries (FCC) Family and Children's Services of the Waterloo Region First Responders First Front Door Mental Health Frontline Forward GGood 2 talk Grand River Hospital (GRH) Mental Health and Addictions HHere 24/7 Hope Spring Cancer Support Centre House of Friendship Addiction Treatment Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Alliance IIAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Interfaith Community Counselling Centre KKidsAbility Centre for Child Development Kind Minds Family Wellness Kitchener Waterloo Alcoholics Anonymous K-W Counselling Services K-W Multicultural Centre LLangs Lutherwood Children's Mental Health Services MMarigold Whole Life Centre Mood Disorders Association for Waterloo Region Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region OOK2BME PPioneer Youth Services SSexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region Shalom Counselling Services Sikh Family Helpline St. Mary's Counselling Services Sunbeam Developmental Resource Centre TTalk4Healing Talk Suicide Canada Telecare Cambridge Distress Centre The Delton Glebe Counselling Centre Thresholds Home and Supports Together for Perinatal Mental Health UUniversity of Waterloo Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment VVictim Services of Waterloo Region WWaterloo Region Family Network Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council Wellness Together Canada Wilmot Family Resource Centre Wings of Change – Peer Support Woolwich Counselling Centre Wounded Warriors Canada YYMCA of Three Rivers - EarlyON Waterloo Region Youth Line |
Contact the team
You can reach out to individual team members with contact information in their bios or send an email to diversityandinclusion@waterloo.ca or indigenousinitiatives@waterloo.ca.