CHAPTER 07 Beyond Gender: Diversity and Inclusiveness Now and Going Forward
Spotlight: Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and The BlackNorth Initiative
above, the Council is committed to dismantling anti- Black systemic barriers affecting the lives of Black Canadians. It hopes to increase the representation of Black people in Canadian boardrooms and executive offices while also ensuring that companies actually follow through on their diversity statements and take concrete action to support Black employees and the Black community more broadly. 148 On July 20, 2020, the Council held its virtual inaugural BlackNorth Initiative Summit, to which it invited senior leaders from the top 250 TSX-listed issuers, over 100 of the largest private businesses in Canada, major banks, insurance companies, international companies with a significant presence in Canada, and the largest asset managers and institutional investors in Canada. At the summit, organizations were asked to sign a CEO Pledge and to deliver a statement regarding what they will do to combat the issue of systemic racism and to make society free from anti-Black systemic racism. 149 Signatories to the CEO Pledge commit, among other things, to the following seven goals in an effort to end anti-Black systemic racism in Canada and to create opportunities for under-represented groups: 150 1 Increase their efforts to make workplaces trusting places to have complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about anti-Black systemic racism and ensure that no barriers exist to prevent Black employees from advancing within the company.
“For too long too many have said, ‘this is not my problem’; that anti-Black systemic racism and hate are somehow distant from the lives we live here in Canada. I am pleased to join with Mr. Dodig, Mr. Watsa, and Ms. Dagher to say enough is enough, it’s time for anti-Black systemic racism to end. As a first step, the BlackNorth Initiative will ask corporate leaders across Canada to pledge their organizations to policies and specific targets to end systemic anti-Black systemic racism. For companies who consider themselves diverse, hold that statement up against your board and your executive team – how many Blacks
do you see?” – Wes Hall 147
The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti- Black Systemic Racism (Council) and the BlackNorth Initiative have been gaining widespread support and recognition since their on page launch in June 2020. The Council and the BlackNorth Initiative are being led by prominent Canadian business leaders Wes Hall (executive chairman & founder, Kingsdale Advisors); Rola Dagher (president & CEO, Cisco Canada); Victor Dodig (president & CEO, CIBC); and Prem Watsa (chairman & CEO, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited). As discussed
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Davies | dwpv.com
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