CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas.
What does that mean?
At CMHA Kelowna equity means the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups.
When we say diversity, we are including all the ways in which one individual or group can be different from another. At CMHA Kelowna that means diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. Imbedded within this is diversity of thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and values.
Inclusion at CMHA Kelowna is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued in order to fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate that embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people.
It is this lens of equity, diversity and inclusion, and the values that come with it, that is embedded in the work we do everyday.