Healthy Communities • Y Stories
YMCA of Greater Toronto again one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers
02 March 2018 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
For Nazila Mirani, an Employment Programs Director at the YMCA of Greater Toronto, the Y is like a second home — a “true reflection of the communities we serve in the GTA” through our wide range of programs and services.
“Throughout my years at the YMCA, I have been blessed and privileged to be part of this wonderful community,” Nazila says. “I have closely observed how diversity and social inclusion has helped our organization to flourish and become one of the most dynamic work environments in Canada.”
We are proud to announce that, thanks to the dedication of team members like Nazila, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2018. This is the seventh time we have received this prestigious award, which recognizes workplaces that embrace diversity and create inclusive environments.
At the Y, we value the rich diversity that our staff and volunteers bring to their work and interactions every day. As an organization, we are honoured to nurture this diversity and support inclusion by fostering welcoming spaces, addressing barriers to inclusion and providing meaningful learning and development opportunities for staff and volunteers through which they can increase self-awareness and broaden their diversity and social inclusion lens.
As a Newcomer Youth Advisor who works with young people from a huge range of cultural backgrounds, Andrew Kowalchuk feels supported by this ongoing commitment to continuous learning and diversity and social inclusion. “The freedom to be engaged and challenge myself has contributed to a workplace of continual learning where I’ve been able to harness the YMCA to create affirmative spaces for all people to embrace their own identities,” he says. Andrew also sees diversity and social inclusion as cornerstones for effective leadership: “The YMCA has allowed me to encourage people to be themselves with confidence, and that is where leadership starts.”
Diversity and social inclusion, it all its many dimensions, is vital to building and strengthening connections within our communities, starting with our team of staff and volunteers. “At the YMCA, we are all packaged differently and yet we get together and work well together towards our common Mission, Vision and Values,” says Geeta Gluck, Specialist, Finance-Fundraising and Financial Analysis.
Being selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers is a great honour for the Y. We believe that harnessing diversity and social inclusion empowers us all to achieve our potential, and is vital to our vision of helping individuals and communities lead healthier lives.
“Throughout my years at the YMCA, I have been blessed and privileged to be part of this wonderful community,” Nazila says. “I have closely observed how diversity and social inclusion has helped our organization to flourish and become one of the most dynamic work environments in Canada.”
We are proud to announce that, thanks to the dedication of team members like Nazila, the YMCA of Greater Toronto has been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2018. This is the seventh time we have received this prestigious award, which recognizes workplaces that embrace diversity and create inclusive environments.
At the Y, we value the rich diversity that our staff and volunteers bring to their work and interactions every day. As an organization, we are honoured to nurture this diversity and support inclusion by fostering welcoming spaces, addressing barriers to inclusion and providing meaningful learning and development opportunities for staff and volunteers through which they can increase self-awareness and broaden their diversity and social inclusion lens.
As a Newcomer Youth Advisor who works with young people from a huge range of cultural backgrounds, Andrew Kowalchuk feels supported by this ongoing commitment to continuous learning and diversity and social inclusion. “The freedom to be engaged and challenge myself has contributed to a workplace of continual learning where I’ve been able to harness the YMCA to create affirmative spaces for all people to embrace their own identities,” he says. Andrew also sees diversity and social inclusion as cornerstones for effective leadership: “The YMCA has allowed me to encourage people to be themselves with confidence, and that is where leadership starts.”
Diversity and social inclusion, it all its many dimensions, is vital to building and strengthening connections within our communities, starting with our team of staff and volunteers. “At the YMCA, we are all packaged differently and yet we get together and work well together towards our common Mission, Vision and Values,” says Geeta Gluck, Specialist, Finance-Fundraising and Financial Analysis.
Being selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers is a great honour for the Y. We believe that harnessing diversity and social inclusion empowers us all to achieve our potential, and is vital to our vision of helping individuals and communities lead healthier lives.
