The learning environment reflects the diversity of the children in the ELC and the world in which they live. The environment reflects cultural sensitivity and where appropriate incorporates each child’s cultural heritage into the centre’s day-to-day activities. It is an environment that does not exclude or stereotype people on the basis of age, gender, colour, ethnicity, economic status, sexuality, culture, or physical ability/mental ability, and appearance. We prohibit behaviour that is sexist or racist as well as violent play including the use of toy weapons.
The children are taught to respect the religious and ethnic heritage of the different groups that make up Canadian society. The teachers may discuss and incorporate representations of the celebrations and traditions of different communities as appropriate for the ages and expressed interests of the children in their rooms. Care is taken to avoid not only ethnic and racial stereotypes but gender type-casting as well.
In keeping with this philosophy and in accordance with the collective agreements between the ELC and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the United Steelworkers (USW), which represents the staff, the ELC identifies itself as an equal opportunity work place. Employment practices which discriminate on the grounds of race, creed, colour, national origin, political or religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family relationship, and disability is prohibited by or within the ELC. (Ref: CUPE Collective Agreement, Article 2.03 No Discrimination, USW Collective Agreement, Article 3.01)
ELC is committed to service children and families and to the protection of children, families, staff, volunteers and students from discriminatory behaviour. The ELC also strongly supports the Human Rights Code Section 4 (s), which “provides that every person has a right to freedom from discrimination…” The Code applies to the actions of people in the workplace itself (employment practices) and to the provision of service (child care) to the public. The staff at the ELC is responsible for ensuring that this requirement of the Human Rights Code is carried out.
This procedure applies to children, service users (parent/guardian, family members), and to ELC persons (volunteers, students, staff and Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) members).
(Entire Access & Inclusion Statement & Procedures to Address Incidents of Discrimination is available in the office)