Peterborough Workplace Inclusion Charter

The Peterborough Workplace Inclusion Charter (WIC) is a multi-partner toolkit for businesses and organizations to foster a welcoming and inclusive community through employee attraction and retention. It is a set of commitments voluntarily adopted by employers to increase inclusive practices and to promote the integration of newcomers, women, 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, racialized peoples, and persons with disabilities in the workplace.

The development of the Charter is led by a steering committee comprised of representatives from different sectors and who work with various aspects of diversity.

For more information, please contact Michelle Nguyen, Peterborough Immigration Partnership Officer at [email protected].

What have we done so far?

Survey of Immigrant Needs 2023 and Report on Findings
Desk-based research
Meetings with community representatives

Trent Community-Based Research – students conducting environmental scans and literature reviews (posters 1, 2 and 3)

Learned from practitioners of Workplace Inclusion Charters
Formed a Steering Committee to guide the design of the delivery model

Steering Committee 2023-2024

Jennifer Lamantia

Workforce Development Board

(Chair)

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As CEO of Workforce Development Board (WDB), Jennifer leads the delivery of responsive workforce development solutions through a range of services, resources, and partnerships. Prior to joining WDB, Jennifer spent many years in educational publishing supporting workforce development and career pathways through her work in education textbook development, acquisitions and sales.

Her accomplishments also include managing the development and implementation of new and innovative services for the education and corporate sectors with over 12 years' experience in business development with a national not-for-profit.

Tenesia Benjamin

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board

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Tenesia Benjamin (Benjamin) is a leading authority in equal opportunity, equity and inclusive policy. Benjamin holds a Masters of Science in International Trade Policy, Bachelors of Science Degree in International Relations with a minor in Politics from the University of the West Indies, and a postgraduate program in Human Resource Management from Niagara College.

Benjamin has worked with government and non-governmental organizations in sustainable development, human rights, equity and inclusion restructuring programs involving strategic advising and policy augmentation to stimulate meaningful progress. She has also worked with charities and not-for profit organizations in North America, Europe, East Africa and the Caribbean to develop evidence-based recommendations for policies and institutional reform, and create space for equity-seeking groups to advocate for increased access to opportunities.

In her current role as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisor at the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland, and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic School Board, Benjamin serves as the Board’s champion for EDI strategic plans. Benjamin remains dedicated to disrupting mechanisms of oppression and exclusion, while developing strategic partnerships that can advance, support, and reinforce the importance of collective responsibility and meaningful action with respect to the EDI space and its related initiatives.

Drew Whatman

Rainbow Service Organization

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Drew graduated from the Accounting program at Fleming College in 2021, and the Graphic Communications Management program at the Toronto Metropolitan University in 2012. He is a proud queer neurodivergent trans man. He is active in the 2SLGBTQIA community through his work as an Organizing Member of Peterborough Pride, Board Member of the Rainbow Service Organization, and other community groups.

Drew works as the Campaign and Outreach Officer with CUPE 3908, a bookkeeper, and a freelance graphic designer.

Elisha Rubacha

United Way Peterborough & District

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Elisha Rubacha has lived in Peterborough since 2009 and completed her BA in English Literature at Trent in 2013. Throughout her time at Trent, she worked at several university-based non-profits, including the Seasoned Spoon Café, Kawartha World Issues Centre, and Arthur Newspaper.

After graduating, Elisha continued her work in the sector, first at Seeds of Change, then at Nourish for five and a half years. She also volunteered as a board member of the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, and the Electric City Culture Council, and had extensive involvement in the development of Peterborough’s Food Charter.

Now Elisha is delighted to be the Community Impact Officer at United Way Peterborough & District, where she has the opportunity to apply her research, facilitation, and advocacy skills. Elisha is also an artist, writer, micro-press publisher, hiker, backpacker, and staunch basic income advocate. She
is excited to be a part of creating Peterborough’s own Workplace Inclusion Charter.

Meghan Sterpin

Peterborough Regional Health Centre

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Meghan Sterpin has over 20 years of experience working in the field of Human Resources. She holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) and is an active member of the Peterborough Chapter.

Her path in HR began as a student volunteer at university and has developed into a life-long career. She has been an HR Leader in various sectors such as Financial, Food Services, Aeronautical, Not for Profit and now Health Care. Meghan brings a Generalist's lens to her roles in HR and has a leadership style that is positive and empowering.

Meghan relocated to the Peterborough area from the GTA and has most recently joined the HR team at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. The fast pace and dynamic environment is one that she enjoys as well as helping to shape the culture of the largest employer in the Peterborough community. Meghan is a life-long learner and volunteer, and has enjoyed her time supporting members of the New Canadians Centre.

Rebecca Wasson

Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services

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As a member of the Fleming College, Muskoka-Kawarthas Employment Services Team, Rebecca is an Employment and Retention Specialist working with 17 employment service providers across the Muskoka-Kawarthas region to support inclusive programming, services, and work environments for job seekers. She develops strategies and initiatives to increase employers' awareness of the importance of inclusive work environments, and the role they can play in sustainable employment and retention.

Michelle Nguyen

New Canadians Centre

(Staff Lead)

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Michelle has a BA in History and International Development Studies from Trent University and an MA in Immigration and Settlement Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. After graduating, she interned with the International Organization for Migration and conducted research with the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration program to better understand why migrants moved to and stayed in non-gateway Canadian cities. In addition to her research background, she has also designed programs for youth to participate in arts-based storytelling, civic engagement education, and leadership-development activities.

Inspired by the increasing diversity and growth of Peterborough-Nogojiwanong since her family’s resettlement here from Vietnam in the early 1980s, Michelle is looking forward to collaborating with partners via the Peterborough Immigration Partnership to create a more inclusive and welcoming community where newcomers can thrive and are valued.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, singing, catching up with friends, and watching movies and shows from around the world.

Key Takeaways

Employer engagement during the planning process is important
Project success is enhanced with phased approach i.e. start with pilot
Having Champion employers and examples of best practices as an effective buy-in strategy and resource
Importance of tailoring the Charter to local community’s needs
the WIC meets employers where they are, and then they go beyond the WIC
It is an ongoing and evolving learning process

Next Steps

Developing a Pilot Model with the Steering Committee
Seek employer/partner engagement & feedback