NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA EDI ROUNDTABLE
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The Orillia community will have a strong leadership team of volunteers to support the advancement of equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) following the appointment of these ten local community representatives selected for the diverse range of skills, lived experience, representation, and perspectives they bring to the needs of the Roundtable at this time.
- Aaron Switzer
- Alasoba Kelsy-Braide
- Celeste Lalumiere
- Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux
- Ellen Cohen
- Jonathan Erua
- Krystal Brooks
- Pelagie Atemena Tetejeu
- Stephen Davids
- Wesley Erskine
A total of 18 people expressed interest in the leadership team with diverse lived experience and skills, an awareness of the social challenges impacting racialized and marginalized persons and a demonstrated commitment as a change agent in EDI matters in the community.
“We are very excited to have had so many people express interest in the leadership team,” said Alasoba Kelsy-Braide, one of the founding members who spearheaded the creation of the EDI roundtable and its endorsement by Council.
“Orillia is growing and changing with many people like me moving to the area from all over the world. Ensuring that they feel represented, heard and supported, including seeing themselves in the leadership team, is important to breaking down barriers for those who are racialized, marginalized, underserved and underrepresented," Kelsy-Braide said.
Work on the Orillia EDI Roundtable started in 2021 with the voices of Alasoba Kelsey Braide, Wesley Erskine, and Tshweu Moleme looking to establish an advisory body with a mandate to develop strategies, policies and programs to combat racism and discrimination and ensure Orillia is an inclusive and welcoming community.
“Our vision is to help the City of Orillia build an inclusive Orillia where all feel welcome, celebrated, and a sense of belonging,” said Wesley Erskine. “The Roundtable wasn’t something that came out of an act of hate or violence, but rather out of a desire to establish a platform to support the community in its efforts to listen, understand and celebrate the diverse voices who call Orillia home and help curb acts of hate, racism and discrimination.”
Committed to developing an Orillia-centric approach grounded in local voices and best practices, the group worked with City staff on public consultation and best practices over 2022 and used the information gathered to guide its final recommendation to establish a community-led EDI Roundtable.
Orillia City Council endorsed the EDI Roundtable as a sounding board on matters related to equity, diversity and inclusion; address acts of hate, discrimination and racism, inform municipal policy and practices; and give voice to the needs and ideas of diverse members for an inclusive community.
“City Council and staff are committed to improving the lives of our residents through programming, policy and capital investments that reflect the needs and interests of everyone living in our city,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “We look forward to connecting with the EDI Roundtable to take steps together to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and reflected in all that we do.”
The appointment is just one step in the Roundtable’s evolution, and is not meant to invalidate, discredit or judge the skills, lived experience, and diverse perspectives of others. Everyone has a role in the work of the EDI Roundtable. That of the leadership team will be to help bring the community together through the Roundtable to find meaningful ways to support these diverse voices, particularly those in our community experiencing racialization, discrimination and marginalization, over the short, medium and long-term.
For the present time, the Orillia EDI Roundtable will continue to post information on the City’s website at orillia.ca/ediroundtable until it can establish its own web presence. To reach the Orillia EDI Roundtable, email [email protected].
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