Nova Scotia still struggles with inclusion in the workplace, panel hears

A true diverse community, including job sites, offices and other workplaces, must be a microcosm of society, an African Heritage Month event heard Tuesday

CITYnews halifax \ Michael Lightstone

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A true diverse community, including job sites, offices and other workplaces, must be a microcosm of society, an African Heritage Month event heard Tuesday.

And although Nova Scotia is a more diverse province than it used to be, it struggles with inclusion, a virtual discussion hosted by Dalhousie University was told.

“I believe that we cannot really reap the benefits of diversity and inclusion (until they are) present in every aspect of our community – workplaces, schools, church and … in government,” said panelist Tiwa Ogundipe, a policy analyst with the provincial Justice Department.

She said diversity helps encourage productivity at work.

Studies show companies with more diverse staff “are more likely to perform better,” Ogundipe said.

Panel member Angela Simmonds, the Liberal MLA representing Preston, said diversity is one issue, inclusion is another.

“We are already a diverse province,” she said. “The things that we struggle with the most are inclusion.”

Ogundipe said inclusivity at work, for her, means more than symbolic representation from staffers from various minority communities.

“It means … people of diverse talents and backgrounds exist, and they’re not just there because they want to be on the cover of the company or the (government) department website,” she said.

“They’re there because they’re consulted” and get involved in the decision-making process, Ogundipe said.

Simmonds said inclusion at work goes beyond cultural backgrounds and can involve social events.

For instance, she said, a lot of work-related social functions include alcohol.

“We need to be mindful and start thinking: ‘Well, who may suffer from alcoholism,’” Simmonds said. “So, by offering (liquor) and not offering an alternative, who are we excluding?”

Panel member Suzy Hansen, NDP MLA for Halifax Needham acknowledged progress on the diversity-and-inclusion front can be sluggish.

“Change takes time, and not everyone is on board,” she said.

Hansen said “communication is key,” regarding working with employers, colleagues and other employees.

“Working within an organization that is open to listening, valuing their employees’ input, respecting and embracing cultural differences is one part of making people feel welcome,” she said.

Hansen said “we know that the system isn’t designed for most of us. And that means that it’s not as inclusive or as diverse as we’d like it to be.”

But, she said, “we can continue to use our voices and speak about that and raise these questions.”

Hansen and Simmonds are two of four Black MLAs in the provincial legislature, a record number of African-Nova Scotians at Province House.

Last Friday, Simmonds announced she’s seeking the provincial Liberal leader’s job. In January, Iain Rankin announced he would be stepping down from the post.

Tuesday’s panel talk was presented by Dal’s Black Student Advising Centre and the Halifax-based Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society. Jalana Lewis, Dalhousie’s director of African-Nova Scotian community engagement, was the event’s moderator.

Last month, a virtual discussion hosted by the university heard the province’s Black communities would benefit from more African-Nova Scotian decision makers in elected positions and senior civil service posts.

The provincial government has an “action plan” for diversity and inclusion in the public service. It covers the years 2019 to 2024.

More information can be found here.

A recently released report from the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, on diversity and inclusion in this region, is available online.

February is African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia.

Michael Lightstone is a freelance reporter living in Dartmouth