Equity - Phase 2
EQUITY CIRCLES
One illustration of intersectional power, privilege & marginalization is the Wheel of Power/Privilege from Sylvia Duckworth (https://sylviaduckworth.com/), which you can see depicted below. Sylvia says, “Wheels like this help us visualize what the term ‘marginalization’ means: The further you are from power, the more marginalized and powerless you are.”
Further detail about the Wheel of Power / Privilege can be found in this article by Andy Swindler.
When developing policy or practice within an organization, the following questions need to be considered at the very beginning to guide the development process with an equity lens.
- Who will benefit?
- Who will be excluded?
- What contributes to or creates the exclusion?
- What promotes inclusion?
Examples of Bringing Equity to Public Policy
Comox Valley examples where success has been attained in developing practice or policy by including systematically excluded people provide some guidelines to support jurisdictions or agencies in developing policies with an equity lens.
Example #1: Indigenous Harm Reduction, Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society
The Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society utilizes deep rooted equity principles in applying Indigenous Harm Reduction protocols to support its membership.
Executive Director, Patty Alvarado explains:
Patty Alvarado – click on image above for video
Hello, My name is Patti Alvarado. Today, I’ll be speaking to you about the work of the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society and one of our vital programs: Unbroken Chain, an Indigenous Harm Reduction initiative.
Equity isn’t just a buzzword, though it’s often misunderstood. We sometimes think it means simply giving everyone the same thing. But true equity recognizes that people start from different places and have different needs. For Unbroken Chain, this means understanding and directly addressing the unique barriers faced by individuals, and crucially, providing direct support not only to individuals but also to their families and others impacted by the toxic drug poisoning epidemic and addressing the intersecting social issues that fuel this crisis, including the ongoing impacts of colonization.
Unbroken Chain developed as an Indigenous and peer-led program, our services are rooted in trauma-informed care that creates equity in the community by elevating those most impacted. The leadership and delivery are driven by those with firsthand understanding, creating support that truly resonates and builds trust by meeting people and their loved ones where they are.
This deep understanding of equity extends right into the heart of the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society’s leadership. We provide invaluable guidance, ensuring Indigenous perspectives are central
to every decision made for all of our programs, including Unbroken Chain. And crucially, our leadership is enriched by the wisdom of individuals with lived and living experience of substance use. This lived reality shapes our strategies, ensuring that support is not just theoretical but genuinely meets the needs of the community served by Unbroken Chain, reflecting its foundational development as an Indigenous and peer-led initiative that elevates lived experience and understands the profound impacts of the toxic drug poisoning epidemic and its roots in intersecting social issues like colonization.
Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society are demonstrating that when programs are rooted in community-driven development and a deep understanding of equity and its ripple effects within the context of historical and ongoing colonization, transformational change happens. To learn more about the vital work of the Indigenous Women’s Sharing Society and our Indigenous and peer-led program, Unbroken Chain, and how you can support in our crucial work with individuals, families, and the wider community impacted by the toxic drug poisoning epidemic and its intersecting social issues, Facebook page or website at iwss.ca.
Chi Miigwetch
Patti Alvarado
Example #2: Strategic Cultural Plan, City of Courtenay
During the development of its Strategic Cultural Plan, the City of Courtenay engaged members of several equity priority groups through focused consultation sessions. These groups included Indigenous community members, and representatives of people with accessibility needs, individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, newcomers to Canada, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. For example, a dedicated session led by the Coordinator of the Comox Valley Accessibility Committee created space for participants to share their experiences with accessing cultural activities in Courtenay.
The valuable perspectives gathered through these sessions informed the draft report released in November 2023 and played a key role in ensuring that equity and accessibility were meaningfully reflected in the goals, objectives, and actions of the final Strategic Cultural Plan, adopted by City of Courtenay Council in March 2025.
Joy Chan- click on the image above for video
Engaging equity priority groups was a vital part of developing the City of Courtenay’s Strategic Cultural Plan, ensuring the resulting vision and roadmap truly reflect the diversity of the community. By amplifying the voices of Indigenous community members, people with accessibility needs, those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, newcomers to Canada, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, the City recognized that meaningful participation must involve those who have historically faced barriers to having their voices heard. This approach was guided by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and aligned with the City’s Official Community Plan (2022) cardinal directions. The insights gathered helped shape a plan that not only celebrates the impact and value of arts and culture in Courtenay but also positions it as a vibrant, sustainable cultural hub that represents all residents. The Strategic Cultural Plan reinforces the City’s commitment to ensuring that arts and culture are integral to everyday life for everyone in the community.
Joy Chan
Manager of Business Administration
City of Courtenay
Example #3: North Island College
In February 2023, North Island College established its first Accessibility Advisory Committee. The committee consists of NIC community members including students, staff and faculty. Membership includes those with lived experience of disabilities and those who support people with disabilities. The North Island Students’ Union Accessibility and Equity Director has a seat along with the North Island Student Union staff to represent student voices at the table. This supports the identification, removal and prevention of digital and physical barriers to accessibility for persons with disabilities including NIC students, employees and visitors.
North Island College’s Accessibility Plan can be seen here. It provides information about the College’s multi-campus work towards increased accessibility between 2023 and 2026.
Example #4: Comox Valley Accessibility Audit
A partnership between the Comox Valley Accessibility Committee, the City of Courtenay, SPARC BC, BC Healthy Communities, and the Comox Valley Community Health Network enabled people with disabilities to actively participate in an Accessibility Audit of the Comox Valley.
SPARC BC provided the technology, hardware, and training to use an application called Field Maps to conduct the audits. Supported by two contractors, people with disabilities were paid to conduct accessibility audits throughout the Valley. Municipal buildings in Courtenay, Comox, and Cumberland were audited and, at the time of this report, buildings within the Comox Valley Regional District are in line to be audited.
SPARC BC’s contribution allowed the funds the Community Health Network had allocated for an audit to be paid directly to the people doing audits. A total of 24 auditors, including four support staff/family members, conducted the audits after receiving training. Auditors were assigned locations near where they live, with a few completing audits across the Valley.
This experience has highlighted and validated volunteer work I did in 2009 in which I chose to highlight what “works” to encourage the process. Now having tools to document and having expert oversight in analysis provides and encourages better objective data. I think it is critical that participants are persons using the facilities, have lived experience, and reside within the community. Our accountability and our desire to collaborate within our community can make this a very positive experience for everyone. On a personal note, I actually have greater optimism for the Town of Comox because of the audit. I see the possibilities and the potential, as it will meet the need for strategic and inclusive change.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this exercise.
Karin Kratz
Example #5: Comox Valley Regional Accessibility Committee
When the Province of British Columbia implemented Accessibility Legislation requirements, the Comox Valley looked inwards and created a unique framework for developing a regional committee. With four jurisdictions in the Comox Valley, there was concern that the work of each community would be done in a ‘silo’ and that work could be replicated multiple times.
Taking the lead in developing a Regional Accessibility Framework, the Comox Valley Regional District consulted extensively with the Comox Valley Social Planning and Accessibility Committee, and the three municipalities to create a regional framework. The Framework provides annual funds for the Regional Accessibility Committee operations, and provides guidelines for how the Committee can provide guidance to the four jurisdictions it supports.
The Framework Document, found here, describes how the Regional Access Committee works and how it upholds strong commitments to accessibility. The report was reviewed and edited by a professional Plain Language editor, Iva Chung (https://ivacheung.com/) before implementation. The report emphasizes the vitality of having people with lived experience participate in all areas of accessibility work and that they should be paid for this work.
Example #6: Senior Support North Vancouver Island (formerly Comox Valley Senior Support)
When the Senior Support North Vancouver Island needed a wizard to manage technical matters for its monthly Community Education series, they hired an openly non-binary person with disabilities for the job. The position provides only minimal hours per month, but pays the same hourly rate, well above the local living wage, that all other front line staff working with the agency receive. Supports are in place to assist the employee to get to and from work and complete any paperwork required. However, they have absolute discretion at how they manage all the technical matters that are presented to them and, more than one year into the position, they continue to expand their knowledge about the role they already have great competence in.
Shasta Steadman – click on image above for video
I would like to take a moment to express my deep gratitude for the amazing opportunity to work with Senior Support North Vancouver Island. The dedication, commitment, and unwavering enthusiasm for the various community projects we’ve undertaken are nothing short of incredible. I am truly grateful for the kindness and support I have received from each of you, which has made me feel like an integral part of the team.
I am thrilled to continue working together on projects that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Please do not hesitate to contact me if there are any upcoming initiatives or events where I can be of assistance.
Once again, thank you for this incredible opportunity, and please extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who have welcomed me into their ranks. I look forward to the future and all the meaningful work we will accomplish together.
Best regards, Shasta Steadman