ADRIA is an organization dedicated to promoting, delivering and improving justice and access to justice in Alberta. We have long valued and drawn strength from our diversity as leaders in this field. We strive to respect individuals based on their integrity, knowing we have much work to do.
Racism and discrimination are an undeniable part of our collective history in Canada. ADRIA is committed to speaking out against racism and discrimination in all its forms and to ensuring our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our training, policies, and operations. We need to listen more and learn more as we work together to ensure racism and other forms of discrimination have no place in our future.
We are dedicated to working with ADRIC and our fellow regional affiliates, our members, clients, colleagues, and all others in the pursuit of justice, diversity and reconciliation.
ADRIA’s Board of Directors and its working group are committed to pursuing an action plan that will add substance to their reflections on diversity and social justice. We invite our members to send their thoughts, feedback and suggestions to board@adralberta.com
The ADRIA Board of Directors wishes to thank Sam Sele, Sharon Roberts, Amin Poonja, Barrie Marshall and Ali Ansell for their contributions to this important Board discussion, and would especially like to acknowledge the insights and contributions of Jereme Brooks at a national level.
ADR Institute of Canada : Statement on Diversity & Social Justice
At its November 2019 Conference, ADRIC led a consultative session about Indigenous issues and the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The consultation was well-attended and led to the development of a Indigenous Perspectives Working Group which was tasked with providing the ADRIC Board of Directors a condensed history lesson for its May 2020 meetings. The group shared their perspective on what “went wrong” after settlers arrived in Canada (what Indigenous people have had to deal with including laws that have been imposed upon them without their input) and information for the Board to consider in determining how it wishes to continue the journey.
In June, ADRIC was challenged to provide a response to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The Board reflected and decided that actions truly speak louder than words.
As leaders in dispute resolution we no longer wish to remain inactive while our racialized colleagues, clients and friends experience injustices. We have the privilege to be able to advocate for positive change.
We value diversity and respect individuals based on their integrity and want to provide an opportunity for those in the mainstream to listen, learn, reflect and grow.
In consultation with its working group, ADRIC have developed and presented a series of eight well-attended professional development webinars in 2020 that served to shed light on unconscious bias, racism, discrimination and inequality faced by Black, Indigenous and marginalized groups across Canada, and what it means for the ADR community.
Diversity in ADR: Ethics and Inclusion – Series of Eight Webinars
