Purpose

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County (BBBSPC) is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe environment where all individuals are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

This policy applies to employees, Board members, volunteers, children, youth, families, contractors, community partners, and others participating in BBBSPC programs or activities.

Scope

This policy applies to employees, Board members, volunteers, children, youth, families.

Our Commitment

BBBSPC recognizes and values the diversity of the individuals and communities we serve. We are committed to:

  • Promoting equitable access to employment, programs, services, and volunteer opportunities;
  • Identifying and reducing barriers to participation;
  • Supporting inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive practices;
  • Respecting diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences;
  • Providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with applicable human rights legislation; and
  • Supporting ongoing learning related to equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and cultural safety.

Reconciliation and Cultural Safety

BBBSPC recognizes the histories, cultures, rights, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and African Nova Scotians and acknowledges the continuing impacts of colonization, residential schools, racism, discrimination, and systemic barriers.

BBBSPC is committed to advancing reconciliation, equity, and meaningful inclusion through ongoing learning, respectful relationships, community engagement, and culturally responsive practices.

Cultural safety requires ongoing attention to power imbalances, racism, discrimination and systemic barriers. Whether an environment or interaction is culturally safe is informed by the experience of the individual receiving the service or participating in the relationship.

Expectations

Employees, Board members, volunteers, and others acting on behalf of BBBSPC are expected to demonstrate cultural humility and treat others with dignity and respect.

Discrimination, racism, harassment, exclusion, stereotyping, or other conduct that undermines an inclusive and culturally safe environment will not be tolerated.

BBBSPC prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any characteristic protected under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act in employment, volunteer involvement and access to programs, services and facilities.

BBBSPC recognizes that equity does not always mean treating everyone in the same way. Individual circumstances, accessibility needs, cultural considerations, and systemic barriers may require different approaches to support equitable participation.

Accommodation

Employees, volunteers, applicants and individuals accessing BBBSPC services may request accommodation by contacting their supervisor, the Executive Director or another designated individual. BBBSPC will work collaboratively with the individual to identify a reasonable accommodation to the point of undue hardship. Information related to an accommodation request will be limited to what is reasonably necessary and treated confidentially.

 

Reporting and Accountability

Concerns related to discrimination, exclusion, or culturally unsafe practices should be reported to the Executive Director (or designate). Where the concern involves the Executive Director or a conflict of interest exists, it may be reported to the Board Chair (President) or designate.

Concerns will be addressed respectfully, fairly, and as confidentially as reasonably possible. BBBSPC will not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

Everyone associated with BBBSPC shares responsibility for contributing to an inclusive, equitable, respectful, and culturally safe environment.