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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reaching out to the diverse cultural communities of Canada.

Canada is a nation that is flourishing in the twenty-first century. Our country is enjoying a booming economy, promoting a safe and secure environment, and hosting a growing population that is richly diverse and that is continuing to evolve.The Government of Canada recognizes the value of our diversity and is striving to be representative of the population it serves and to deliver services in a manner that is culturally sensitive.

As part of its efforts to support inclusiveness,AAFC is undertaking a diversity project in partnership with the Department of Canadian Heritage. The goal is to “Make AAFC a Centre of Excellence by promoting diversity, respect and connections between employees and clients.”

What do we want to achieve?

Throughout this special project, AAFC's efforts will be focused on better understanding the changing needs of the Canadian population. Our aim is to:

• Create a workplace for employees which fosters an understanding of the many culturally diverse clients we serve;
• Promote the values of diversity and respect within program and policy development, and service delivery; and
• Introduce new avenues of communications and carry out an ongoing dialogue with Canada's changing population.

How will these goals be achieved?

AAFC is engaging in an outreach initiative to make connections between employees and clients from the ethnocultural and Aboriginal communities.

Special Events/Activities

For AAFC clients and employees

• Regional Diversity Committees
  Regional Diversity Committees have been set up in which AAFC employees and multicultural community members will be able to collaborate in outreach ventures.
  Atlantic – Quebec – National Capital Region – Ontario – Prairies – British Columbia

• Regional Roundtables
  This is a place to start an ongoing dialogue between ethnocultural and Aboriginal clients of AAFC and its employees. These informal discussions will be held across the country to better understand the changing needs of the diverse Canadian population and to identify new opportunities. Feedback from the Roundtables will be shared with clients in order to continuously improve our services.
  Regional Roundtables - March | Discussion Topics

• Collaborative On-line tool
  A web conferencing application has been developed to serve as a tool for internal and external users to facilitate discussions within committees and to share information between regions.

For AAFC employees only

• Diversity Awareness Sessions
  For all AAFC employees, cultural enhancement sessions will be ongoing throughout the country to raise diversity awareness in the department.

• Employee Diversity Surveys
  Pre-and-post-Project employee surveys will be conducted in an effort to benchmark where the department stands and where it can improve regarding diversity and service delivery.

Our commitment and service

We are committed to creating a healthy workplace in which differences are valued, and to developing policies and programs that take into account the diverse peoples we serve.

AAFC's inclusiveness policy is a long-term strategy aimed at making continuous improvements in our work environment and in the way we deliver public service.

Collaboration, participation, enthusiasm … success!

We invite you to join us in the outreach efforts to build bridges and make connections with Canada's diverse communities by participating in discussions and making your voices heard.

For more information please contact us at orchestra-diversity-diversite@agr.gc.ca

Our Partners

• The Department of Canadian Heritage
• Urban and rural ethnocultural and Aboriginal communities of Canada