By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg has announced the launch of a new program on Engage Cobourg, its on-line public-engagement platform designed to gather residents' feedback and comments.

These are being sought on the new draft Equity, Diversion and Inclusion Strategy. As well, the town encourages residents to share stories of forms of discrimination they have experienced or witnessed. This input will help shape the strategy as part of the town's commitment towards the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities.

The draft strategy has more than 80 recommended actions to take place over the next five years, and municipal staff have created three phases for its roll-out in order to ensure proper staffing, funding and time spent on the action items.

Phase One – Internal Strengthening of Equity, Diversion and Inclusion – To create more cultural competence in leadership and staff to engage meaningfully with residents, phase one works on internal practices to develop the tools, resources and understanding they need to engage meaningfully with residents and their diverse needs.

Phase Two – Audit and Assess Goods, Programs, Services and Information – To ensure divers needs are being taken into consideration, staffers will work to audit and assess the way they create, advertise, adjust and assess the success of goods, programs, services and information. This coincides with the EDI Lens creation and implementation, an assessment tool that uses checklists and self-reflection

Phase Three – Collaborate and Build More Inclusive Practices – This phase includes more awareness, understanding and collaboration with such partners as Cobourg's urban Indigenous population and Alderville First Nation. As these foundations are built, the town will continue to implement ideas from the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“During this project and process, we are committed to listening and learning, creating programs and actions based on suggestions, and making sure we're approaching this as the Town of Cobourg,” the announcement said.

“We are asking the public for feedback on what to prioritize, adjust, change and focus on as we continue on our EDI journey.”

You can visit engagecobourg.ca to view the project, take the survey, join the forums and learn more.

The town encourages residents to create a profile on-line and participate in current public-engagement projects. Visit the site and click on the Register Today! Button. For more information, including help registering, email communications@cobourg.ca.