TOWARDS TORONTO Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report 2013

Transcription

1 TOWARDS TORONTO 2015 Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report 2013

2 ii Table of Contents 1. Message from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer Introduction Setting the Context Games Overview Diversity, Inclusion and Multi sport Games Spotlight on Sport What are the Pan American/Parapan American Games? The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Sports Leading and Influencing in Sport The Role of Volunteers Athlete Advisory Council Sport Legacy and Sport Legacy Fund Legacy of New Facilities Parasport Movement Parapan Planning and Integration National Paralympic Capacity Building The Next Phase...15 Strategy Streams...16 Strategic Objectives...16 Implementation Framework...16 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies...17 Strategic objective: Economic Opportunities...17 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies...21 Strategic Objective: Economic Opportunities...21 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies...24 Strategic Objective: Leadership...24 Strategy Stream 2: Games Catalyst Strategies...27 Strategic Objective: Awareness Building Next Steps...35 Next Steps Summary...35 Get Involved Today...36 Contact Us...36 CUSTOMS AND FREIGHT GUIDE

3 1 1. Message from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer As the chair and chief executive officer of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015), we are pleased to share our second Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report with you. The TORONTO 2015 Games are a major region-building opportunity for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, an area known around the world as one of the most diverse across countless demographic categories. Consider this: by 2031, 16 years after our Games, people who currently fall into Statistics Canada s visible minority category, will comprise 63 per cent of Toronto s census metropolitan area. With the existence of similar trends for other groups, deciding to call these the People s Games and establishing a commitment to diversity and inclusion did not require a second thought. In 2015, millions of people, locally and internationally, will turn their attention to Toronto. While our mandate as an Organizing Committee is simply to plan, promote and deliver the Games, we have chosen to use our turn in the spotlight to celebrate the diversity of this region, work to ensure the social and economic benefits of the Games are felt among as broad a number of people as possible and, where we can, be a leader and influencer with respect to diversity and inclusion. Understanding that bold goals are not met without being enshrined in the policies of the organization, we established the following policy statement: The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee recognizes that a full commitment to diversity and inclusion is fundamental to achieving its vision and mission for the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games. TO2015 will work towards developing an organization that: Reflects the Greater Golden Horseshoe region s diversity in its governance, leadership, staff and volunteers. Embeds diversity and inclusion practices throughout all facets of its operations. Promotes inclusion, respect and non-discrimination, and advances relevant promising practices. Is accessible and transparent. Leaves a positive legacy on the region s communities. We are bringing this policy to life through strategies and initiatives that are embedded across the organization. These strategies are not solely about being socially responsible; they re about delivering more relevant Games. By reflecting the diversity of the region in all aspects of our work, we can deliver an event that will resonate with more people, translating into higher participation. This event will truly inspire our young people to think and dream big because they will see themselves as not only as athletes, but as volunteers, suppliers or staff. 1. Message from the Chair and CEO

4 2 Naturally, these goals are woven into our commitments to being fiscally responsible and accountable to you, our stakeholders. An important element of our accountability is the release of this report. The theme of our first report was building blocks and covered 18 months of foundational work. The theme of this report is sport and diversity and covers the subsequent 18 months. Since our last report, we have grown from 90 employees to more than 300. We have launched the call for the approximately 23,000 volunteers we will need to execute the Games. We have awarded contracts to hundreds of small, medium and diverse businesses from across the region. As you read this report, you will see that we are building something special. These Games will, no doubt, be a celebration of sport and culture, but they will also be a region-building exercise, one that will be remembered by this generation who help shaped it and the generations to come. As you turn these pages, consider how you or your organization can join us. Yours truly, The Honourable David R. Peterson Chair, TO2015 Saäd Rafi Chief executive officer, TO2015 TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

5 3 2. Introduction Setting the Context 2.1 Games Overview Mission: Ignite the spirit through a celebration of sport and culture. Vision: Life-affecting experience for athletes and spectators Transformational event for our communities Deliver on commitments A Pan Am and Parapan Am benchmark The Games Partners Investment: TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee $1.4-billion operations, capital and security budget: 35% Government of Canada 35% Province of Ontario 20% municipal governments 10% Games revenue The Games will also act as a catalyst for other infrastructure projects, including: Revitalization of the West Don Lands Waterfront development Union Station revitalization Union Pearson Express 2. Introduction Setting the Context

6 4 TORONTO 2015 Fast Facts 50+ venues 51 sports 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials 23,000+ volunteers TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

7 Lucan Biddulph Exhibition Stadium Exhibition Centre Ontario Place West Channel Chevrolet Beach Volleyball Centre Toronto Coliseum Main Media Centre Pan Am/Parapan Am Fields Owen Sound Royal Canadian Yacht Club Ryerson Athletic Centre Collingwood Varsity Stadium Parapan Am International Broadcast Centre Metro Toronto Convention Centre Nathan Phillips Square Pan Am Ceremonies Venue CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletes Village Parapan Am Main Press Centre & Parapan Am Games Family Hotel Pan Am Games Family Hotel Copyright TO This is a working document based on TO2015 s current assumptions as of 18/07/2014. Please review our Terms of Use at toronto2015.org HAM QEW WFC PVB HEN Welland St. Catharines OPW EPS BLO TW REE PBV EXC MMC W EET STR KING TCO Q PAF VAR EET STR TW REE N ST UEE S ST NDA DU EGE L COL ET W TRE OR S Port Hope PAD 0 MTC NPS RYA PPC SHR Cobourg IBP UE PVM Hamilton Lake Ontario Downtown Zone CIBC Pan Am Park Zone (PAP) PAC UTS ABL Cavan Peterborough Lakefield N AVE Pan Am Bowling Centre CIBC Hamilton Pan Am Soccer Stadium Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course Mississauga Sports Centre Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome Welland Pan Am Flatwater Centre Brantford Rowing & Canoe/Kayak Sprint PVB Satellite Accommodation PVM Football Satellite Accommodation London YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport Ajax OBX Oshawa Kawartha Lakes DINA CEB PLB QEW Scarborough 401 MAR Vaughan Whitby East Zone AJX Pickering Markham ANG Uxbridge Richmond Hill CEB PLB Toronto YOR CTC Mississauga MIS YYZ Brampton CEP Newmarket Keswick 48 Lake Simcoe Fenelon Falls SPA West Zone MIV Milton TTS Barrie HRD Orillia 35 Minden Hills Bancroft Stirling Belleville 40 O RE E SH WES LAK DE B LV E EET STR EN QUE N T E.AN RCY PAV CIBC Pan Am Park & Downtown Venues 20 Kilometres Brighton Games Route Network Non-Competition Venue Competition Venue Havelock Tweed TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games - Venues & Zones ET HAM HEN MIS MIV WFC Guelph PVN CCE Orangeville PVH North Zone Borden Wasaga Beach Midland Gravenhurst MWW PVP TRE IS S Stratford Centennial Park Pan Am BMX Centre & West Zone CCE Pan Am Cross-Country Centre CEP Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park HRD Hardwood Mountain Bike Park MWW Minden Wild Water Preserve TTS Pan Am Shooting Centre YOR CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium & CTC Canadian Tennis Centre PVH Mountain Bike Satellite Accommodation PVP Canoe/Kayak Slalom Satellite Accommodation Waterloo PVN Shooting & Equestrian Satellite Accommodation Kitchener North Zone Abilities Centre President s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ballpark Angus Glen Golf Club Atos Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre Oshawa Sports Centre CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics PAC UTS Centre and Field House. University of Toronto Scarborough Tennis Centre ABL AJX ANG MAR OBX East Zone PAF RCY RYA VAR IBP MTC NPS PAD PAV PPC SHR WES Downtown Zone EPS EXC OPW PBV TCO MMC CIBC Pan Am Park Zone Bracebridge V JAR 2. Introduction Setting the Context

8 6 2.2 Diversity, Inclusion and Multi sport Games In sport, teams seek out the athlete best able, through disciplined training, to win. Likewise, businesses and organizations seek to hire the best person for each job, contract or volunteer opportunity. Organizing an international multi-sport event brings these two worlds together. TO2015 will strive to deliver the best Pan Am/Parapan Am Games; nothing less than the best will do. A focus on diversity and inclusion only helps to get there. But what does it mean when TO2015 talks about diversity and inclusion? Where do issues such as discrimination, racism, oppression and accessibility fit? Simply put, diversity is present when a group contains the vast range of characteristics that make people different from one another. How vast or narrow the spectrum is depends on the pool from where the group is pulled. Inclusion, the act of creating environments where any individual or group will feel welcomed, valued, respected, supported and able to fully participate, is a pre-requisite for achieving diversity. Inclusion is challenged when discrimination, racism, oppression and the lack of access to opportunity are present. Typically, diversity and inclusion strategies begin where under-representation is most acute and/or visible. For example, in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, diversity and inclusion strategies tend to involve population characteristics such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability. Thus, without intentional efforts to engage community groups to build as diverse a pool as possible, TO2015 cannot be sure that the most qualified person or business has been chosen. For this reason, outreach has been, and will remain, an important component of TO2015 s work with communities, job seekers, potential suppliers and volunteers. Multi-sport events are at an interesting turning point in the diversity and inclusion journey. While women s participation in physical activities and multi-sport Games has increased, the percentage of women in governing and administrative bodies has remained low. In fact, the International Olympic Committee established a goal in 2005 to have 20 per cent Diversity and Inclusion: A Note on Language Recognizing the importance of language within a discussion of diversity and inclusion, we have included this note on the language chosen for this report. Diversity can be defined as a spectrum of characteristics that make people different from one another. Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcomed, valued, respected, supported and fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. One of the first steps towards inclusion is opening the door literally through accessible design. We all stand to benefit from an environment that is planned according to the diversity of human need. A parent with a stroller, an individual with a visual impairment, a person who uses a mobility aid, someone with a hearing loss, a delivery person or even a cyclist, will all value the convenient and supportive nature of barrier-free design. In each instance there is no one agreed-upon term that both accurately and respectfully describes groups of people whose experiences and presence have not been adequately reflected in Canadian organizations, businesses and institutions. For instance, visible minority is increasingly an inaccurate term. However, in the absence of alternate terms that are both widely accepted and recognized at the time of writing, TO2015 has chosen to use language employed by Statistics Canada. Similarly, we have chosen to use the Ontario Human Rights Code s definition of disability. This is the same definition employed by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and includes physical, mental health, developmental and learning disabilities. A disability may be visible or not visible. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

9 7 of the senior leadership positions in National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International Federations (IFs) and sporting bodies held by women. While these organizations have not yet achieved this goal, 61 per cent of NOCs and 54 per cent of IFs met the first objective of having at least 10 per cent of the decision-making positions held by women by December (Women in Olympic Movement, 2013) TO2015 surpassed both of these goals in 2011 with women comprising 50 per cent of its senior leadership team and 52 per cent of the organization overall in roles as diverse as finance, logistics, transportation and infrastructure. TO2015 has already made strides in supplier diversity that support its objectives around economic development. Through considerable outreach and the support of a knowledgeable Supplier Diversity Advisory Council, TO2015 awarded its largest diverse supplier contract to date to Toronto-based Forward Signs Inc. This is part of the more than $5 million (or 15 per cent of the overall spend) spent with diverse businesses already! As the Organizing Committee moves into a new phase of planning, opportunities for Ontario s small, medium and diverse suppliers are expected. TO2015 aspires and seeks opportunities to be both a leader and an influencer in the area of diversity and inclusion in sport and society. It has developed a diversity and inclusion strategy with both roles leader and influencer in mind. Recognizing that TO2015 is not a long-term organization and that its mandate lasts less than five years, the Organizing Committee will focus on priorities and develop action plans on those areas that will have the most impact. TO2015 hopes to make real contributions to the next leg of the diversity and inclusion journey for the world of multi-sport Games. 2. Introduction Setting the Context

10 8 3. Spotlight on Sport TO2015 s first Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report in 2012 showcased the efforts that were taken to create the buildingblock phased approach for the People s Games. This 2013 report provides an update on those efforts and showcases the central component of these Games sport. From its accessible capital builds to its capacity-building for National Paralympic Committees across the Americas, TO2015 S goal is to influence other sport organizations and be a diversity and inclusion leader in sport. 3.1 What are the Pan American/ Parapan American Games? The Pan American Games are the world s third-largest international multi-sport Games; they are only surpassed in size and scope by the Olympic Summer Games and the Asian Games. The first Pan Am Games were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951 and one winter version of the Pan Am Games was held in 1990 in Las Leñas, Argentina. The first Parapan Am Games were held in Mexico City in 1999 with 1,000 athletes competing in four sports. At the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games, this number grew to 1,300 athletes from 26 countries competing in 13 sports. Both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games are held every four years for athletes of the 41 Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) nations and the Parapan Am Games for athletes from the 28 Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) nations, in the year preceding the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. International Sport Federations, PASO, the APC and the host Organizing Committee for each Games make up the Pan American and Parapan American Games Movement. The Organizing Committee references the Olympic Charter in the organization of the Games. Similar to Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games have Opening and Closing Ceremonies and use symbols such as a flag and torch. Since 1951, the Games have been hosted in 10 different countries. Canada has had the honour of hosting them twice in 1967 and 1999, both times in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This will be the first time the Parapan Am Games will be hosted in Canada. 3.2 The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Sports Toronto was selected to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games on November 6, 2009, in Guadalajara, Mexico. This will be Ontario s first international multi-sport event since the 1930 British Empire Games, now known as the Commonwealth Games. The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games will showcase 36 sports, 28 of which are contested in the Olympic Games. The remaining eight will be baseball, softball, bowling, karate, racquetball, roller sports, squash, and waterski & wakeboard. Competitions will take place in both new and renovated existing venues. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

11 9 The Parapan Am Games will feature 15 sports. For the first time, wheelchair rugby, a sport contested at the Paralympic Games, will make its Parapan Am debut. The Parapan Am Games will also see the return of football 7-a-side. Sixteen to 18 of the Pan Am sports in 2015 will serve as Olympic qualifiers for Rio 2016, while all 15 Parapan Am sports will serve as Paralympic qualifiers for Rio 2016, meaning the region can expect some of the best athletes to compete at the TORONTO 2015 Games! 3.3 Leading and Influencing in Sport In its purest form, athletic competition is about fairness and inclusion. Ideally, sports should offer a level playing field for athletes from all walks of life. TO2015 knows that this is aspirational and not yet a reality as barriers still inhibit full inclusion, and the Organizing Committee is working to reduce some of these barriers. TORONTO 2015 will break new ground in gender equity with the addition of a number of new sports women s baseball, men s softball, women s rugby sevens, women s golf and women s sitting volleyball. 3.4 The Role of Volunteers All multi-sport Games rely heavily on volunteers. These volunteers are critical in not only delivering the Games, but also in supporting the planning process. An integral group of TORONTO 2015 volunteers are the members from Sport Organizing Committees who work with TO2015 sport managers to develop the sport programs for the 51 sports that will be part of the Games. TO2015 recognizes that building a sport leadership volunteer community requires adding new leaders to existing groups, and challenged the Sport Organizing Committee chairs to engage at least one new member who had sport expertise but did not have volunteer planning experience for a multi-sport event. 3. Spotlight on Sport

12 Athlete Advisory Council The TO2015 Athlete Advisory Council (AAC) is the first of its kind for a Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee and was created to build an athlete-centred, intimate and authentic experience by bringing a diverse group of members together. The AAC is comprised of five women and four men who are competitive and retired athletes. The goal of bringing together such a diverse group members include French, English and Spanish speakers as well as both Olympic and Paralympic athletes is to ensure that TO2015 benefits from the rich experiences of competition in different sports and at various international multi-sport Games. Erika Schmutz, AAC and Accessibility Advisory Council member, and national wheelchair rugby athlete, describes the role of the AAC as outlining specific points that would create the best possible positive athlete experience based on athlete-centred principles. The collective knowledge and experience of the AAC members will no doubt influence planning details that can elevate the overall athlete experience from good to great. The varied perspectives provided by AAC members is proving valuable when fine tuning details such as facility selection and design, and event transportation strategies. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

13 Sport Legacy and Sport Legacy Fund In November 2013, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario announced the $70-million TORONTO 2015 Sport Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund will ensure years of support for the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome and the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium at York University. The Legacy Fund will be supported through contributions of $65 million from the Government of Canada (subject to treasury board approval) and $5 million from the Province of Ontario. Managed by the independent Toronto Community Foundation, the Legacy Fund will contribute to the operating and capital maintenance of the facilities for the next two decades, at a minimum ensuring that both community members and elite athletes will be able to use the facilities and benefit from sport programming beyond Legacy of New Facilities The CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House will boast two internationally sanctioned 10 lane, 50-metre pools, a deep diving tank and dryland dive training facilities. The Field House will feature flexible gymnasium space, as well as an indoor recreational track and fitness area. The facility will double the number of Olympic-sized pools in the Greater Toronto Area and add more swimming and fitness facilities to the Scarborough community. With its 250-metre timber track, two 42-degree banks and the ability for cyclists to train indoors year round, the Cisco Milton Pan Am/ Parapan Am Velodrome will be the sole facility of its kind in Canada and only the second in North America. The velodrome will meet the most stringent requirements set by the International Cycling Union to hold elite world championships. In addition, the velodrome is being built as a legacy community recreational centre. For example, when cyclists are training on the track, the three multi-use courts located on the infield or bowl can be used for basketball and volleyball games, while joggers can use the walking track located on the spectator level all at the same time. This facility will be an important anchor for Milton, one of Ontario s fastest growing municipalities. 3. Spotlight on Sport

14 12 The fully accessible CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium will have a 400-metre track and an infield that supports throwing and jumping disciplines, as well as a scoreboard, professional broadcast capabilities, athlete change rooms, equipment storage and multi purpose rooms. The renovated facility will be valuable to the community surrounding the York University area, serving as both a training ground for future elite athletes and a site for recreational sport activity. These facilities are also drawing other Canadian national teams and sport organizations. The Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and Wheelchair Basketball, Canada s National Academy, are moving their head offices to the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House. Diving Canada, Swimming Canada, Synchro Canada and Water Polo Canada will also move components of their high-performance teams and training programs to this facility. In Milton, the Canadian Cycling team will be able to stay local and train in a world-class, year-round facility for the first time in more than two decades when the Velodrome opens in fall Cycling Canada and Cycling Ontario are also moving their offices into the facility. All of this helps position Ontario as a destination for sport development, and access to facilities across the Host Region reduces barriers to participation for people of various ages, abilities and income levels. 3.8 Parasport Movement In 2015, the scope of the Parapan Am Games will continue to grow as TORONTO 2015 stages the largest Parapan Am Games ever. TORONTO 2015 will be the fifth edition of the Parapan Am Games and will feature more than 1,600 athletes from 28 countries competing in 15 sports. Because all sports will be Paralympic qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, some of the world s best athletes will be competing at the Games. On his August 2013 visit to TO2015 headquarters, Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), stated that he left his visit fully confident that TO2015 will deliver the best Parapan Am Games to date. Sir Philip was on the British wheelchair basketball team that competed in the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games. An extra day was added to the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games schedule to fully celebrate the spectacular athletic achievements of some of the world s top para-athletes. It has also been confirmed that more than 1,600 para-athletes will participate in the Games. The extra day will maximize exposure for parasport and enable all athletes to attend the Closing Ceremony for the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games. The change requires no additional funding to TO2015 and has been absorbed within its existing operations budget. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

15 13 The Organizing Committee is fully integrated at all levels, paying equal attention to both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, which is vitally important. This is shown across all its activities and underlined by the fact that PACHI, the Games mascot, has a visual impairment. Like most porcupines, he can t see people or objects that are far away, which would make him a T11 T13 if he was competing in track and field or S11 S13 if he was a swimmer. - Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) 3.9 Parapan Planning and Integration TO2015 has taken an integrated approach to planning both the Pan Am Games and Parapan Am Games. While they are two separate events with specific start and end dates for each set of Games the Organizing Committee is planning them together and has created a Parapan Planning and Integration (PPI) unit. PPI is responsible for leading integrated planning for the Parapan American Games, including transition planning, ensuring accessible services and operations for Parapan Am client groups and raising awareness of the Paralympic Movement National Paralympic Capacity Building TO2015 is providing a much-needed boost to parasport in the Americas through the TO2015 Parapan American Development Program. The TO2015 Parapan American Development Program the first in the history of the Parapan Am Games will help National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) in 28 countries and territories to: Build their expertise in sport management. Strengthen coaching in athletics, goalball and swimming. Develop national and international classifiers for physically and visually impaired athletes. Facilitate access to specialized sport equipment. The TO2015 Parapan American Development Program is divided into three components. The first the Road TO 2015: the Agitos Foundation Sessions is a joint project between TO2015 and the Agitos Foundation, the International Paralympic Committee s development arm. 3. Spotlight on Sport

16 14 Between December 2013 and December 2014, TO2015, in partnership with the Agitos Foundation, will offer workshops in several locations in the Americas. In addition to the Agitos Foundation Sessions, NPCs will also receive up to $5,000 in funding to purchase sport equipment at the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games Chefs de Mission Seminar sport equipment marketplace in fall There also will be funding and opportunities available to attend classification training programs in collaboration with test events for the TORONTO 2015 Parapan American Games. This will increase the number of international certified classifiers in the Americas and Caribbean. For the first time in the history of the Parapan Am Games, TO2015 will also provide a support grant to each participating NPC to contribute towards travel costs for attending the Games in Canada. These Games are helping to build the parasport movement across the Americas and build awareness of sport for people of all abilities. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

17 15 4. The Next Phase Since the November 2012 report, TO2015 has experienced a great deal of growth and change. Some of its achievements include hosting two-year countdown events in 13 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and launching the STREETSIDE arts and culture activation, engaging 700 businesses, supporting 300 IGNITE community partnership programs and engaging more than one million people on the TO2015 Community Tour. TO2015 has made considerable progress on its diversity and inclusion goals, but still has more to achieve by Games time. The Organizing Committee s commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential to realizing its mission and vision. The following is an overview of TO2015 s diversity and inclusion framework. The strategies that follow, together with TO2015 established policies, serve as the building blocks for the Organizing Committee s diversity and inclusion program. The diagram below represents the foundation for the diversity and inclusion strategy. Beginning with the strategy streams that reflect TO2015 s role as both leader and influencer, the next layer speaks to the strategic objectives in short form and the final layer contains the four components of the implementation framework. Implementation Framework Principle Policy Strategic Objectives Economic Opportunities Strategy Stream Practice Leadership Opportunities Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies Performance Awareness Opportunities Strategy Stream 2: Games Catalyst Strategies 4. The Next Phase

18 16 Strategy Streams Games delivery strategies represent elements of the TO2015 diversity and inclusion program that connect directly to the process of delivering the Games while generating social and economic benefits for the broadest number of communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. Games catalyst strategies leverage the Games as an influencer or catalyst to advance diversity and inclusion issues. Strategic Objectives TO2015 s objectives are threefold: 1. Economic: ensure the economic benefits of the Games are shared among the broadest number of people possible. TO2015 has done this by leveraging the investment in the Games as a platform to advance diversity and inclusion recruitment and procurement practices. 2. Leadership: ensure leadership opportunities associated with the Games are shared among the broadest number of people possible. TO2015 has done this by linking and partnering with community leaders to ensure TO2015 programs are relevant, actionable and effective. 3. Awareness: build awareness about diversity, inclusion and accessibility issues. TO2015 has done this by leveraging its public profile and presence to be a role model. Implementation Framework Each element of the strategy is guided by the following framework: Principle refers to TO2015 s high-level values and aspirations. Policies are instruments designed to actualize the principles and have been developed where appropriate. Practice refers to the plans and programs, including collections of standard procedures, guidelines, training materials and documented ways of working. Performance refers to key performance indicators. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

19 17 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies Strategic objective: Economic Opportunities Principle T02015 recognizes its opportunity to leverage the Games as a platform for advancing diversity business practices. This will generate positive social impacts, lead to a high-performance organization and help TO2015 deliver the best ever Pan American/Parapan American Games. Policy TO2015 Diversity and Inclusion Recruitment Policy TO2015 s vision is to have a high-performing workforce reflective of the diversity of the Greater Golden Horseshoe region population. It has committed to: A clear and transparent recruitment process. Linking and partnering with community and employment agencies to create direct access to TO2015 job postings and an understanding of its recruitment needs. Working to eliminate barriers to employment and volunteer opportunities for designated groups women, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups as well as newcomers and lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer-identified individuals (LGBTQ). Making concerted efforts to engage a workforce reflective of North, South and Central American and Caribbean perspectives, and containing the French, Spanish and Portuguese language capacity necessary to support the TORONTO 2015 Games. Practice Recruitment Practices T02015 s recruitment policy is supported by practices that ensure diverse candidate pools for its growing number of employment opportunities. These practices include: A transparent recruitment process. Broad access to information about employment opportunities such as: Posting employment opportunities on the TORONTO 2015 website. Sharing them online through TORONTO 2015 s social media channels. Distributing employment and volunteer opportunities to members of TO2015 s regional recruitment network, a network of more than 100 employment service and community organizations, including the City of Toronto, MicroSkills, Local Integration Partnerships, youth employment services, Arnold Minors, Latin American MBA Association, ACCES Employment, JVS Toronto, TRIEC, Miziwe Biik, JOIN, Latin Project Management Network, COSTI, Corbrook, CareerEdge/AbilityEdge, Canadian Paraplegic Association, La Passerelle Intégration et Développement Économique I.D.É, Rotary 4. The Next Phase

20 18 Clubs, retirement residences and many other groups who support TO2015 by sharing its employment opportunities with their respective constituencies and facilitating regional outreach opportunities. Participating in community programs such as job fairs to attract members from a range of diverse communities. Workforce Inclusion Practices By building an inclusive workplace, TO2015 benefits from having diverse perspectives from its decision makers. The Organizing Committee is doing this through a number of initiatives including: Leadership, Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility (LIDA) speaker series, where a range of speakers engage TO2015 s staff on issues such as accessibility, economic inclusion and diversity in leadership. Informal discussion tables where staff can discuss, in a safe space, diversity and inclusion issues. Working with the TO2015 community outreach team gave me an opportunity to understand what it took for a complex multi sport organization to successfully implement an international sporting event that was community focused and driven by the diversity of its people. I always came out of my shift learning something new about heterogeneous communities, their cultures, values and traditions. The versatility this job required and the intercultural learning that took place was a fundamental advantage as I moved into a career in international sports and development with the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Asfand Minhas, former TO2015 Community Tour activator currently working with the 2014 Commonwealth Games. QuickStart, an on-boarding program for new employees to learn about the Organizing Committee, its values and processes. QuickStart was recognized by the Canadian Society for Training and Development. A buddy program where each new employee is partnered with a more seasoned employee to help with the integration process. Where possible, buddy partnerships are intentionally diverse pairings. OneTeam job shadow, a partnership initiative with OneVoice OneTeam that brought 40 Grade 11 and 12 students into the TO2015 headquarters to shadow 40 staff members. Building an accessible volunteer journey from the application process to Games Impact training. Performance T02015 has grown its regional recruitment network from 50 organizations to more than 80 and has participated in several recruitment presentations and job fairs across the region. The Organizing Committee has identified culturally-specific professional associations and professional organizations whose industries align with the roles its recruiting for. This has led to increased diversity among the candidate pool and, ultimately, among its workforce. The results of TO2015 s voluntary self-identification survey suggests it is on track to achieving its goals (see chart on the next page). The Organizing Committee has employed the Ontario Labour Force Profile using the best available data as a comparison; however, its goal is to exceed the statistics of this profile. The following statistics on the next page are for a workforce of 300 people: TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

21 19 Ontario s Labour Force Profile 1 TO2015 Workforce Profile 2 48% are female 52% are female 22% are members of visible minority groups 25% are members of visible minority groups 9% are persons with disabilities 3% are persons with disabilities 2% are Aboriginal Peoples 1% are Aboriginal Peoples In addition to its commitment to employment equity groups persons with disabilities, members of visible minority groups, women and Aboriginal Peoples TO2015 has also committed to engaging LGBTQ-identified individuals and to building a team with linguistic abilities in the Games three official languages: English, French and Spanish. Of TO2015 s current workforce: 6 per cent are LGBTQ-identified individuals. Of those who indicated proficiency in a language in addition to English, 30 per cent speak French; 16 per cent speak Spanish; 5 per cent speak Portuguese and 3 per cent speak other languages 3. Building Local Capacity Building a team to deliver a project of this magnitude requires technical expertise and previous experience. However, TO2015 is also committed to building local capacity among the workforce and has taken great efforts to build teams that maintain a balance of local and international talent. One such team is its Infrastructure division, which brings together technical experts who are helping to build and prepare the venues for Games-time requirements and legacy use. This team, which is more than 60 per cent local, includes staff who have heritage in Brazil, China, England, India, Jamaica and Australia. 1 Data source: From OPS Diversity Office Annual Report 2010; Represents Ontario labour force population aged between 15 and 64 years. Data source: Statistics Canada, based on 2006 Census; data on persons with disabilities: Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). 2 Data source: TO2015 voluntary self-identification survey as of December 31, Workforce numbers include interns and part time staff. 3 Other languages include Afrikaans, American Sign Language, Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Ga Adangbe, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Mandarin, Mauritian Creole, Norwegian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Ukrainian, Ukrainian, Urdu, Yoruba and Visaya. 4. The Next Phase

22 20 What s Next? Implement innovative youth career-development initiatives with a focus on Aboriginal youth, youth with disabilities and youth living in priority neighbourhoods within the Games footprint. Continue to engage workforce with innovative training methods. Continue to engage communities across the region to ensure access to information about applying for employment and volunteer roles with TO2015. Further develop the Games Impact training program for Games-time volunteers. Spotlight on TO2015 S Olympians and Paralympians TO2015 is fortunate to have decorated and celebrated athletes on staff! From left: Chelsey Gotell, three-time Paralympian, 12-time Paralympic medallist (swimming) Kelly Stefanyshyn, Olympian (swimming) Alexandra Orlando, Olympian, three-time Pan Am and six-time Commonwealth gold medallist (rhythmic gymnastics) Molly Killingbeck, two-time Olympian, silver medallist, Pan Am silver medallist (athletics) Having the experience of competing at a multi-sport Games means that former elite athletes have a heightened understanding of the conditions needed for athletes to give their best performance. This makes retired athletes like Chelsey, Kelly, Alexandra and Molly important members of the Organizing Committee. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

23 21 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies Strategic Objective: Economic Opportunities Principle The objective of supplier diversity is to maximize TO2015 s use of diverse, under-represented businesses within the communities where the Games will be taking place, without compromising quality or value for money. For the Organizing Committee s purposes, diverse suppliers include businesses owned and operated 51 per cent or more by Aboriginal Peoples, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ-identified individuals. The TORONTO 2015 Games will act as a catalyst for the development of corporate supplier diversity in Ontario. The Games will create procurement opportunities that deliver a positive economic impact on regional diverse businesses. TO2015 aims to use a skilled supply base closely resembling the diverse and multicultural heritage residing within this region. Policy TO2015 is committed to open, fair and transparent procurement practices. Its procurement strategy is designed to deliver value for money as well as create an environment that enables diverse businesses to compete for Games-related business opportunities. Practice Supplier Diversity Practices In 2011, the Organizing Committee established a supplier diversity policy for TO2015 requests for proposals (RFPs), and an RFP process with Infrastructure Ontario asking applicants to outline how they will involve and support diverse-owned businesses. This policy provides RFP response credits to businesses owned by members of diverse communities. In addition, TO2015 has committed to the following supplier diversity practices: 1. TO2015 will insert diversity business requirements in 100 per cent of its procurement tendering documents. 2. TO2015 will use diversity business requirements as part of its criteria for assessing procurement tender responses and supplier selection. 3. TO2015 will track and report on all direct spends with diverse businesses. 4. TO2015 will commit to continuing its active outreach to diverse businesses by presenting opportunities and other procurement information at events focused on diverse businesses. 5. TO2015 will chair a Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. 4. The Next Phase

24 22 Outreach and Capacity-Building Practices TO2015 s Supplier Diversity Advisory Council engages and enables diverse businesses to actively participate in the procurement process, which includes active outreach and capacity building. The Council includes representatives from organizations promoting diverse businesses Women Entrepreneurs Connect (WEConnect), Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council, Diversity Business Network, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business and Ontario Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and individuals from the City of Toronto and City of Hamilton s economic development department. Since January 2013, TO2015 has given presentations at more than 15 different events to chambers of commerce and boards of trade meetings, Aboriginal business information sessions, ethnocultural business organizations, supplier diversity conferences and Ontario Supplies events. At these events, TO2015 has actively encouraged businesses to register as a supplier on TORONTO2015.org to create a database of businesses by market sector and to solicit participation in its competitive procurement process. In February 2012, the Organizing Committee hosted the Winning in Business Seminar, where participants recommended that TO2015 continue to provide capacity-building opportunities with specific focus on RFP response writing. In March 2014, it hosted five regional sessions focused on RFP writing in partnership with its Lead Sponsor, CIBC. The workshops included a schedule of major procurements and RFP writing tips as well as opportunities for partnering/networking. For more information about TO2015 s procurement process, visit TORONTO2015.org/business. Performance In 2013, TO2015 engaged with more than 700 businesses, providing them with an overview of business opportunities and how to conduct business with TO2015 through the procurement process. The Organizing Committee will continue to reach out to ethnic chambers of commerce, business organizations across the region and boards of trade to fill the remaining business opportunities. TO2015 s spend with diverse suppliers has increased steadily since December As of January 30, 2014, 22 per cent of its supplier base identify with at least one of the diversity classifications and represent 15 per cent of TO2015 s spend. TransPerfect, a female-owned enterprise, was awarded a significant contract to provide all translation services to TO2015 up to and including Games-time requirements. TransPerfect s solution includes an imbedded (onsite) liaison as well as using a sophisticated tool to match words previously translated in other documents. TransPerfect was awarded this contract pursuant to an RFP. The economic benefits of the Games are found not only within the work of the Organizing Committee, but also within its communities. According to Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, its community members earned $750,000 in work through the Hamilton and Milton venue construction projects. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

25 23 What s Next? Continue to promote business opportunities to diverse businesses. Continue to engage communities through speaking engagements. Promote diverse labour practices to contracted service providers. Spotlight on Forward Signs In September 2013, TO2015 announced it had awarded a signage and installation contract to Toronto-based Forward Signs Inc. its largest diverse supplier contract to date. The company, which is certified as a diverse supplier by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), won the contract, worth up to $750,000, through a competitive procurement request for proposals. Owner Simon Ho heard about the procurement opportunity through TO2015 s Supplier Diversity Advisory Council. Created in 2011, the Council engages and enables under-represented groups to actively participate in the procurement process for the Games. This includes seminars and other outreach activities. It s wonderful that our made-in-toronto signs and banners will be front and centre during the construction phase for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, said Simon Ho, who established Forward Signs in 1986 and employs 100 professionally trained employees in their Emblem Crescent facility in Scarborough. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our growing business and our employees couldn t be more excited. 4. The Next Phase

26 24 Strategy Stream 1: Games Delivery Strategies Strategic Objective: Leadership Principle TO2015 will benefit from diverse professional experience as well as expertise based on lived-experience through its various governance bodies, including volunteer advisory councils and committees created to support specific aspects of Games planning. TO2015 recognizes that leadership from the top is essential and is working to develop and influence governance bodies that reflect its commitment to best practices in diversity. Practice In 2010, the TO2015 Board of Directors was assembled to govern the Games. Appointments were made by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto as well as the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Progress on TO2015 s diversity and inclusion strategy is reported to the board by its human resources committee. Where TO2015 has the requisite authority, it is building councils that bring the required skills and expertise to the Organizing Committee, while taking an integrated approach to reflecting the diversity of the region. Most of its councils have one-year terms to refresh leadership and provide opportunities to new participants. TO2015 maintains a diverse candidate database, which has been a tool in succession planning. The Organizing Committee is planning roles for volunteers in a range of capacities. These volunteers are important to ensuring that the opportunities inherent in the Games reach the eight million people who make up the Games region. TO2015 recognizes the members of the following groups for leveraging their industry networks, commitment, expertise and insights to bring the Games to communities in the region: TO2015 Sport Organizing Committees TO2015 Community Engagement Council TO2015 Volunteer Advisory Council TO2015 Accessibility Advisory Council TO2015 Supplier Diversity Advisory Council TO2015 Francophone Forum TO2015 LGBTQ Working Group and PrideHouseTO TO2015 Youth Advisory Council TO2015 Arts and Culture Advisory Council Aboriginal Leadership Partners TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

27 25 Members experience a range of benefits by participating on these councils, such as opportunities to demonstrate existing skills to new audiences, build new skills, meet personal and professional goals, and expand personal and professional networks. Performance TO2015 s Advisory Councils are now moving from a strategic planning phase to assisting and advising on strategy implementation. In addition to advising on Games planning, for, and engagement of, people with disabilities, the TO2015 Accessibility Advisory Council has started implementing a campaign targeting businesses in the tourism industry to help Ontario be the best host it can be for athletes and tourists of all abilities in TO2015 Aboriginal Leadership Partners have advised on and supported TO2015 as it has developed protocol memorandums of understanding with Six Nations of the Grand River, Métis Nation of Ontario and Huron-Wendat Nation. TO2015 was proud to engage Aboriginal leaders in the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) General Assembly, a gathering of sport leaders from across the Americas in October In May 2014, the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MNCFN) was named the official Host First Nation of the Games. As Host First Nation, MNCFN will work with TO2015 on ceremonies, community sport activations, arts and culture, youth programming, employment, internship opportunities, economic development, Host First Nation branding and volunteerism. Former governor general Michaëlle Jean and husband Jean-Daniel Lafond partnered with TO2015 s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) as Honorary Patrons of the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games for Youth Arts and Creativity. The Patrons have been working with the YAC to organize the TO2015 Youth Summit, Building Communities through Sport and Culture. The summit will take place in March 2015 and will bring together more than 250 youth delegates between the ages of 16 and 21, and will include online components to facilitate the participation of youth across the Americas. Young people have an unprecedented opportunity to use the arts, creativity and sport as tools to make the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games transformational for themselves and the nation. Michaëlle Jean and Jean Daniel Lafond The TO2015 Community Engagement Council (CEC) has continued to support TO2015 in its efforts to bring the Games to the community and the community to the Games. With the support of the CEC, TO2015 has met with close to 1,000 institutions, organizations, non-profits and ethnic communities to develop strategic plans and initiatives for further engagement with the Games. These outreach efforts have resulted in community members becoming aware of economic and other engagement opportunities with the Games and, in particular, the IGNITE program. To date, there are more than 300 IGNITE participants 25 per cent of the programs include representation from the communities of the Americas, 13 per cent have an Aboriginal mandate and close to 50 per cent are representatives from the community sport sector. 4. The Next Phase

28 26 Official Languages English and French (Canada s official languages) and Spanish (together with English, official languages of PASO) are the three official languages of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. The TO2015 Official Language team s mandate is to engage Frenchand Spanish-speaking Ontarians by ensuring public communications are trilingual. Outreach efforts will ensure these communities are aware of diverse linguistic opportunities with the Games. TO2015 Official Languages has engaged more than 250 national, provincial and regional organizations and groups through outreach initiatives and presentations. These presentations include information about the various Games opportunities such as employment and volunteer roles, community engagement initiatives and partnership opportunities. Each TO2015 Advisory Council aims to include francophone representation and Spanish-speaking members, largely from Latin America, in alignment with the organization s integrated approach to diversity. In addition, TO2015 s Arts and Culture Advisory Council, Supplier Diversity Advisory Council, Volunteer Advisory Council and PrideHouseTO have member representation from TO2015 s official languages. To support these efforts, the TO2015 Francophone Forum was created. Members are from the Ontario Association of Deaf Francophones (Association ontarienne des sourds francophones) and from the francophone, Caribbean, African and LGBTQ communities. The TO2015 Francophone Forum has an agreement with the Métis Nation to share information and integrate cultural artists and artisans from both communities, before and during the Games. TO2015 is building the Spanish official languages program, and will continue to liaise with the Latin American community through its Latin American working groups, Community Engagement Council and the local Latin American community through employment, cultural and procurement opportunities. What s Next? Partner with the Maytree Foundation to create an initiative that connects volunteer leaders to governance opportunities within local sport organizations. Implement plans and programs of advisory and engagement councils. Engage leaders to recruit 23,000+ volunteers and build volunteer-related legacy initiatives. Continue to building the French and Spanish portfolio of the TO2015 Official Languages program, including a greater social media presence. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

29 27 Strategy Stream 2: Games Catalyst Strategies Strategic Objective: Awareness Building Principle Working together with communities and other organizations, TO2015 will use the Games as a platform to shine a light on issues related to diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Practice In partnership with the Province of Ontario, TO2015 is using the Games as a platform to build awareness of the cultures of the Americas and of parasport through the TO2015 Community Tour, IGNITE program and educational programs. In partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, TO2015 is using the Games to build awareness of accessible design through its 10 new capital builds. To the fullest extent possible, each of the new facilities has been built against the most stringent of accessibility standards (International Paralympic Committee [IPC], Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act [AODA] etc.). Together with the Province of Ontario s Youth Employment Fund, TO2015 is building awareness of youth talent and supporting youth as they develop their professional networks. In 2012, the Organizing Committee, together with the municipalities who will host TORONTO 2015 events, hosted two-year countdown festivities across the municipalities, which provided another opportunity to build awareness about the diversity of the sport program. Performance Ontario will soon house 10 new sport facilities that will leave a legacy of functional and accessible facilities across the region. The spectators who visit the facilities built for temporary use will see facilities assembled within the most stringent guidelines for accessibility (where possible) recommended by the IPC, AODA and host municipalities. The TORONTO 2015 Community Tour is a mechanism not only for building awareness of the Games and the opportunities they present, but also for building awareness of parasport and the 41 participating countries and territories. To date, the Community Tour has participated in more than 300 community events 25 per cent of which had a cultural focus translating to a reach of one million people across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. Many of the tour staff used their experience on the Community Tour as a stepping stone for roles in other multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games or other local cultural organizations. 4. The Next Phase

30 28 The Government of Ontario and TO2015 have created a program to help every child be a Pan Am/Parapan Am Kid. This means children and youth can learn about and participate in different sports, and recreational and cultural activities before, during and after the TORONTO 2015 Games. The program includes resources and activities for elementary and secondary schools, after-school leaders and recreational staff. Program highlights and achievements include: 700 program registrants. Resources are free and available online. 800 online resource downloads. All publicly funded Ontario elementary and secondary schools will receive kits and funding to help organize a Pan Am/Parapan Am activity day. In spring 2012, TO2015 s Arts and Culture team launched the community celebration Play Me, I m Yours. The brightly painted pianos were placed in the streets of Toronto and roused community spirit and led to impromptu street concerts before they were shipped to their new homes in communities and Pan American embassies throughout Ontario. Students in the music program at the Africentric Alternative School, part of the Toronto District School Board, are also getting good use out of the Barbados piano. The artwork, which is covered in an explosion of tropical flowers, was presented to the school by CIBC s Black Employee Network in celebration of Black History Month. CIBC also donated a piano to Nelson A. Boylen Collegiate Institute in honour of Hispanic Heritage Month. Building on the success of Play Me, I m Yours and New Arrivals (the critically acclaimed original public art creation celebrating the stories and contributions of new Canadian citizens), TO2015 s Arts and Culture team launched STREETSIDE in the summer of Presented by CIBC, STREETSIDE engaged 26 groups or 141 individual locals performing music rooted in the Americas reggae, samba, calypso, flamenco and rock in vintage Chevrolet GM pickup trucks. The STREETSIDE events took place in seven separate locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area: Harbourfront Centre, John Street, Markham/Unionville, Church Street, Hamilton, Bloor Street and the Beaches. Artists included salsa supergroup Lula All Stars, reggae and R&B legend Jay Douglas, awardwinning Latin jazz singer Amanda Martinez, high-energy band Loco Zydeco and the calypso-inspired Kobo Town, Joaquin Diaz and Quique Escamilla, and Canailles, a Québécois group that fuses footstomping bluegrass with Cajun and folk influences. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

31 29 In April 2014, TO2015 launched PANAMANIA, presented by CIBC, with a packed media event at El Catrin restaurant in the Distillery Historic District. PANAMANIA is the official name and brand that will be associated with all cultural events tied to the TORONTO 2015 Games from those at large, free public celebration sites such as Nathan Phillips Square, to exciting Pan American presentations and unique commissions in legitimate performing arts venues that will have their world premieres during the Games. This multi-disciplinary performing arts program will feature a variety of programming, including new cultural hybrids, commissions and quality marquee events showcasing the rich cultures of Canada and the Americas. Innovation and New Creation Commission Fund The TO2015 Arts and Culture team have created a commission fund to seed new and innovative arts and arts-legacy projects related to the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. These unique and innovative artistic concepts align with the Games mandate and, ultimately, enhance the cultural fabric of both the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games experience. The full PANAMANIA program, including ticket and schedule information, will be announced publicly in spring Additional information about the program can be found at TORONTO2015.org/panamania/commission-fund. 4. The Next Phase

32 30 The Mascot Creation Challenge and PACHI Pals After months of anticipation, PACHI the porcupine was introduced in July 2013 as the official mascot for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. Originally designed by a group of four Grade 8 students, Team Porcupine included Fiona Hong, 13, Michelle Ing, 13, Paige Kunihiro, 14, and Jenny Lee, 13, from Buttonville Public School in Markham, Ontario. The young team entered the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge as part of a school project led by physical education teacher Mari Ellery. Unlike other mascot design competitions, this was intentionally designed to encourage inclusion and collaboration. In addition to the character designer, students were asked to provide a compelling backstory for their mascot. This addition meant that students not necessarily gifted with drawing abilities could also contribute in a meaningful way. PACHI was selected from the more than 4,000 entries that were submitted by groups from across Canada, and was also the favourite in an online voting contest that received more than 33,000 votes. Porcupines have more than 30,000 quills, but PACHI has 41 one for each of the Pan American countries and territories participating in the Games. His quills are five brilliant colours and represent qualities that he holds dear: green is for youth, fuchsia is for passion, blue is for collaboration, orange is for determination and purple is for creativity. Like other porcupines, PACHI has impaired vision and difficulty seeing people and objects that are far away. PACHI s character came to life through a series of stages that included the original design from Fiona, Michelle, Paige and Jenny, professional illustration and refinement by renowned illustrator James Caswell and costume design by Toronto-based Maydwell Mascots Inc. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

33 31 Since mid-july 2013, PACHI the porcupine has attended more than 200 events, including 90 school visits in southern Ontario, and has greeted approximately 53,000 people. IGNITE in Toronto Chalkfarm Neighbourhood Project IGNITE officially recognizes projects and events inspired by the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. The program is a community partnership enabling individuals, organizations and communities to create their own Games program and/or increase awareness of existing initiatives by being associated with the Games. Every day after school, up to 45 neighbourhood kids crowd into the centre run by Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services on the ground floor at 160 Chalkfarm Drive, to relax in the library with a book, do their homework in the computer lab, or work on their footwork and jabs in the ring with a half-dozen volunteers from the community, including Olympian Kingsley Haddaway and retired boxer and broadcaster Spider Jones. Boxing and reading make both the mind and body nimble, explains Morris Beckford, executive director of Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, which runs the popular Boxing Ontario-certified centre in one of the city s most diverse and underserved neighbourhoods. Over the last few years, we ve worked closely with residents, the property management company and other partners to completely revitalize our community, and we need some positive attention to help get us ahead. We need people here in the community and throughout the city to see the change that is taking place here. IGNITE can provide us with that exposure and help inspire greater community spirit. But the TORONTO 2015 Games also need what we offer: the ability to connect one of the most diverse communities in Toronto with an array of people from Latin America and the Caribbean with the Games. Morris Beckford The Asset-Based Children and Youth Development Project, which operates at the centre in partnership with Believe to Achieve Organization, the Oaks Revitalization Association and Literature for Life, is one of many projects that have joined the TO2015 IGNITE program to date. Along with Doorsteps Neighbourhood Services, several other community groups are involved with IGNITE, including the Ontario Blind Sports Association, the Centre for Spanish Speaking People, Civic Action s Emerging Leaders Network, UrbanArts Community Arts Council, Red Warriors Basketball, Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association and ParaSport Ontario. For a full listing of participating initiatives or information on how to join the program, please visit TORONTO2015.org/ignite. 4. The Next Phase

34 32 Two-Year Countdown On July 10, 2012, to mark the two-year countdown to the TORONTO 2015 Games, top Canadian athletes from a variety of summer sports joined the Organizing Committee staff and members of the public in 10 locations throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.. Special events took place in Ajax (baseball and softball), Caledon (equestrian), Hamilton (soccer), Markham (table tennis, badminton), Milton (cycling), Mississauga (taekwondo, judo, karate, wrestling, wheelchair rugby, goalball), Oshawa (boxing), St. Catharines (rowing) and Welland (canoe/kayak sprint), with each community putting its own unique stamp on the events of the day. In Markham site of the largest community celebration thousands turned out to watch Sun Jian Fei, a professional table tennis player and former Chinese national team member, show off his fast-moving blades, while 2011 Pan Am boxing gold medallists Mary Spencer and Mandy Bujold enjoyed a friendly spar in Oshawa. Elsewhere in the region, Curt Harnett Canada s greatest track cyclist of all time and three-time Olympic medallist led a cycling circuit around town hall in Milton, the future home of the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome, along with Shelley Gautier, Paralympian and 2011 Parapan Am Games silver medallist in para-cycling, while members of Canada s multiple-medal-winning wheelchair rugby team and up-and-coming taekwondo athletes led community festivities in Mississauga, home to four combative sports and three parasports in In all 10 communities, special murals, created by sports artist David Arrigo through the Pan Am Mural Experience presented by CIBC, were officially presented and unveiled for the first time. The one-of-akind artworks capture their unique cultural and sporting history and will remain in the communities as permanent mementos of the Games. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015

35 33 TO2015 Online Presence TO2015 s online presence is critical to providing access to the opportunities found within the Games. In November 2013, with the leadership of official supplier FUSE Marketing Group Inc., TO2015 launched a new and accessible website that captures the youthful and joyful spirit of the Games. To ensure its accessibility, the website was tested by professionals who specialize in this area. In addition, the TO2015 Accessibility Advisory Council was invited to provide input into its design and functionality. TO2015 also increased its English, French and Spanish online presence on social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and launched the #WeArePanAm and #WeAreParaPanAm campaigns, which features the many volunteers, builders and athletes behind the Games. LIDA Events In May 2012, TO2015 launched the Leadership, Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility (LIDA) series with former NBA player and LGBTQ advocate John Amaechi. This leadership program is designed to help TO2015 staff and members of the broader community advance their understanding of diversity, inclusion and accessibility. LIDA is presented in two formats: 1. LIDA (community) larger events directed at the broader TO2015 community and public. 2. LIDA (in-house) a complement to diversity and inclusion training, intimate and interactive events focused on issues that can help the Organizing Committee deliver a more diverse and inclusive event. To date, LIDA speakers have included: Hon. David Crombie, former mayor City of Toronto and former MPP, Province of Ontario; Elisabeth Walker-Young, Paralympian; Tewannee Joseph, executive director and chief executive officer of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee; DiverseCity co-chairs John Tory (then chair, CivicAction) and Ratna Omidvar, resident, Maytree); Guy Matte, executive director, Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue; Stephen Frost, former head of Diversity and Inclusion and chief of staff, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games; Dr. Kofi Hope, executive of Community Empowering Enterprises and Dr. David Hulchanski, professor of housing and community development at the University of Toronto. 4. The Next Phase

36 34 PrideHouseTO Initiated in partnership with TO2015, PrideHouseTO is a comprehensive, provincewide engagement and activation strategy for the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer (LGBTQ) communities in Ontario leading up to and during the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games. The initiative is a collaboration of more than 12 organizations representing social services, education, government, labour, business, and sport and recreation sectors, and builds upon the tradition and success of pride houses during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In February 2014, PrideHouseTO hosted the Sochi Winter Games Lounge and Parasport celebration. In May 2014, Commonwealth Games Canada and PrideHouseTO hosted the Relay of Inclusion Queen s Baton; the Commonwealth Games equivalent of the Olympic Torch Relay. In summer 2014, PrideHouseTO included programming for the FIFA World Cup, which coincided with WorldPride What s Next? LIDA will continue with an educational events program designed to raise public awareness and advance leadership capacity through a deeper knowledge of leadership, inclusion, diversity and accessibility. Work with partners to build public consciousness around accessibility. For example, TO2015 recently partnered with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario to make TORONTO 2015 one-year countdown festivities an example for special events. Projects commissioned through TO2015 s Innovation and New Creation Commission and Legacy Fund will be further developed. TOWARDS TORONTO 2015