Holding the thread: Honouring resistance, reclaiming responsibility

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At a time when diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts are increasingly mischaracterized and politicized, it is more important than ever to ground ourselves in the truth: the work continues.

This year marks two pivotal anniversaries that compel reflection and action: five years since the murder of George Floyd, and ten years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) Calls to Action. While racialized people in Canada have long faced police brutality and systemic racism, Floyd’s death, captured on video and witnessed across the world, became a global inflection point. It brought to light the shared nature of systemic violence and sparked a collective moral reckoning, laying bare the brutal truth of anti-Black racism. This prompted many organizations to examine how power, privilege, and exclusion operate within their own systems. The TRC’s Calls to Action, a landmark report confronting the harms of the residential school system, defined a clear path toward reconciliation and accountability for Indigenous communities. Both moments, born of pain and truth, continue to shape the national conversation about justice in Canada. And both challenge us to consider what we have done with the time since.

Since 2020, individuals and organizations have been galvanized to name injustice, build safer workplaces, and strengthen inclusive systems. As this movement gained ground, CCDI’s work expanded in parallel. This growth reflected a deepening cross-sector commitment and a rising demand for sustained informed support. It remains our privilege to empower tens of thousands of people on their DEIA journeys and to continue advancing this work in partnership with them today, with clarity, care, and purpose.

We also recognize that since those pivotal moments in our shared history, we have witnessed a steady rise in harmful rhetoric, policy rollbacks, and hate-fueled violence here in Canada. These are not abstract trends – they are lived realities for many of the communities we serve. Since the murder of George Floyd, we’ve seen:

• The discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools, and continued grief from Indigenous communities still seeking justice
• The racist treatment and death of Joyce Echaquan in a Quebec hospital
• The firebombing of Beth Tikvah synagogue and gunfire at Bais Chaya Mushka Jewish school in Toronto
• The Islamophobic terror attack that killed four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario
• A documented rise in anti-Asian hate incidents, with reports showing over 600 cases of violence and discrimination across Canada since early 2020
• The Black Class Action lawsuit exposing systemic racism in Canada’s federal public service
• Evidence of racial profiling in policing across Ontario
• Legislation targeting trans and gender-diverse youth in multiple provinces
• And national statistics showing that 2SLGBTQI+ individuals in Canada continue to face violence and discrimination at alarming rates

This list is not exhaustive, but each example stands as a reminder that DEIA is not a trend. It is a response to harm. It is a commitment to equity and care. It is about people. 

As we reflect on a decade of calls to action and five years of global outcry, we must ask ourselves:

• How have we shown up?
• Where have we made meaningful progress?
• Where are we still falling short?

Reconciliation and anti-racism are not endpoints. They are lifelong responsibilities that demand learning, accountability, and change.

At CCDI, we hold space for the grief, exhaustion, and anger that many feel in the face of these realities. And we also hold space for courage, reflection, and hope. We have seen, through our programs, events, and conversations with our community, that people still care deeply about this work. Organizations are still turning to us for guidance, new Employer Partners are joining us every month, and communities continue to resist division and choose connection instead. 

We believe that now is not the time to retreat – it is the time to reclaim. 

To reclaim our responsibility to one another.
To reclaim the vision of workplaces where all people can thrive.
To reclaim the belief that DEIA belongs to everyone and benefits everyone.

 

Walking this path together

We invite you to continue the work. To honour these challenges not alone, but as part of a community that sees you, supports you, and believes in your capacity to lead change.

At CCDI, we remain committed to helping individuals and organizations navigate this journey with courage and compassion. Whether you are just beginning or deepening your commitment to DEIA, our resources, events, and offerings are here to meet you where you are and to walk with you toward what’s possible.

We also encourage you to attend our upcoming free webinar: Five years and forward: Black Lives Still Matter. Together, we will reflect on the lasting impact of George Floyd’s murder, explore pathways to responsible allyship, and consider what it means to reclaim our responsibilities, individually and collectively, five years later.

Visit ccdi.ca to explore our full range of tools and learning opportunities, or contact us to collaborate on advancing DEIA in your workplace and beyond.

 

The work is not over – and together, we carry it on.