Our Commitment to Anti-Racism & Anti-Oppression

Imagine Canada envisions a charitable and nonprofit sector that supports and cultivates diverse, inclusive, just and equitable communities. We are working towards a sector that is truly representative of the communities we work with, that provides radically inclusive workplaces to employees and volunteers of all backgrounds, and that advances systems change. 

Racism and oppression are primary obstacles to the fulfillment of organizational missions across the sector. Black, Indigenous, and racialized people, the disability community, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community among many others have been deeply impacted by these systems of oppression. Truly vibrant and healthy communities - where all are supported in living freely and fully - are only possible if the sector takes a leadership role in addressing inequitable systems with an intersectional lens.  

Canada’s charitable and nonprofit sector has its roots in systems of colonization and white supremacy that have and continue to do harm to individuals both employed and served by organizations. These systems threaten to undermine the hard work being done by charities and nonprofits every day. 

Imagine Canada is committed to embedding anti-racism and anti-oppression into our human resources, management, governance, programs, and daily practice. Our work will be strengthened by a broad range of skills, perspectives and experiences, and this will be reflected in the diversity of our board, staff, partners, and the communities with whom we engage.

We acknowledge that there are voices that have not been previously centered or reflected in our work. Going forward, we will intentionally strive to identify, consider, and challenge the ways in which inequity and oppression are present in the charitable and nonprofit sector. With bold humility, we commit to continual learning, relationship-building and informed action.