The Town of Truro, Nova Scotia is a committed supporter of the equality of all. The Town Council's Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee is valued by the town for its promotion of respect for the dignity and rights of all individuals in Truro and the surrounding area.
Description
The Town of Truro is determined to ensure that all residents feel a sense of equality and acceptance. In addition to being an original member of the
Coalition of Municipalities against Racism and Discrimination, the Town Council has an Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee, which consists of staff and citizen appointees.
The Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee has produced Embrace, a multicultural festival celebrating equality and diversity. Truro is also mindful of equality and acceptance for employees.
The Inspiration
Truro Town Council was inspired by its 1994 agreement with the Human Rights Commission regarding affirmative action and employment. Signing
the agreement demonstrated council's commitment and showed residents it was starting at the top to ensure that individuals at all levels of the municipality and organization felt they were being treated equally. The town subsequently joined the Coalition of Municipalities against Racism and Discrimination.
The Focus
The focus is on ensuring that all staff and citizens in the Town of Truro, and the surrounding area, feel they are being treated equally regardless of heritage, culture, sex or ethnicity.
It is also important to give individuals the opportunity to express their culture through traditions or special presentations.
The goal of this Best Practice is also illustrated by the acronym used for the town's Embrace Festival, which stands for: Everyone Makes a Better, Respectful, Accepting, Creative Environment. The Town of Truro feels that this motto should be instilled not only during the Embrace Festival, but also in everyday life.
Constantly striving to further the sense of equality in Truro brings many cultures together and allows them to gain a better sense of community. The town is determined to eliminate negative barriers and allow individuals to have a better understanding of other cultures and traditions.
The Story
Truro has a generous number of Council committees, which are a combination of staff, Council members and citizens appointed by Council. The Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee is mandated to promote equal opportunity in all services and employment provided to the community by the town.
Making a Difference
Town Council's advocacy for the elimination of discrimination, racism and barriers makes an ongoing difference in Truro.
The Embrace Festival allows people of multiple cultures, ethnicities and heritages to come together to celebrate and embrace their cultural differences. Through acceptance and understanding, friendships are formed and new bonds are created, which in turn creates a tighter-knit community. An understanding and accepting community will allow all individuals to feel comfortable regardless of their culture, age, sex, ethnicity, diversity or heritage, while promoting equal opportunities for all.
Overcoming Challenges
The Town of Truro Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee has representatives from multiple ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and diversities. When appointing new citizens each year, council has a difficult task, as they try to form as diverse a committee as possible. Truro is open to opportunities to partner with new groups and to sign new proclamations, to ensure that all individuals in Truro feel they are being accepted equally.
Vision for the Future
The Town of Truro is adamant that it will continue to strive forward with its best practices for the elimination of barriers, racism and discrimination.
The town is willing to further the education of staff to give them a better understanding of the initiative at large. New multicultural festivals will be given the opportunity to make presentations to Council for support. The town will continue to advocate to its residents the importance of eliminating barriers and coming together as a whole to stand up against racism and discrimination.
About the Town of Truro
The Town of Truro was incorporated in 1875 and is
the largest town in Nova Scotia. Equality of citizens
and staff is a key goal of its Town Council.
Best Practice Contact
Megan Fitzgerald
Town of Truro
902-893-6090
695 Prince St.
Truro, NS B2N 1G5
www.truro.ca