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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Updated: Apr 22, 2025

Committee Mandate

The committee works with the Town of Minto on matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure Minto lives up to its commitment to be a welcoming and inclusive rural community.

To the greatest extent possible, members from the community will represent a broad range of under-served and equity seeking groups such as but not limited to:

  • Indigenous peoples
  • LGBTQ2S+
  • Newcomers, new Canadians
  • Persons living in poverty
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Racialized people, people of diverse ethnic or cultural origin
  • Seniors
  • Women
  • Youth
  • 3-5 Community Members working in allyship 
  • The Director of Economic & Community Development and the Marketing and Community Development Coordinator or their designates will attend all meetings.  

Days of Significance

At the Town of Minto, we believe in fostering an inclusive and welcoming community. That’s why we’ve chosen to highlight Days of Significance on our social media—acknowledging important dates that reflect and celebrate the diversity of our residents.

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitee has selected these days based on those officially recognized by the Governments of Canada and Ontario, as well as the Diversity Calendar from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI). While there are many meaningful observances each month, we will highlight those that are most relevant to Minto’s population.

Want to explore the full diversity calendar? Click here.

By recognizing these important dates, we aim to promote awareness, understanding, and unity within our community. Let’s celebrate and learn together! 

Days of Significance Recognized on Town of Minto Social Media

Alzheimer's Awareness Month 

National Ribbon Skirt Day - January 4

Lincoln Alexander Day - January 21

International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27

National Day of Remembrance for the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia - January 29

Black History Month

World Interfaith Harmony Week - February 1-7

Pink Shirt Day - February 26

 

Irish Heritage Month

Lantern Festival - March 3 (date varies)

International Women's Day - March 8

International Day to Combat Islamophobia - March 15

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - March 21

Muslim Women's Day - March 27

International Transgender Day of Visibility - March 31

Sikh Heritage Month

World Autism Awareness Day - April 2

International Day of Pink - April, 2nd Wednesday

Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - April 9

Canadian Fertility Awareness Week - April, last full week

 

Asian Heritage Month

Dutch Heritage Month

Community Living Month

Red Dress Day - May 5

Moose Hide Campaign Day - 3rd Thursday of May

National AccessAbility Week - Begins last Sunday in May

Filipino Heritage Month

Pride Month

Action Anxiety Day - June 10

Juneteenth - June 19

National Indigenous People Day - June 21

Canadian Multiculturalism Day - June 27

 

Canada Day - July 1

International Non-Binary People's Day - July 14

Nelson Mandela Day - July 18

International Day of Friendship - July 30

Emancipation Day - August 1

Terry Fox Day - 1st Monday in August

International Youth Day - August 12

World Humanitarian Day - August 19

International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31

Ukrainian Heritage Day - September 7

Mennonite Heritage Week - 2nd week of September

Gender Equality Week - 4th week of September

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day - September 30

Canadian Islamic History Month

German Heritage Month

Latin American Heritage Month

National Seniors Day - October 1

Mental Health Awareness Week - October 5-11

International Day of Rural Women - October 15

 

Veterans' Week - November 5-11

Remembrance Day - November 11

World Kindness Day - November 13

International Day of Tolerance - November 20

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - November 25

Universal Human Rights Month 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - December 3

Chanukah - December 14 - 22

Christmas - December 25

Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 2

Members of the Committee

  • Deputy Mayor Jean Anderson
  • Ahmad Almohamad
  • Kerry Ammerman
  • Therese Boertien
  • Heather Gray
  • Peyton McBeth
  • Brittany Reis
  • Jokelee Vanderkop
  • Mabel Amapali
  • Alicia Becker
  • Sarah Bowers-Peter
  • Caitlin Hall
  • Jessica Rowden
  • Stefen Von Muhlenen

Join the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Help us build a more inclusive community.

Get involved!

Working Group within DEI

Minto Pride

Minto Pride was founded in 2019 and operates as a working group within the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, a committee of council of the Town of Minto

Run by a small group of volunteers, Minto Pride encourages inclusion, and increases visibility, of the LGBTQ2S+ community in the Town of Minto, while promoting education on the diversity of gender, sex and sexual identity.

Harriston, Palmerston, and Clifford are diverse and growing communities in Minto. We strive to bring people from a variety of walks of life together to create a shared society where there is room to learn from, socialize with, and get to know each other.

We celebrate Pride by holding events and advocating for the LGBTQ2S+ community. Past events have included our annual Pride in Park event in June, Drag nights, Socials, Hikes, Trivia nights, and more.

Since the creation of our group, we’ve successfully advocated for the Pride flag to be flown at Town Hall during June, presented to Council on the importance of Pride, and fundraised for the installation of an Inclusive Pride Crosswalk in Harriston, and Pride Banners in Harriston, Palmerston and Clifford.

These are small steps on the rural road of equity that led to making Minto a place where all families want to belong.

Do you want to stay up to date on our events and happenings? Get in contact, or simply show your support? You can find us on Facebook and Instagram or email us at town.minto.pride@gmail.com. Visit our website at www.mintopride.ca.

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Get In Touch

Erin Raftis Marketing & Community Development Coordinator

519-338-2511 ext 242