PUBLIC EDUCATION
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018 sets out the mandate for the Commission’s education and engagement responsibilities, including to:
- forward the principle that every person is free and equal in dignity and rights;
- promote an understanding and acceptance of, and compliance with, the Code;
- develop and conduct educational programs designed to eliminate discriminatory practices;
- disseminate information and promote understanding of the legal rights of residents of Saskatchewan and conduct educational programs in that respect;
- further the principle of the equality of opportunities for persons, and equality in the exercise of the legal rights of persons, regardless of their status;
- conduct and encourage research by persons and associations actively engaged in the field of promoting human rights; and
- forward the principle that cultural diversity is a basic human right and fundamental human value.
In accordance with the Code, the Commission engages in a wide array of educational activities and partnership initiatives such as presentations, workshops, public awareness campaigns and conferences.
The Commission has also established a Business Help Line to educate the province’s business sector about rights and responsibilities under the Code.
ENOUGH ALREADY
In 2019, the Government of Canada announced nearly $1.6 million in funding over five years for a province-wide strategy to address sexual harassment in the workplaces of Saskatchewan.
A coalition consisting of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, the University of Saskatchewan – College of Law, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council were responsible for the allocation of the funds.
Less than a year later, the Enough Already initiative was launched.
The initiative was designed to address and prevent workplace sexual harassment in Saskatchewan through strategic online education campaigns, coaching, education sessions, supporting survivors, online training tools designed to help employers educate and raise awareness about sexual harassment in the workplace, and online training resources for employers, employees, and businesses.
“There were some barriers that we did not anticipate at the beginning of this project,” said Nicole White, Project Lead for Enough Already. “We had our public launch and, literally, one week later the COVID-19 pandemic began. So we were a little slow to get started.”
Enough Already soon found its stride, and over the next four years provided 340 education sessions to more than 16,000 people in workplaces throughout Saskatchewan.
“It was encouraging to see the uptake across the province. We were able to engage everywhere from workplaces in rural communities to large municipalities,” said White.
Since 2020, Enough Already has provided training sessions to government workplaces, municipalities, unions, and community-based organizations, as well as trades, law, social work, health, banking, and education organizations.
They’ve spoken to male-dominated workplaces, newcomers, students, people in leadership roles, Indigenous people, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons. Each training session included scenarios specific to that workplace.
“We didn’t go in with canned presentations,” said White. “In-person or online, our training was customizable so it would be better suited and more meaningful for those in attendance.”
Whether being brought in for proactive purposes or as a restorative tool, Enough Already remained focused on creating space for organizations to address workplace issues and create safer, healthier, more respectful work environments.
Bystanders and Survivors
From the beginning of the Enough Already project, emphasis was placed on the role of bystanders.
“We wanted every bystander, every person, who witnesses sexual harassment in the workplace to understand how vital their role is,” said White. “It was our goal to provide them with the tools to identify sexual harassment when they see it and techniques to safely diffuse sexual harassment when it happens. It is about having those actions and options available to you in that moment.”
The bystander campaign addressed the reluctance and fears of bystanders and urged those who witness inappropriate workplace behaviour to stand up rather than step aside.
In addition to educating bystanders, Enough Already also engaged with survivors of sexual harassment to best support them in their journey.
“It has been deeply rewarding being able to support survivors, to provide them with the options and resources they need,” said White.
Next Steps
Federal funding for Enough Already ended on March 31, 2024. The initiative, however, will continue with Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan (SASS) taking on the project.
Leading up to the transfer on April 1, Enough Already forwarded nearly 20 employer requests to SASS. SASS will also take over the administration of the website and its many resources, including the online training modules which were used by 450 participants over the years.
“These static online modules are available 24/7 to employers and employees. It’s a wonderful resource that would be nice to see employers include in their onboarding packages,” said White. “Looking back, we’ve been able to create excellent resources (like the modules) and provide a really strong footprint for SASS to step in and address sexual harassment in Saskatchewan workplaces. They’re a wonderful organization and I’m excited to see what they will do next with the project.”
LUNCH AND LEARN
In June 2022, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission launched its Employment Equity Partner Lunch and Learn Series. Held online, the series features experts from around the province speaking about equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
During the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Commission hosted six Lunch and Learn events:
1. On October 5, 2023, Karon Shamon – director of Métis Culture and Heritage at the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research – gave a presentation on how to recruit and retain Indigenous employees.
2. A couple of months later on December 3, 4to40’s Donna Flaman spoke about her organization’s Inclusive Employment Initiative. During the session, she shared the 4to40 story and talked about the difference the Inclusive Employment Initiative has made in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities who encounter many barriers, especially attitudinal barriers, to employment.
3. The new year began with guest speaker Dana Soonias. On January 25, 2024, his presentation – “Lived Experience of Indigenous Peoples within Government and Large Private Organizations” – explored what reconciliation means to Indigenous people in the workplace and how that impact surpasses the mainstream understanding of culture and diversity in recruitment and retention strategies.
4. The following month, on February 22 Enough Already’s Nicole White gave a talk titled “Addressing and Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”. Nicole explored how to identify sexual harassment and how it impacts people in Saskatchewan workplaces. She also discussed the role of bystanders, the business case for harassment prevention, and how employers and employees can better address harassment.
5. The Commission’s Director of Systemic Initiatives, Robin Mowat, hosted two Lunch and Learn sessions during the 2023-24 fiscal year. The first session, on November 16, 2023, was titled “Human Rights and Hiring Interviews”. It focused on requirements for employers to avoid discrimination in the hiring process. The second session, on March 28, provided guests with the “Commission’s Top Ten Tips for Accommodation”. An employer’s duty to accommodate was examined, in particular how it relates to employees experiencing disabilities. The session was designed to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions the Commission receives about accommodation.
BUSINESS HELP LINE
Businesses, particularly those that do not have in-house human resource departments, need information about human rights related questions.
In an effort to be proactive, and to help businesses avoid making mistakes that result in human rights complaints, the Commission established a Business Help Line in 2014.
Businesses and organizations in Saskatchewan can call for human rights advice – free of charge. Every year, the Commission receives hundreds of calls from businesses, service providers, and other employers seeking this type of advice.
Calls can take as little as 10 minutes or can last up to an hour. This past year our Business Help Line received 348 calls.
PUBLIC EDUCATION SESSIONS
The Commission provides educational sessions to employers, unions, professional associations, community organizations and other groups in the province. These sessions, conducted both online and in-person, provide human rights information to the public and help develop a culture in which rights, as well as responsibilities, are understood and respected.
During the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Commission engaged in the following public education events:
1. Truly Alive Youth and Family Foundation Inc. – June 16, 2023
2. Saskatchewan Landlords Association – September 28, 2023
3. OUTSaskatoon – September 28, 2023
4. Union Labour Law Conference – September 28, 2023
5. SKArts – October 10, 2023
6. City of Saskatoon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee – October 18, 2023
7. University of Regina – October 18, 2023
8. City of Saskatoon – November 15, 2023
9. University of Saskatchewan College of Law – November 16, 2023
10. University of Saskatchewan Indigenous Student Employment Readiness Program – November 16, 2023
11. Public Policy Forum Academy – November 22, 2023
12. Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities – November 30, 2023
13. Saskatoon Fire Department – December 12, 2023
14. Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board – December 13, 2023
15. kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre Askiy Workshop Series – February 8, 2024
16. Equitable Education for Students with Reading Disabilities Information Sessions – February 27-29 and March 8, 2024
17. Law Society of Saskatchewan – March 8, 2024
18. Saskatoon Police Services – March 15, 2024
19. Saskatchewan School Board Association – March 18, 2024
20. Ukrainian Canadian Congress – April 4, June 8, August 22, October 17, November 9, February 13, March 21 (2023-2024)
IN THE COMMUNITY
RAMADAN IFTAR DINNER
On April 1, 2023, Commissioner Mike San Miguel attended the Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner at the Baitur Rahmat Mosque in Saskatoon for an evening of love, faith, diversity, and unity.
NATIONAL DAY OF AWARENESS MMIWG2S
On the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), members of the Commission took part in a community-led Red Dress Awareness Walk in Saskatoon.
SANCTUM SURVIVOR CHALLENGE
On May 25 and 26, Commissioner Fatima Coovadia took part in the Sanctum Survivor Challenge. The event featured community leaders living as if they were homeless for 36 hours on the streets of Saskatoon.
SOD TURNING CEREMONY
On May 28, Executive Director Norma Gunningham-Kapphahn attended SaskNative Rental’s Hart Road Project sod turning ceremony. The Hart Road Project aims to create a safe, vibrant, and happy place for those in need of affordable housing by giving tenants a good neighbourhood, good neighbours, and access to the amenities they need.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL
On May 28, Commissioners Fatima Coovadia and Jan Gitlin attended the Annual Holocaust Memorial Service at the Congregation Agudas Israel in Saskatoon.
RECONCILIATION FLAG RAISING CEREMONY
On May 29, the Commission joined members of the community at Civic Square for the Reconciliation Flag Raising ceremony. The flag is raised to set the stage for the month of June, which marks National Indigenous History Month and includes National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21).
PRIDE PARADE
To celebrate Pride Month 2023, the Commission attended the Pride Parade in Saskatoon. Hundreds of people were on hand to recognize, value, celebrate and support LGBTQ2S+ people and their families.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
On June 21, the Commission went to Victoria Park for the Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre Community Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration.
ROCK YOUR ROOTS
In September, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Commission attended the Rock Your Roots Walk to support and honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.
TAPESTRAMA CULTURAL FESTIVAL
On September 23, Commissioner Mike San Miguel attended the Tapestrama Cultural Festival in Prince Albert.
RACE RELATIONS MONTH
On March 1, Chief Commissioner Sikora spoke at City Hall to mark the beginning of Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Month in Saskatoon.