Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

The College of Dietitians of Ontario is committed to informed Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDI-B) action that leads to sustainable and meaningful change in carrying out its public protection mandate. The College is taking action. We invite you to visit this page regularly for news and updates on EDI-B initiatives upon which the College is currently working.

Want to learn the latest news about EDI-B at the College? Click here to visit EDI-B Updates & Resources. 

The College of Dietitians of Ontario recognizes the important role we play as an employer and as a regulator that serves and protects the public interest.  We are committed to informed equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDI-B) action to minimize systemic barriers and to help build a more inclusive and equitable health system for all, including Indigenous peoples, immigrants, refugees, people who are racialized, people with disabilities and the 2SLGBTQIA communities.

Our commitment to informed EDI-B action is a conscious decision to foster respectful partnerships with the public, dietitians, employers, and healthcare providers. It is our shared responsibility to encourage anti-oppressive practices that embrace innovation and recognize the value of diversity to achieve sustainable and meaningful change.

We promise to listen, reflect, learn, and act in collaboration with our Council, staff, dietitians, and the public. We are committed to being transparent about our EDI-B work and actions and why they are important to us. This work is never done. As individuals and as an organization, we commit to being life-long learners and will continue to educate ourselves to better our work within our regulatory mandate and daily practices.

To help recognize how equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDI-B) can support the delivery of safe and equitable dietetic care in Ontario and enhance the College’s regulatory work, it is important to understand what EDI-B means.

Equity:  Equity is defined as the removal of systemic barriers and biases enabling all individuals to have equal opportunity to access and benefit.  Equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances.  The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures.

Diversity:  Diversity is defined as differences in race, colour, place of origin, religion, belief system, immigrant and newcomer status, ethnic origin, native or indigenous identity, culture, parental status, appearance, language and accent, mental health, education, geography, nationality, ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, generation,  and age.

Inclusion:  Inclusion is defined as the practice of ensuring that all individuals are valued and respected for their contributions and are equally supported.  Inclusion is about valuing people’s unique ideas and lived experiences and ensuring they feel involved, respected, connected, and have their voice heard.

Belonging:  Belonging is about creating a culture where people can be themselves, have psychological safety, appreciate each other, and feel part of something bigger.  It is when an individual can bring their authentic self to work, they are more engaged and able to contribute.  A sense of belonging is what unlocks the power and value of diversity.

The staff Equity Diversity Inclusion and Belonging (EDI-B) Working Group is to advise the College of Dietitians of Ontario concerning its role in overseeing and monitoring the response to and implementation of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives within the College.

The purpose of the EDI-B Working Group is to assist Board, the Governance Committee, and the Registrar & Executive Director in ensuring that in carrying out the mandate of the College and that equity, inclusivity and respect for all is fully reflected in internal operations, with a view of overcoming systemic barriers. 

Working Group Members:

• Aneita Chang, Director of Corporate Services and EDI-B Lead
• Ivy Marzan, Registration Program Administrator
• Jada Pierre-Malcolm, Executive Assistant
• Mary Gong, Professional Practice Program Administrator
• Melanie Woodbeck, Registrar and Executive Director
• Samantha Thiessen, Practice Advisor & Policy Analyst
• Valérie Michaud, Bilingual Communications Officer