​Eighteen people representing a broad range of equity-deserving groups will provide their input to Port Coquitlam as the City’s Roundtable on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion begins its third year.

The individuals were among those who recently applied for a spot on year three of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) roundtable, launched in 2020 by Mayor Brad West to build on the City’s commitment to removing barriers and developing welcoming, inclusive and equitable practices and policies for the City.

Reflecting the community itself, the EDI roundtable members offer diverse voices of Indigenous people, Black, people of colour, LGBT2SQ+ and gender diverse people, people with disabilities, immigrants and newcomers, people living in poverty, seniors, women and youth and others.

The EDI Roundtable acts as a resource to staff on City priorities concerning diversity, equity and inclusion in the community. Members have the opportunity to share feedback and provide input on eliminating systemic barriers and creating inclusive opportunities that celebrate diversity through programs, events, services and policies.

Input from the EDI roundtable’s second term informed and led to City initiatives that included development of Port Coquitlam’s first Anti-Racial Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy, the inclusion of sensory friendly spaces, a greater breadth of diverse voices at City events and the review and revision of the cultural celebrations and days of acknowledgement that the City recognizes. Members also received the City’s proclamation recognizing Mar. 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and presented to Council the importance of this day, bringing awareness to the reality of racial discrimination.

Focuses for the 2023/24 year, in accordance with the new Accessible British Columbia Act, the roundtable will be providing input on the creation of the City’s first accessibility plan and a mechanism for public feedback on accessibility. EDI members will have the opportunity to join a sub-committee where they will act as a resource and provide feedback on identifying, removing and preventing barriers that community members with disabilities, including physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or cognitive impairments, experience or may experience in the course of interacting with the City.

The appointed members for the upcoming term are:

• Agam Bokovza Mariash
• Becca (Yu) Lewis
• Carol Kim
• Delavar Ghadrshenass
• Deniz Bercic
• Elahe Birjandian
• Fernanda Friedrich
• Frank Lee
• Jas Qualitz
• Laura McCristall
• Lily Llaguno
• Liz Carr
• Lorraine Leon
• Meena Dhillon
• Mithila Karnik
• Noor Shaker
• Renu Seru
• Sunaina Sharma

For more information about this and other citizen roundtables in Port Coquitlam, visit portcoquitlam.ca/roundtable.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca