Portrayal of Aboriginals, Blacks, and other people of colour in all forms of media, school texts, literature as inherently, "inferior", "savage", "bad", "primitive". The impression given is that these groups have contributed nothing to civilization, and that there was no civilization before Europeans found "non-white" peoples and "found" lands where they were living.

The mix of ideas, beliefs, values, behavioural norms, knowledge and traditions of a group of individuals who share a historical, geographic, religious, racial, linguistic, ethnic or social context, and who transmit, reinforce and modify those ideas and beliefs, passing them on from one generation to another.  A culture is the total of everything an individual learns by being immersed in a particular context.  It results in a set of expectations for appropriate behaviour in seemingly similar contexts.

Social groups whose individual members have been denied equal access to employment, education, social services, housing, etc. because of membership in the group.  The designated groups in Ontario are visible minorities, women, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.

Inborn or assigned characteristics of an individual that may prevent full participation in educational, social, economic, political, religious, institutional or formal activities of a group, or that may require accommodation to enable full participation.  Visible disabilities are readily apparent and consequent discrimination or stigma may be more predicable than with invisible disabilities which are not immediately apparent.  Persons with disabilities form one of the designated groups in employment equity programs.  An important aspect of this definition is voluntary self-identification.

The denial of equal treatment, civil liberties and opportunity to individuals or groups with respect to education, accommodation, health care, employment and access to services, goods and facilities. Behaviour that results from prejudiced attitudes by individuals or institiutions, resulting in unequal outcomes for persons who are perceived as different.  Differential treatment that may occur on the basis of race, nationality, gender, age, religion, political or ethnic affiliation, sexual orientation, marital or family status, physical, developmental or mental disability. Includes the denial of cultural, economic, educational, political and/or social rights of members of non-dominant groups.

A term used to encompass all the various differences among people including race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic status, etc. and commonly used in the United States and increasingly in Canada to describe workplace programs aimed at reducing discrimination promoting equality of opportunity and outcome for all groups. Concern has been expressed by anti-racism and race relations practitioners that diversity programs may water down efforts to combat racism in all its forms. The presence of a wide range of human qualities and attributes within a group, organization, or society. The dimensions of diversity include, but are not limited to, ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status.

Considered the most powerful and privileged of groups in a particular society or context. The dominant group in Canada is white, Christian, male and English speaking, perceiving themselves to be superior to and more privileged than Aboriginal Peoples, Black People and other people of colour or people of minority religious or linguistic groups. (See Majority)

The process of leaving oneâ??s home or country in order to settle in another home, place or country, for personal, economic, political, religious or social reasons.

A program designed to remove barriers to equality in employment by identifying and eliminating discriminatory policies and practices, remedying the effects of past discrimination, and ensuring appropriate representation of the designated groups.

To keep a person(s) in a state of bondage and reducing them to slavery

A systemic form of racism in which toxic wastes are introduced in or near marginalized communities.   People of colour, indigenous peoples, working class and poor people suffer disproportionately from environmental hazards and risks such as industrial toxins, polluted air, unclean water, deleterious work conditions and the location of dangerous, toxic facilities such incinerators and toxic waste dumps. Pollution of lands, air and waterways; often causes chronic illness to the inhabitants and change in their lifestyle.

An explicit set of policies, guidelines and actions devised to eradicate discriminatory practices and to ensure access to and full participation in educational and employment opportunities, housing, health care, and the services, goods and facilities available to the general community.

A condition or state of fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment of all people. Equity does not mean treating people the same without regard for individual differences.

Refers to a group of people having a common heritage or ancestry, or a shared historical past, often with identifiable physical, cultural, linguistic and/or religious characteristics.

The multiplicity of beliefs, behaviours and traditions held in common by a group of people bound by particular linguistic, historical, geographical, religious and/or racial homogeneity.  Ethnic diversity is the variation of such groups and the presence of a number of ethnic groups within one society or nation.  The word "ethnic" is often used to denote non-dominant or less powerful cultural identities in Canada.