CRRF Glossary

Title	Definition
Culture	The mix of ideas, beliefs, values, behavioural and social norms, knowledge and traditions of a group of individuals who have historical, geographic, religious, racial, linguistic, ethnic or social context, and who transmit, reinforce and modify those ideas, values and beliefs, passing them on from one generation to another.. It results in a set of expectations for appropriate behaviour in seemingly similar contexts.
Designated Groups	Social groups whose individual members have been historically denied equal access to employment, education, social services, housing, etc. because of membership in the group. In Ontario, the designated groups include, among others, people protected on the basis of ancestry, citizenship, race, creed, colour, ethnic origin and place of origin.
Discrimination	The denial of equal treatment and opportunity to individuals or groups because of personal characteristics and membership in specific groups, with respect to education, accommodation, health care, employment and access to services, goods and facilities. Behaviour that results from distinguishing people on that basis without regard to individual merit, resulting in unequal outcomes for persons who are perceived as different. Differential treatment that may occur on the basis of race, nationality, religion, ethnic affiliation.
Diversity	A term used to encompass all the various national, racial, ethnic, religious and other backgrounds of people –and used increasingly in Canada to describe workplace programs aimed at reducing discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and outcome for all groups. 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, language, race, religion, and socio-economic status.
Dominant Group	Considered the group that controls the major elements of a society’s norms and values.
Emigration	The process of leaving one’s home or country in order to settle in another home, place or country, for personal, economic, political, religious or social reasons.
Employment Equity	A program designed to remove barriers to equality in employment for reasons unrelated to ability, by identifying and eliminating discriminatory policies and practices, remedying the effects of past discrimination, and ensuring appropriate representation of the designated groups.
Environmental Racism	A systemic form of racism in which toxic wastes are introduced into 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 as incinerators and toxic waste dumps. Pollution of lands, air and waterways; often causes chronic illness to the inhabitants and change in their lifestyle.
Equal Opportunity Program	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.
Equity	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.

Culture

The mix of ideas, beliefs, values, behavioural and social norms, knowledge and traditions of a group of individuals who have historical, geographic, religious, racial, linguistic, ethnic or social context, and who transmit, reinforce and modify those ideas, values and beliefs, passing them on from one generation to another.. It results in a set of expectations for appropriate behaviour in seemingly similar contexts.

Designated Groups

Social groups whose individual members have been historically denied equal access to employment, education, social services, housing, etc. because of membership in the group. In Ontario, the designated groups include, among others, people protected on the basis of ancestry, citizenship, race, creed, colour, ethnic origin and place of origin.

Discrimination

The denial of equal treatment and opportunity to individuals or groups because of personal characteristics and membership in specific groups, with respect to education, accommodation, health care, employment and access to services, goods and facilities. Behaviour that results from distinguishing people on that basis without regard to individual merit, resulting in unequal outcomes for persons who are perceived as different. Differential treatment that may occur on the basis of race, nationality, religion, ethnic affiliation.

Diversity

A term used to encompass all the various national, racial, ethnic, religious and other backgrounds of people –and used increasingly in Canada to describe workplace programs aimed at reducing discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and outcome for all groups. 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, language, race, religion, and socio-economic status.

Dominant Group

Considered the group that controls the major elements of a society’s norms and values.

Emigration

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

Employment Equity

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

Environmental Racism

A systemic form of racism in which toxic wastes are introduced into 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 as incinerators and toxic waste dumps. Pollution of lands, air and waterways; often causes chronic illness to the inhabitants and change in their lifestyle.

Equal Opportunity Program

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.

Equity

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.