Justice, Equity, Decolonization, Diversity, Inclusion
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News
Music BC Launches New JUMPSTART Talks Program with event on June 17, 2023
Music BC is excited to announce a new component to their JUMPSTART series: JUMPSTART Talks. They are excited to have Kardinal Offishall as their inaugural Jumpstart Talks Keynote speaker. This carefully crafted discussion, led by Hip-Hop legend Prevail, will showcase...
Become a Music BC Travel Grant Juror
Music BC is seeking creative professionals and music industry representatives to join its juror roster for 2023. Music BC jurors will provide insight and feedback on Music BC Travel Grants. A juror honorarium will be provided. Music BC is committed to providing a jury...
Contact East 2023 Registration Now Open
Contact East is the Atlantic Presenters Association’s hallmark event, and Atlantic Canada’s performing arts booking conference. The 2023 conference will span September 21 - 24, 2023, in Woody Point, Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland/Labrador). Learn more and register.
Where we live and work
We gratefully acknowledge the unceded ancestral territories of the 34 First Nations language and cultural groups upon whose homelands the province’s creative industries work and live. Creative BC and the sector we support have a crucial role to play in uplifting Indigenous people and specifically, Indigenous voices, creators, companies, and creative content. We prioritize actions that foster relationships and lasting partnerships, contribute to long-term value, ensure greater access, and deepen cultural understanding.
Resources
- Visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action to read about #92. Business and Reconciliation.
- Learn about B.C.’s Indigenous territories, languages and communities on the First Peoples’ Map of B.C. and native_land.ca.
- Visit the Indigenous Screen Office’s Protocols resources
Creative Equity Roadmap
B.C.’s motion picture industry is undertaking transformative action – both independently and collectively to achieve greater equity, diversity and inclusion. A partner site to Creative Pathways for career-seekers, the Creative Equity Roadmap is designed as a central tool for those working inside our creative sector. It champions and aligns industry’s JEDDI work through shared foundations, a common language, and baseline resources.
Visit the Creative Equity Roadmap
A resource designed for B.C.’s motion picture industry and relevant to all.
The Creative Industries Pledge
Diversity, Inclusivity + Respectful Workplace – As investors in Canada’s creative industries, we are committed to supporting a healthy ecosystem that thrives in a culture of mutual respect, dignity and inclusivity that is free from any form of harassment.
Our Guiding Principles, Resources + Policy
- We continue to support the prevention and eradication of harassment, in any form, in our own organization and in the companies we support.
2. We encourage the industry to respond to harmful behaviour in a timely and meaningful way.
3. We believe that:
- creating and maintaining an inclusive and respectful workplace is everyones responsibility
- harassment cannot be tolerated
- complainants and victims of harassment must be supported and protected
- safe reporting mechanisms should be put in place to protect complainants and
- victims awareness and education on the prevention of harassment are critical elements to ensuring safe and inclusive workplaces for everyone.
4. We expect all companies that work with, or seek funding from, our organizations to respect these principles, comply with relevant laws and implement policies and procedures for a harassment-free workplace.
Signatories:
RESOURCES + POLICY
Creative BC Respectful Workplace Policy
Creative BC values its employees and partners and is committed to providing a work environment that
upholds the principles of respect, inclusiveness, fairness and equity. Creative BC has policy,
procedures, education, training and expectations to create and support a respectful workplace.
Read the Code
Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct website dedicated to preventing and reducing harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence within Canada creative industries.
WorkSafeBC Bullying + Harassment Toolkit
A prevention tool kit to help employers and workers understand legal duties, and how to address bullying and harassment in the workplace.
BC Human Rights Clinic
Understanding, legal assistance, education and mediation services for with respect to human rights.
JEDDI Work Through Self-Identification Data Collection, Targeted Programs and Supports
Creative BC invites all applicants, clients, employees, board members and contractors to self-identify. Our purpose in collecting this information relates to improving equity, diversity and inclusion within our staff, our workforce, and more broadly, within the creative sector we serve.
Self-Identification Data Collection in Support of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Program Streams
BACKGROUND
Why we place a priority on consistency
Beginning in the summer of 2020, Creative BC asks all funding program applicants (individuals as well as projects/initiatives) to voluntarily self-identify via a set of standardized questions to share information on gender, Indigenous identity, racial and ethnocultural identity, disability, and sexual orientation.
Creative BC has streamlined its approach to collection of social identity data from funding program applicants with uniform questions and categories of responses, which are closely aligned with the way similar data is collected by Statistics Canada and other funding agencies in Canada.
The purpose of ensuring consistency and alignment is to harmonize with other data sources and to support comparability with provincial and national benchmarks. This in turn will help facilitate our accountability, allow us to measure progress, and help us better understand the clients we serve.
Why self-identification data collection is important
The collection of self-identification data is driven by our own commitment to support a broad spectrum of voices and to ensure that we bring stories forward from many for whom there have been and continue to be barriers to access resources.
Our collection of the data you provide is in alignment with our Mission Statement and our Values. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion through its JEDDI work (Justice, Equity, Decolonization, Diversity and Inclusion).
Creative BC is committed to taking a leadership role in this area and to ensuring that provincial and federal governments’ data collection and reporting connects with our own, so together we can advance B.C. and Canada toward a culture of true equity, diversity, and inclusion. A harmonized self-identification data collection process allows Creative BC to track funding outcomes and design new measures that achieve greater equity, diversity and inclusion in the creative industries.
Creative BC will ask people to voluntarily self-identify based on or as:
- Gender
- Indigenous person to Canada
- 2SLGBTQIA+
- Person living with one or more Disability
- Racial and ethnocultural identity
Completing the self-identification form is required, however all questions offer a selection “Prefer not to respond.”
PRIVACY, COLLECTION AND USE OF INFORMATION
The self-identification information is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of in accordance with the Privacy Act and B.C. Personal Information Protection Act the Access to Information Act. The information will be managed in accordance with provincial policies, directives and guidelines on information management and protection of personal information, and with Creative BC’s retention and disposition schedules.
Management of this information is the responsibility of Creative BC Privacy Officer and Director of Business Operations. Contact can be made at privacy@creativebc.com.
The information submitted is confidential and will be used to compile aggregate statistics on representation and participation across Creative BC programs and services, as well as to inform growing insights into B.C.’s music industry composition. Specific Program Guidelines will clearly outline how choosing to self-identify and providing social identity characteristics may relate to determine funding program eligibility or support prioritization and weighted criteria designed to increase the diversity of recipient pools.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the social identity questions in our form:
- The social identity questions are a first step and as such they do not currently include all possible identities. We have provided a Prefer to Self-Describe field to allow you to share more information and we value learning more about what could be added in the future.
- The social identity questions are primarily based on terms used by Statistics Canada, as are the response options, and related definitions. This approach, while limited, does ensure questions are consistent, answers are consistent, and our data can align for comparison with public datasets.
- Creative BC acknowledges this terminology drawn from federal language and used in the social identity questions here is not language reflective of community-originated terms, and the impact can be felt as harmful. Our intent is to use terms that are widely understood and comparable. We also offer a Prefer to Self-Describe open field for your response.
- To deliver equity programs and supports, Creative BC depends on internal data comparability with public datasets and a sound research methodology. Our data insights, when comparable, demonstrate gaps in program participation, need for equity programs and supports, and compliance with applicable laws, including the Canadian Human Rights Act., covered in British Columbia by the BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner.
- Creative BC welcomes feedback from the community and will closely monitor changing social identity terms, specifically those used by Statistics Canada. Following consultations which indicate a need for revisions that do not disrupt provincial and national data comparability, Creative BC may also change the terminology or wording in the questionnaire. Beyond the purpose of this questionnaire’s terminology, your feedback will inform our understanding, our insights to advocate for systems change in all spheres of our influence, and all other areas of language use at Creative BC beyond this questionnaire.
PROVIDE FEEDBACK REGARDING OUR SELF-IDENTIFICATION FORM HERE
1. Why am I being asked to complete the self-identification questionnaire?
The collection of self-identification data is a tool to support Creative BC’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). This data provides information on the social identity characteristics of the population applying for and receiving Creative BC funds as well as those working for the organization. This information allows Creative BC’s to monitor progress and to ensure EDI principles are upheld in our programs and practices. We want to use these insights to recognize and remove barriers, and to design new mechanisms to achieve greater EDI in the creative industries.
2. Who is required to complete the questionnaire?
All applicants and co-applicants for funding are required to respond to self-identification questions regarding gender, Indigenous identity, race, disability, and sexual orientation.
3. I do not agree with the terms provided. What can I do about that?
Creative BC recognizes that language used to describe an individual’s social identity characteristics is constantly evolving and can be felt as harmful. Our intent is to use terms that are widely understood and comparable. We also offer a Prefer to Self-Describe open field for your response. We welcome feedback via our anonymous feedback form and will annually review our social identity questions.
4. I am not comfortable responding to these questions. What should I do?
If you do not want to self-identify, you have the option to choose “Prefer not to respond” for each question. You must select this option and save your responses in order for your questionnaire to be marked as complete. Doing so fulfills the mandatory completion of the questionnaire.
5. How will my information be stored? Who will see my information? Will peer reviewers be able to access this information?
The self-identification information will be stored electronically in your Contact file within the Creative BC Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform. Access is limited to Creative BC staff on a need to know basis and is protected by strict employer/employee confidentiality agreements. Your Contact self-identification information is part of your application, and is accessible to, and shared with a selection of team and/or jury members in an identifiable form for the singular purpose of the program for which you are applying.
The self-identification information is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of in accordance with the province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the federal Privacy Act, the B.C. Personal Information Protection Act. Information will be managed in accordance with Creative BC retention and disposition schedules.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact privacy@creativebc.com and/or the Creative BC staff associated with your program.
5. How do I fill in the questionnaire? How will I know that the questionnaire has been completed?
After you apply to a Creative BC program, you and/or all key personnel associated with your application will receive an email to complete a Self-ID survey. Within that email, you’ll receive a URL to the survey, and a form number to use as a link back to your application. Once you answer all of the required questions, click on submit. An error message will display at the top of the page if you miss any required information.
6. Can I make changes to my questionnaire after it has been completed and submitted?
No. At this time, we do not offer an option for the Self-identification information to be changed. However, you may write the program analyst if you realize you have submitted incorrect information, and they can change your application if it has not already been reviewed.
7. Will my responses be tied to funding decisions in any way?
Program Guidelines will clearly outline how choosing to self-identify and providing social identity characteristics may relate to determine funding program eligibility or support prioritization and weighted criteria designed to increase the diversity of recipient pools.
Program and Service Delivery JEDDI Actions at Creative BC
Creative BC is committed to serving the creative industries and helping them to achieve their full economic and social potential. The following are the ways in which we seek to incorporate our JEDDI values (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization and Inclusion) into our program delivery:
Removing Barriers
There are many characteristics based upon which systemic barriers and a historic lack of access to opportunity have been based. While Creative BC proactively considers all marginalized groups, it places priority on service for people who are: Indigenous, Black and People of Colour; LGBTQ2IA+ people; people with disabilities; and women.
Targeted Programs
The first one on behalf of the Province is Reel Focus BC Equity + Emerging Development Program through the Domestic Motion Picture Fund, and previously, the City of Vancouver Vancouver Music Fund, administered by Creative BC
Weighted Criteria + Prioritization
Weighted criteria and prioritization in funding allocations.
Targeted Outreach + Support
Targeted outreach and support for applicants
- Info sessions
- Outreach Consultants
- Grant Coaches
- Staff support
Data Collection + Analysis
Data collection and analysisthrough the application process for evaluation of applications and evaluation of representation within our applicant and recipient pools
- Voluntary self-identification by all applicants, including by individual and company (ownership/ principles)
- Commitment to privacy
Industry Consultation
Industry consultation during program development, prioritizing diverse perspectives and the inclusion of underrepresented groups
Representation in Decision Making
Representation in decision making at various levels: board, staff, advisory committees, advisory panels, peer review
Partnerships
Partnerships with other organizations
- First Peoples Cultural Council delivers programs through Amplify BC for Indigenous peoples
- Vancouver Music Fund, providing targeted funding for underrepresented groups
Communications
Communications and the sharing of stories about B.C. creators, ensuring the full breadth and diversity of our funding recipients is visible, so that all people see themselves in our creative industries
Staff Training
Staff training in:
- Unconscious Bias
- Indigenous Cultural Safety
- Inclusive Leadership
- JEDDI Coaching through Elevate Inclusion Strategies and other experts on topics of anti-racism, white dominant culture, intersectionality, negative stereotypes and gender identity and more.
View Creative BC funding programs
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