Newmarket-Tay Power pledges inclusivity by signing Dear Everybody
“Our commitment to the Dear Everybody campaign is to make a conscious effort to represent people with disabilities in media advertising in order to create a more inclusive and equitable society,” said the CEO of NT Power
Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution (NT Power) is committed to being more diverse and inclusive by signing the Dear Everybody Agreement.
The Holland-Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital promise encourages businesses and organizations to be more representative in their media.
“Our commitment to the Dear Everybody campaign is to make a conscious effort to represent people with disabilities in media advertising in order to create a more inclusive and equitable society,” said Ysni Semsedini, CEO of NT Power.
There are currently 6.2 million Canadians living with a disability.
“The content created by the media has the power to influence thinking. But what about the movies, shows, songs, and ads that weren’t made? They also have power, ”says the campaign. “At the moment, the lack of disabled representation tells us that 6.2 million Canadians are out of it.”
Semsedini said NT Power will focus on increasing visibility and representation in their advertisements and all other media they distribute.
“We firmly believe in diversity and inclusivity as an organization, so the“ Dear Everybody ”campaign gives us the opportunity to better represent the composition of our customers and our employees in the media we create and share. I think being part of this campaign will make us a better organization, ”he said.
They are also an equal opportunity employer, which means providing accommodation throughout the application process and making a commitment not to discriminate against candidates.
“For us, it really removes the barriers for individuals to work at NT Power,” said Semsedini. “We need to be aware of the barriers that people face when applying for jobs.”
He said the agreement was first brought to his attention through a board he sits on. Another member was involved in Holland-Bloorview and learned about it through them.
“I think it fits very well with our strategy of diversity and inclusion within and outside of our organization,” he said of NT Power’s signing of the pledge.
However, he acknowledged that when compared to other organizations, the company is still at the beginning when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
“I’m not saying we got this far just by signing this pledge. It is a step and I think we will continue to take steps to ensure that we are a very open and inclusive organization both internally and externally, ”said Semsedini.
This includes important conversations.
“I think the one thing that has become very clear in the last five to ten years is the … internal bias that people don’t even know they have,” he said. “I think by participating in these types of campaigns we are shedding light on these issues, having conversations, and really taking the steps that are required for a more equitable and inclusive company.”
A number of companies and organizations have also signed the Dear Everybody Agreement, including the provincial government, several banks, Bell Media, and Rogers and Remax.