Inclusive and Welcoming Events

Plan an event that feels safe, welcoming and inclusive to all. This will increase the success of your event and promote the vibrancy of your community.

Steps to Planning an Inclusive and Welcoming Event

• Use the slogan, ‘nothing about us, without us’. Include event participants in the planning process. Invite individuals or groups to the planning table and consult with them when making decisions.
• Consider the diversity of the community and how your team can help all participants feel included and welcomed to the event. Represent and reflect the diversity* of your community in your event planning team.
• Use inclusive language to reflect the diversity of the audience.
• Review the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act standards.
• Reflect on values, beliefs, and biases* on your own and as a group.
• Ask yourselves:
  • What effect (good or bad) will your event have on others?
  • How can we strengthen the good effects and limit the bad effects?
  • Are there ways we can be more inclusive and welcoming at the event?

What is Diversity?*

Diversity is the range of visible and invisible qualities, experiences and identities that shape who we are, how we think, how we engage with and how we are perceived by the world. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical or mental abilities, religious or spiritual beliefs, or political ideologies. They can also include differences such as personality, style, capabilities, and thought or perspectives. Source.