Purpose and Impact
Guiding Principles
In 2017, UCalgary, along with 90+ post-secondary institutions in Canada, committed to 7 principles for inclusive excellence. These principles are designed to illuminate shared values: “Canadians value an inclusive country, where equity is deeply embedded, and diversity welcomed. Our identity is expressed in the shared values of openness, fairness and tolerance”. To learn more about the 7 principles that guide our work, visit Universities Canada.
Equity is a principle, condition, process, and outcome rooted in human rights and the inviolability of human dignity. It is integral to the legal principle of justice, and the ethical principle and practice of fairness. It requires identifying patterns of inequities and making changes to systems, cultures, and processes that obstruct people from achieving their full potential.
Diversity, difference, or variety is a characteristic of nature and human society. Diversity is a relational concept; no one person can be diverse alone. We are diverse in our identities, experiences, and relationships with each other.
Inclusion encompasses norms, practices, and intentional actions to promote participation, engagement, empowerment, and a sense of belonging. Inclusion requires promoting an institutional culture and practices that ensure all people, including those in equity-deserving groups, experience fairness, dignity, and human flourishing.
Accessibility is necessary for the removal of barriers to equitable participation in all aspects of life by people living with diverse physical, mental, visual, motor, auditory, learning, and cognitive abilities. While there is no single definition of accessibility, the experience of accessibility is the most important measure of access and inclusion.
Legislation
Provincial and federal legislation support Purpose and Impact at UCalgary. To learn more about the legislative requirements related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and how this legislation may be applied to your work, review UCalgary's Policies and Procedures, or visit the links below:
Provincial Legislation
Alberta Human Rights Act
Protects equality and diversity rights in Alberta. The Alberta Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or class of persons. To learn more, visit the Alberta Human Rights Act and the Alberta Human Rights Commission.
Canadian Legislation
Accessible Canada Act
Is designed to benefit all people, and especially people with disabilities, by identifying and removing barriers in employment, the built environment, information and communication technologies, the procurement of goods, services and facilities; the design and delivery of programs and services; transportation, and more by January 1, 2040. The Accessible Canada Act stipulates that people with disabilities must be involved in the development and design of laws, policies, programs, services and structures related to removing barriers to full participation in society. To learn more about how to implement the Accessible Canada Act in your work, visit Accessibility Standards Canada.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Established in 1982, protects Fundamental freedoms related to Democratic rights, Mobility rights, Legal rights, Equality rights, Official Language rights and Minority language educational rights. The Charter also protects freedom of expression. Equality rights include provisions for ameliorative measures to address disadvantage due to race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
Canadian Multiculturalism Act
In 1988, Canada became the first country in the world to enshrine multiculturalism into law. The Canadian Multiculturalism Act serves as a legislative framework for promoting diversity, equality and inclusion in Canada, recognizing multiculturalism as a defining characteristic of Canadian identity.
Canadian Human Rights Act
Established in 1977, the Canadian Human Rights Act predates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability and conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered. To learn more about the Canadian Human Rights Act and its implementation, visit the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Employment Equity Act
The purpose of this act is to achieve equality in the workplace so that no person shall be denied employment opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability. The Employment Equity Act includes four federally designated Employment Equity Groups: Women, Aboriginal peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Members of visible minorities. Employment equity means more than treating persons in the same way, but also requires special measures and the accommodation of differences.
Why is disaggregated EDI data needed?
- Quantitative EDI data reveals representational and outcome gaps among students, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty, including, but not limited to, members of equity-deserving groups.
- Qualitative EDI data and personal stories help us identify and remove barriers to inclusion and to assess the varied experiences, including lived experiences, of all members of the campus community.
- Together, quantitative and qualitative EDI data guide the development of supports and services to remove systemic barriers, ameliorate biases, create more equitable and inclusive pathways within the university, and evaluate the impact of specific policies and programs.
- UCalgary faculties and administrative units draw upon quantitative and qualitative EDI data to advance human rights and equity and EDI data ensures transparency and accountability by enabling the university to monitor trends, evaluate progress, and achieve results.
Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
The Presidential Task Force on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (PTF-EDIA) was launched in March 2023 and brought together representatives from the UCalgary community and key university leaders.
After over two years of collaboration and consultative engagements with the UCalgary community, the task force concluded its work in fall 2025. The task force's recommendations were provided to the Office of Institutional Commitments to develop an Purpose and Impact Action Plan in 2027.