ADRIC’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

ADRIC’s members provide services for clients with diverse backgrounds and individual needs.
We have developed this page to provide information and resources as part of our mandates to uphold best practices and to assist members.

We are working with our affiliates to develop an increased understanding of our Canadian history, relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, and what Truth and Reconciliation may mean for our ADR practices and organizations.

We will continue to listen and learn to better understand and deal with the impacts of systemic bias.

We wish to learn more and provide opportunities for our members to learn about:

• systemic bias in a variety of contexts and how it impacts organizations
• unconscious bias and how to manage it in ourselves and our clients
• managing trauma in ADR
• the benefits of diversity and inclusion
• how we can promote greater diversity within our ADR Institutes Federation membership

We began with a consultative session during our 2019 Conference which led to the development of a small working group which led to a series of eight interactive videoconferences called Diversity in ADR: Ethics and Inclusion facilitated by a diverse team of experienced ADR and subject matter experts.

The goal was to shed light on unconscious bias, racism, discrimination and inequality faced by Black, Indigenous and marginalized groups across Canada and what it means for the ADR community. We made it available to members, friends and organisations at no charge and hoped it would provide an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect and grow.

Recordings are now available[i] (click on the title to access):

1. Listening Circle: What is Diversity, Inclusion and Truth and Reconciliation
2. Allyship: Authentic vs Performative
3. Voice and Choice: Power, Privilege and Reconciliation – Understanding and Recognizing in Ourselves and Our Clients

The following are yet to come (see https://adric.ca/diversity-stream/ for more information and to register):

4. The Value of Inclusion in ADR:  Learning from Non-Mainstream Practitioners
5. Changing Systemic Biases and Discriminatory Practices in Organizations
6. A Trauma -Informed Approach to Managing ADR
7. A Brave Space: Ask Your Questions without Being Judged
8. Sharing Circle: Moving our Practices and Organizations Forward, and Advancing the Process of Truth and Reconciliation

Other resources:

• ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) Diversity webpage: https://adralberta.com/diversity
• ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) Declaration of Commitments to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Peoples and the Law – Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) free webinar series October 21, 2020 – March 10, 2021

[i] This series is presented in English; we will be developing  a French series in 2021