HRO Annual Report 2024-2025

1.1 Introduction and Purpose

The Human Rights Office (HRO) is committed to ensuring learning and working environments are free from discrimination and harassment. The HRO upholds its legal obligations in addressing Code-based discrimination and harassment under Board Policy and Procedure #240.0: Human Rights: Code-Related Harassment and Discrimination (Human Rights Policy #240).

This Annual Report highlights the HRO’s ongoing work in addressing human rights matters and supporting the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

The HRO Annual Report is prepared separately from the Annual Accessibility Report.

1.2 Commitment to Human Rights

The Board’s commitment to human rights is carried out through the two primary priorities of the HRO:

1. To act upon complaints confidentially, fairly, and in a timely manner; and
2. To support the prevention of discrimination and harassment through human rights and accessibility education, learning, and professional development.

1.3 Human Rights Office Mandate

The HRO's mandate includes: 

• Receiving and responding to human rights concerns brought forward by a member of the YRDSB community;
• Facilitating YRDSB's compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA);
• Supporting preventative actions through the development and delivery of human rights and accessibility education;
• Providing YRDSB's leadership with guidance on Board policies and procedures specific to human rights (Policy #240) and accessibility (Policy #407);
• Managing the Barrier Buster electronic reporting tool that allows YRDSB community members to communicate barriers to accessibility within the Board's learning and working environment; and
• Advising YRDSB's senior leadership team on its strategic goals and actions through a human rights and accessibility lens.

HRO Priority #1: To act upon complaints confidentially, fairly, and in a timely manner

A core mandate of the HRO is to address issues of discrimination and harassment that violate the Human Rights Code. Human rights concerns are typically reported directly through a confidential Reporting Form or by email at human.rights@yrdsb.ca.

Each matter is reviewed and assessed to determine if the reported incident connects to a protected ground of discrimination under the Code. The HRO does not take on human rights complaints that are actively being addressed by another department, even if they may be Code-based. Management may consult with or refer a human rights complaint/investigation to the HRO. The HRO also provides general information to Board community members on their rights and responsibilities under the Code. When appropriate, the HRO promotes early dispute resolution options to resolve complaints. 

2.1 Human Rights Office File Summary

During the 2024-2025 reporting year, the Human Rights Office addressed 222 new files, an increase of 16% from the previous year. 

The HRO addressed these files by: 

• providing guidance and information on human rights;
• initial consultation and fact-finding;
• early resolution and investigations; or
• referral to the appropriate department

Over the last two years, the HRO has promoted and offered opportunities for consultation on human rights issues to school administrators, department managers, and senior leaders. This consultation service ensures adherence to Policy 240 and effective resolution of human rights incidents. The number of consultations has doubled between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. 

HRO Complaint and Consult Files by Code ground

A breakdown of HRO complaint and consult files by Code ground is included in the chart below for the 2024-2025 reporting year. A breakdown of results from the 2023-2024 reporting year is also included for comparison. 

In the 2024-2025 reporting year, race and disability were the highest reported Code grounds to the HRO. This is consistent with previous reporting years.

The HRO received complaints from parents/guardians, students and staff alleging discrimination based on race and related grounds.  A number of the allegations stemmed from the Middle East conflict and highlights how global affairs impact YRDSB constituents in our learning and working environments. 

Most disability-based complaints from staff and parents/guardians on behalf of students relate to allegations of a failure to accommodate specific disability-related needs. 

2.2 HRO Files by YRDSB Constituents

The following chart outlines the distribution of complaints filed with the HRO by YRDSB constituents during the 2024-2025 reporting year. Results from the previous 2023-2024 reporting year are also included for comparison. 

The majority of complaints during the 2024-2025 reporting year were filed by parents/guardians on behalf of students. 

HRO Priority #2: To support the prevention of discrimination and harassment through human rights and accessibility education, learning, and professional development

A key priority for the HRO is to bring human rights training and information to students and employees. 

Our office delivered interactive human rights learning sessions for Grade 11 and 12 Law students and launched the second annual Human Rights Ambassador Awards. We engaged employees through a range of learning opportunities, including co-facilitating a workshop at the 2024 Learning Together Symposium, delivering interactive group training sessions, and providing one-on-one coaching. 

3.1 Human Rights Ambassador Award 

The Human Rights Ambassador Award recognizes YRDSB secondary students for their exceptional commitment to advancing human rights, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

The selection process for the award involved principals, vice-principals and educators nominating deserving students based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrates values of human rights principles (e.g. respect, dignity, justice)
• Has a positive impact on the school through initiatives that promote human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination
• Empowers peers to advocate for themselves, others and their communities

Four students, one from each of the YRDSB’s four CECs (regions), were honoured as the 2024/2025 recipients: 

• Keyao Tang (Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School)
• Darleen Julman (Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School)
• Shariah Golding (Huron Heights Secondary School)
• Hamza Khokhawala (Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School)

This award highlights the importance of fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect for human rights in our schools, celebrating the next generation of leaders who are committed to creating a more equitable society. 

3.2 Law Class Human Rights Presentations

During the week of December 9–13, 2024, the HRO delivered human rights presentations for secondary school law students across YRDSB. The presentations were conducted in commemoration of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. 

More than 450 students across 10 secondary schools explored their roles and responsibilities under human rights law and engaged in thoughtful discussion. The session encouraged active participation, offering students an opportunity to ask questions and deepen their understanding.

3.3 Human Rights Professional Development

The HRO continues to create and facilitate professional development and learning opportunities for YRDSB staff to build awareness and understanding of the importance of human rights.  

During the 2024-2025 school year, the HRO delivered 20 training sessions on the following topics: 

• Harmony in the Workplace
• Neurodiversity in Action
• From Conflict to Connection: Mediation and Restorative Practices (in partnership with Human Resource Services and Leadership Development and Engagement)
• Human Rights Case Law Updates
• Introduction to Human Rights
• Investigation Best Practices (in partnership with Human Resource Services)
• Culturally Relevant & Responsive Practice
• Anti-Bias in Selection Process for Specialized Arts Programs
• 1:1 coaching sessions

Participants in these training sessions included:

• Senior leaders
• School administrators
• Elementary and secondary school teachers and staff
• Department/team managers

We also developed and delivered Harmony in the Workplace training for staff. These training sessions were customized to meet the specific needs of each school or department and focused on workplace respect, civility, and harmony. The training emphasizes the importance of upholding human rights in the workplace and provides participants with practical strategies for preventing and effectively managing conflicts.

The HRO also launched two new online modules available on demand 24/7 through the Board’s Connect2Learn platform:

• Module 1: Neutralizing Unconscious Biases in our Workplace
• Module 2: Neutralizing Bias – Strategies for Fair and Inclusive Hiring Practices

Modules 1 and 2 were designed in connection with Human Resource Services to ensure fair inclusive hiring practices. School administrators and hiring managers are required to complete these learning modules prior to participating in their school or department’s hiring process. A yearly refresher is required for large, centralized recruitment drives. In the 2024-2025 school year, 232 managerial/supervisory staff completed Modules 1 and 2.

3.4 Engagements with Internal and External Committees and Networks

Human Rights and Equity Advisors Community of Practice 

The Ministry of Education facilitates a community of practice with Human Rights and Equity Advisors (HREAs) and other human rights practitioners working at school boards across the province. The purpose of this community is to share resources, discuss systemic human rights issues, and provide support. 

Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG)

MDIG brings together 20 member organizations that serve people who live, work, and play in York Region. The group consists of municipalities, police services, hospitals, school boards, conservation authorities and agencies. The goal of the committee is to promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) within York Region. YRDSB has committed to upholding the values of and promote IDEA through training opportunities and ensuring employees maintain professional conduct.

External Research Review Committee (ERRC)

YRDSB supports research studies that align with priorities outlined in Board plans. The Board's External Research Review Committee (ERRC) is responsible for reviewing research requests by institutions, agencies, staff members, or other individuals who wish to conduct research within the Board. All research that is not initiated by the Board must be approved by the ERRC. 

The HRO leads the Board’s commitment to accessibility, in partnership with the Board’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. We are guided in our work by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. For more information on the Board's accessibility achievements for the 2024-2025 school year, please refer to the Annual Accessibility Report.

4.1 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

The YRDSB Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) 2020-2025 outlines measures the Board is taking to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility, and meet the requirements of the AODA in the areas of 

• policy, planning and reporting;
• training;
• procurement;
• customer service;
• information and communications;
• employment;
• transportation; and
• the built environment. 

The five-year plan outlines more than 120 commitments that have been completed or are in progress. A new 2025-2030 MYAP is currently in development. 

4.2 Annual Accessibility Report 2024-2025

As required under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), an Annual Accessibility Report is prepared as a separate document from the HRO Annual Report. The Annual Accessibility Report describes the measures that YRDSB has taken in the 2024-2025 school year to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for students, staff, and people with disabilities.

The Annual Accessibility Report describes the various Multi-Year Accessibility goals and objectives achieved in the reporting year. 

Feedback or questions about the Annual Accessibility Report is both encouraged and essential for advancing accessibility at YRDSB in a way that recognizes the needs of all learners and people with disabilities. Contact the HRO to provide feedback via email at aoda@yrdsb.ca.