BELONGING AND FEELING INCLUDED

How do we define belonging and feeling included?

When I ran for Regional Council in 2018, I had a section on my website titled Belonging which included the following two paragraphs.

“In practical ways, how do we define belonging and community wellbeing? For me it is a way of life — not just short-term solutions to the “issue of the month.”

Through the example of my parents, our family has tried to focus on individuals, families, and community organizations where our capacity to help is attainable. Long term relationships with newcomer families, support for new homeowners supported by Habitat for Humanity, walking with a young boy or girl to adulthood through the Big Brother/Big Sister Associations or helping to develop community gardens to provide families with healthy foods all create a sense of belonging and
wellbeing which will hopefully make a difference in the lives of those we have personally supported.

None of these initiatives is headline news or holds a magic wand to transform the community, but what they all demonstrate is that if, as individuals, we can empower our children and grandchildren to try to make a difference for a few in our community, we will create a sense for people who will feel they belong, have a voice, and live in a Region where personal wellbeing is a priority.”

I still believe strongly in these everyday opportunities to create a community where everyone feels included and valued and very much appreciate how the Region has significantly moved the needle in expanding our view of belonging and inclusion during this past term of council.

As a community and Region, I think we have made significant progress in the past three or four years. During the last term of council, we have established our new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team with a recently announced Director. The creation of this position follows recommendations from the Region’s Anti-Racism Advisory Working Group. With this new team and Director, it will help the Region move forward as we continue our journey and our commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression and systemic change and work to address the impact systemic racism has in our community. It is intended that the new Director will work alongside
staff and community leaders to improve equity and innovate the way the Region works with communities to listen, learn, act, and collaborate on community input.
Most recently, the Region hired it’s first Truth and Reconciliation Director. The Director’s position is the newest addition to the Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team at the Region and again was a result of recommendations from the Region of Waterloo’s anti-racism advisory working group to address the issues Indigenous community members face in the region.

As a Region we have committed significant resources in the past term to create a more equitable and caring community, all of which I have strongly supported. Despite all these new and important initiatives during the past term of council, we cannot ease up and must continue to be bold and creative in our thinking of what it means to belong so that no one is left behind or not included.

If I have the honour of being re-elected to Regional Council, I commit myself to working towards a Region in which all its residents feel they belong and enjoy a sense of wellbeing.

Re-elect JIM ERB …. a responsive, reliable, and respectful voice.