Definitions on terms related to Equity and Inclusion in the HWDSB can be found in the following document.
Indigenous Education
Land Acknowledgement
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board acknowledges our presence on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty.
The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity.
We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board acknowledges our presence on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty.
The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity.
We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.
Pride
At HWDSB, we are committed to Positive Culture and Well-being. We want all staff and students to feel safe, supported and accepted. Sexual orientation and gender identity play an important role in well-being; they are often factors in harassment and discrimination in our schools and community.
Anti-Racism Education: An approach that integrates the perspectives of Aboriginal and racialized communities into an educational system and its practices. Antiracist education seeks to identify and change educational policies, procedures, and practices that may foster racism, as well as the racist attitudes and behaviours that underlie and reinforce such policies and practices. It provides teachers and students with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to critically examine issues related to racism, power, and privilege. Antiracist education promotes the removal of discriminatory biases and systemic barriers.
Race: A social construct that groups people on the basis of common ancestry and characteristics such as colour of skin, shape of eyes, hair texture, and/or facial features. The term is used to designate the social categories into which societies divide people according to such characteristics. Race is often confused with ethnicity; there may be several ethnic groups within a racial group.
Racism: A set of erroneous assumptions, opinions and actions stemming from the belief that one race is inherently superior to another. Racism may be evident in organizational and institutional structures, policies, procedures and programs, as well as in the attitudes and behaviours of individuals.
Racism: A set of erroneous assumptions, opinions and actions stemming from the belief that one race is inherently superior to another. Racism may be evident in organizational and institutional structures, policies, procedures and programs, as well as in the attitudes and behaviours of individuals.
Sexual Orientation
Gender: Gender may be defined in various ways and could include any or all of the following categories: physical anatomy (or sex organs), secondary sex characteristics that develop at and after puberty, behaviour and conduct, the mind, and fashion choices.
Gender Expression: Refers to the external attributes, behaviour, appearance, dress, etc., by which a person expresses themselves and through which others perceive that person’s gender.
Gender Identity: Refers to each person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender. A person’s gender identity may or may not correspond with their birth sex, and with social norms of “male” and “female.” It includes an individual’s personal sense of their body (which may involve if freely chosen, modification of bodily appearance or function by medical, surgical or other means) and other expressions of gender, such as dress, speech and mannerisms.
Heterosexism: The assumption that heterosexuality is superior and preferable, and is the only right, normal or moral expression of sexuality. This definition is often used when looking at discrimination against gay, lesbian or bisexual people that is less overt, and which may be unintentional and unrecognized by the person or organization responsible.
Homophobia: The irrational aversion to, fear or hatred of gay, lesbian or bisexual people and communities, or of behaviours stereotyped as “homosexual.”
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities (LGBT): “GLBT” is also used. An acronym that also
encompasses the diversity within the Trans and Queer community is LGBTTIQQ2A – Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-spirited and Allies.
Lesbian: A woman who has emotional, physical, spiritual and/or sexual attraction to other women
Gay: People whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. Also used as an umbrella term for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
Bisexual: A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually and/or sexually attracted to members of more than one gender.
Transgender: People whose life experience includes existing in more than one gender. This may include people who identify as transsexual, and people who describe themselves as being on a “gender spectrum” or as living outside the categories of “man” or “woman.”
Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation is more than simply a status that an individual possesses; it is an immutable personal characteristic that forms part of an individual’s core identity. Sexual orientation encompasses the range of human sexuality from gay and lesbian to bisexual and heterosexual orientations.
Transgender: People whose life experience includes existing in more than one gender. This may include people who identify as transsexual, and people who describe themselves as being on a “gender
spectrum” or as living outside the categories of “man” or “woman.
Gender Expression: Refers to the external attributes, behaviour, appearance, dress, etc., by which a person expresses themselves and through which others perceive that person’s gender.
Gender Identity: Refers to each person’s deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender. A person’s gender identity may or may not correspond with their birth sex, and with social norms of “male” and “female.” It includes an individual’s personal sense of their body (which may involve if freely chosen, modification of bodily appearance or function by medical, surgical or other means) and other expressions of gender, such as dress, speech and mannerisms.
Heterosexism: The assumption that heterosexuality is superior and preferable, and is the only right, normal or moral expression of sexuality. This definition is often used when looking at discrimination against gay, lesbian or bisexual people that is less overt, and which may be unintentional and unrecognized by the person or organization responsible.
Homophobia: The irrational aversion to, fear or hatred of gay, lesbian or bisexual people and communities, or of behaviours stereotyped as “homosexual.”
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities (LGBT): “GLBT” is also used. An acronym that also
encompasses the diversity within the Trans and Queer community is LGBTTIQQ2A – Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-spirited and Allies.
Lesbian: A woman who has emotional, physical, spiritual and/or sexual attraction to other women
Gay: People whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. Also used as an umbrella term for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
Bisexual: A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually and/or sexually attracted to members of more than one gender.
Transgender: People whose life experience includes existing in more than one gender. This may include people who identify as transsexual, and people who describe themselves as being on a “gender spectrum” or as living outside the categories of “man” or “woman.”
Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation is more than simply a status that an individual possesses; it is an immutable personal characteristic that forms part of an individual’s core identity. Sexual orientation encompasses the range of human sexuality from gay and lesbian to bisexual and heterosexual orientations.
Transgender: People whose life experience includes existing in more than one gender. This may include people who identify as transsexual, and people who describe themselves as being on a “gender
spectrum” or as living outside the categories of “man” or “woman.
Resources for Families
Information on name changes, racism, tramatic events, etc. can be found on this page