The DDSB recognizes Indigenous rights are distinct. In the exercise of those rights, Indigenous staff and students shall not be subjected to actions with the aim or effect of depriving these distinct rights.
Anti-Oppression
The Durham District School Board's vision is that Ontario schools need to be places where everyone can succeed in a culture of high expectations. We strive to have an open and inclusive environment of equity in education in all our schools and for all our students.
The Anti-Oppression Strategy defines a pathway that the Durham District School Board will take to ensure that we reaffirm our commitment to dismantling racism and discrimination of all forms. The Strategy centres students by igniting Learning, Connections, and Well-Being through an anti-oppressive approach and aligns with the guiding principles of our multi-year strategic plan.
The principles ensure that we acknowledge and shift power imbalances to disrupt and dismantle oppressive structures with the goal of ensuring all students and staff are treated with dignity and respect and reach their full potential every year.
The Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism policy echoes the Board’s commitment to embracing diverse social realities; while maintaining positive, safe and inclusive environments for all students and staff. The policy is a reflection of Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, supporting all areas of Durham District School Board principles, practices, and guidelines.
Our goal is to provide students with opportunities to promote equity and social justice.
These resources are intended to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that enable them to challenge unjust practices, and build positive human relationships as members of a global community.
To learn more, the following four guideline documents Accommodating Creed in Schools, the Compendium of Information and Action to Support 2SLGBTQIA+ Students Staff and Families and the Guide to Support Muslim Students have been developed in consultation with staff and community partners to reinforce quality education, as we continually strive to support equitable services, programs and welcoming facilities.
The Durham District School Board has created the Compendium for Black Student Success to enhance DDSB practices to support, enhance, celebrate and be responsive to our Black communities. As a Board, we recognize there is an importance in the voice and representation for closing gaps for our Black students. Last year, the Anti-Black Racism Strategy Framework was released stating by 2036, racialized people will account for an estimated 48% of Ontario's population. "Systemic racism occurs when institutions or systems create or maintain racial inequity, often as a result of hidden institutional biases in policies, practices and procedures that privilege some groups and disadvantage others."
Additional Resource:
Compendium of Action for Black Student Success - Anti-Black Racism Strategy, 2017
Anti-Black Racism
The Equity department would like to thank parents/guardians and caregivers for their time to ask questions during the 2019 Census Reporting to the Black community. The link below will provide access to the questions asked and the responses provided by the Anti-Oppression (Equity) department.
Addressing Anti-Black Racism through the DDSB Census Data
DDSB seeking community volunteers for the Anti-Black Racism Action Team
The Durham District School Board’s (DDSB) Anti-Black Racism Action Team is calling for applications for volunteers to be members of the Anti-Black Racism Action Team. Expressions of interest for the role of Community Representative from all regions of the DDSB (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Scugog, Uxbridge, Brock) will be accepted.
The DDSB is committed to learning and working environments that centre human rights and equity and are safe, welcoming, respectful, equitable, accessible, inclusive, and free from discrimination, oppression, and harm.
Anti-Black Racism Action Team
The primary role of the Anti-Black Racism Action Team is to provide diverse Black communities’ perspectives, insights, expertise and lived experiences to support the implementation of action items in the DDSB’s Compendium of Action of Black Student Success. The Team will also engage DDSB’s Black communities to share information and seek input and feedback on initiatives for Black students, families and employees.
Qualifications
- Active involvement in the school community is an important consideration.
- Community Representatives need not have children in DDSB schools.
- Clear understanding of human rights and education.
- As part of the DDSB’s Anti-Black Racism Action Team, Community Representatives must promote and uphold DDSB commitments and responsibilities under the DDSB’s Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy and Procedures.
- The Anti-Black Racism Action Team will meet once per month in the evening.
- All ABRAT meetings will be either in-person or virtual. Meeting frequency and mode will be determined by the team. Attendance is mandatory for all members. Repeated absences may lead to removal from the team.
Interested persons should submit a letter of interest outlining how their skills and experiences will support the Team’s roles and objectives to by completing the form (link below)
For additional support please contact, Pennie Marchione, pennie.marchione@ddsb.ca Senior Administrative Assistant to Quincy James Durham District School Board
Applications will be accepted up to 4:00 p.m. on October 5, 2026. Selected candidates will be notified by October 13, 2026
The DDSB is committed to meeting its responsibilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you have accommodation or accessibility needs under the Code and/or AODA to submit your application, or if you require this communication in an alternative format, please contact pennie.marchione@ddsb.ca
DDSB Anti-Black Racism Action Team Letter of Interest Submission Form
Human Rights
Durham District School Board (DDSB) recognizes that protecting, upholding and promoting human rights are necessary to:
- Support students’ and employees’ learning and success; and
- Foster a culture of care where students and employees can thrive and have a sense of safety, well-being, engagement and belonging.
DDSB is committed to providing services, employment and learning and working environments that centre human rights and equity and are welcoming, respectful, safe, inclusive, equitable, accessible and free from discrimination, harassment, racism, oppression and harm.
Did you know? The Human Rights Code protects Ontarians from discrimination and harassment in services like school/education and in employment based on prohibited grounds of discrimination: age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed/religion, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, record of offences (in employment only), sex and sexual orientation.
For more information about Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism, visit: the Human Rights Policy page.