Writers’ Trust Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy

Writers’ Trust of Canada (WT) is committed to nurturing a culture of inclusion and reflecting the diversity of our society — in our team, our partners, and our programs — to create opportunities for equity-deserving groups.

We recognize that various historic and structural inequities — due to discrimination based on age, class, cultural or linguistic background, disability, economic status, gender, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation — have created barriers to access. Consequently, equity measures are required to promote the full participation of our community, including staff, volunteers, board members, partner organizations, writers, awards juries, event speakers, and any individual with whom we engage.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values at WT. We strive to embed these principles in everything we do with an approach to EDI that inspires and empowers.

How we work together

WT maintains a dedicated EDI committee of staff and board members to ensure this policy is being upheld. We foster a welcoming, inclusive environment, building and nurturing relationships with communities not traditionally involved in our work through targeted outreach activities. Staff, board, and committees integrate EDI principles into the decision-making on policies and practices. All staff and board members have access to EDI resources and participate in ongoing training sessions, empowering them to be advocates of our shared vision.

How we engage with the writing community

WT programs, awards, and activities will continually evolve to meet the needs of writers from diverse backgrounds while creating unique opportunities for equity-deserving groups to be supported and celebrated. We hold ourselves accountable to our EDI promises, ensuring that program participants reflect the diversity of the writing community and taking action to address areas of concern. This is supported by regularly analyzing EDI data from our programs, as well as by evaluating progress through feedback from participants, partners, and donors to inform plans for the future.