Walmart Canada forms new partnerships to advance race equity Mississauga based Walmart Canada announced new initiatives as part of efforts to address the drivers of systemic racism in society and accelerate change, the corporation announced earlier this week.
The Walmart Foundation announced Tuesday that it would commit $20 million (USD) over five years to advance equity for Black and Indigenous Canadians through food security and economic opportunity. The funding will support initiatives that strengthen food systems and create equitable advancement and pathways of opportunity for Black and Indigenous Canadians.
Walmart Canada said it would be leveraging its business strengths to advance equity, based on a shared value approach, which would rebate shared value for customers and society. “We’re stronger as a company and a country when everyone is included and empowered. At Walmart Canada, diversity, equity and inclusion is not just an initiative, it’s part of our DNA,” said Walmart Canada’s president and CEO, Horacio Barbeito.
“These new partnerships and investments will make a difference in many marginalized communities across Canada. We have a responsibility to make a difference and make a meaningful, lasting difference in racial justice across Canada.”
The corporation also announced that it has established a more robust outreach, sponsorship and collaboration program with many new not-for-profit organizations focused on creating opportunities for development and employment in the Black and Indigenous community, including: – Signing the Black North Initiative – partnering to eliminate anti- Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians; – Signing the Federal Governments 50:30 Challenge – increasing the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table; –
Donating to the Black Opportunity Fund – supporting the mission to develop and fund Black owned Business and Organizations; – Donation to the Women’s College Hospital – supporting research on improved access to healthcare for Black Women; – Sponsoring Indigenous Works – supporting advancement of Indigenous People and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Call to Action; – Joining the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR) – supporting the creation of new pathways and transformational opportunities for Canada’s Black Community, Indigenous Peoples and People of Colour, and; – Establishing a new partnership with the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion “We want to do nothing short of creating the most diverse and inclusive organization in Canada.
We need to do more to advocate and drive systemic change to build more inclusive communities across Canada,” said Nabeela Ixtabalan, Walmart Canada’s executive vice president of corporate affairs. “We will use our size and scale to make an impact towards a more just and equitable society across Canada.” The commitment is in addition to a previous investment of business and philanthropic resources to increase fairness, equity and justice in aspects of everyday life.
