Bringing diverse ideas and people together
is what Diversity Matters is all about. I bring a multidimensional approach to understanding diversity, through educational research, my photo exhibit (Legacies), documentary (The Last Rite), literature (Our Grandmothers Ourselves), curriculum development and training in corporations and the community.

Over the last two decades I have spent a great deal of time trying to understand how the human spirit will engage when confronted with difference of race, religion, status, abilities. Is it with contempt and fear, or an open heart and mind? Diversity Matters tries to make sense of the world around us, and the personal (and national) challenges that come with living in a multicultural country.

I strongly believe that what we have in common needs to take precedence over that which is different. We can all speak of our differences, however, as a country we need to challenge ourselves to see how we are the same. Without a doubt, each one of us brings different strengths and richness of experience to the dialogue - in the hopes of leading us to reduced barriers and increased understanding. Diversity Matters encourages us to think, see and feel outside of the black box, and to build on what is common between us as citizens of this country and beyond.

In order for diversity to strive in Canada and elsewhere, we need to move beyond the rhetoric, the policies and procedures and talk to the people in our community, the people who are our neighbours, and who have experiences we can all learn from. Diversity Matters has gone into the community and talked to the people. You will see what I mean in the next few pages . . . Read on.