The Significance of Diversity
Recently, in celebration of Canadian Multiculturalism Day observed on June 27, KA Imaging anonymously surveyed employees about their heritage and what Canadian Multiculturalism meant to them. The results were astounding!
15/28 participants responded that they had immigrated to Canada from another country, and two identified having parents born elsewhere. These countries include, but are not limited to: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, India, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, and the United States of America.
Out of 28 participants, KA Imaging employees identified speaking 17 different languages including: Arabic, English, Farsi, Finnish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Marathi, Persian, Portuguese, Sindhi, Spanish, Swedish, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu and Yoruba. Their personal responses about the meaning of Canadian multiculturalism were heartwarming and are summed up here in our top 12.
To KA Imaging, Canadian multiculturalism represents:
1. An opportunity to learn.
2. The freedom to speak languages.
3. The freedom to celebrate culture.
4. Respect for all.
5. Valuing diversity.
6. Peace and friendship.
7. Inclusiveness.
8. Equal rights.
9. Innovation.
10. An understanding of world history.
11. Increased creativity.
12. A warm welcome.
KA Imaging wants to thank all those who participated and shared their thoughts with us. Although we celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day, we acknowledge that the Canadian way, and growth of multiculturalism, came at a great cost to Indigenous peoples, including the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee Peoples whose lands on which we work in Waterloo, Ontario.