Divsersity Equity And Inclusion
Volleyball BC Strategy For Diversity, Equity And Inclusion
We are excited to share our new Strategy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with you.
Participation in sport is powerful for building healthy individuals and communities. We believe that volleyball should be welcoming and accessible to every individual who wants to participate. But we know that this is not always the case.
One of the key pillars of our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan is “expanding our reach” and creating inclusive volleyball experiences. This document outlines our commitment to this deliverable over the following years. The Strategy is broad, ambitious, and tackles some big areas. We know that work in this space is a journey rather than a destination but we are excited to start putting one step in front of another to make change.
For a copy of the Strategy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion click here.
Purpose
Volleyball BC acknowledges that individuals and equity-deserving groups have experienced barriers to participation in Canadian sports. Volleyball BC is committed to understanding and eliminating current and historical barriers to participation by encouraging diversity, equity, inclusion and access in its administration,
policies, programs, and activities. The purpose of this Commitment Statement is to provide guidance to Volleyball BC Board members, staff, members, and associated organizations to ensure the interests of equity-deserving groups are given due consideration in all aspects of volleyball activities in BC.
Read the full Commitment Statement here.
Key Activities to Date
- The Board approved a Commitment Statement on Diversity, Accessibility, Equity and Inclusion
- We set up a barrier reporting mechanism to capture information about the challenges that prevent people from being included and participating in volleyball activities.
- We developed of “plain English” versions of Discipline and Complaints Policy & Appeal Policy to ensure that they are clear to understand. More versions of other key policies will follow later this year.
- We developed an Accessibility Checklist for Events for staff to support event planning
- We developed a communication calendar to acknowledge and recognise key dates related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
- We delivered a female mentorship program for female coaches and referees during the 2024 club season.
- We completed a review and update to all of the Terms of Reference for our Committees to be more intentional about considering diversity and representation.
- We have been working with the 2025 Invictus Games to support the delivery of sitting volleyball at the upcoming games. We celebrated the 1 year countdown to the Games in February by providing sitting volleyball at a community celebration.
- We hosted a coach workshop with the Head Coach of the Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team to increase the number of coaches who can support this program. As part of our work with Invictus Games, we will be securing sitting volleyball net systems and starting up grassroots sitting volleyball opportunities.
- We ran 3 newcomer programs in partnership with the Surrey Welcome Centre, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, and the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services to deliver introductory volleyball to new youth to Canada.
What is Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Diversity
The visible and non-visible differences between people. It is what differentiates each one of us and might include gender, race, age, ethnicity, income level, and sexual orientation.
Equity
The process of allocating resources, programs, and decision-making fairly to all people without any discrimination and working toward fair outcomes for people or groups by treating them in ways that address their unique advantages or barriers
Inclusion
Creating a culture that embraces, respects and values difference so that all people feel they belong and are valued. An inclusive environment ensures equitable access to resources and opportunities and enables individuals and groups to feel safe, accepted and valued for who they are
