It started with the realization that social exclusion is a form of violence.
Today we are leaders advancing equity, diversity & inclusion in Grey-Bruce.
Growing a social impact network
Welcoming Grey Bruce started in 2005 as a small group responding to community needs. Today we are growing into a region-wide impact network of individuals and organizations that have an interest in making Grey-Bruce inclusive and welcoming to all.
What is an impact network?
Networks are webs of relationships connecting people or things. When they seek to address social and environmental issues, they are called impact networks. This special type of network brings individuals and organizations together for learning and coordinated action, based on a shared purpose.
The strength of this network grows with each new member. Find out more about how it works and why you might like to join.
Everyone can join
If you care about building a welcoming community, this network is for you
Are you passionate about creating positive change and fostering a welcoming, inclusive community? Join Everyone Belongs, where your ideas, energy, and commitment can make a real difference.
In our network, you’ll connect with like-minded individuals who share your dedication to social good and the common goal of building an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Collaborate on innovative projects, access valuable resources, and gain inspiration from a diverse community of change-makers.
All members benefit from
- one-on-one coaching for employers on hiring and orientation for new employees
- reduced prices for training
- participation at networking events
- public education to highlight the members committed to social impacts
- an annual awards gala to celebrate member accomplishments
- an annual report card to celebrate successes and identify gaps
- access to resources and news
Connect and collaborate with members in our network
Not-for-profit
Agencies, municipalities and service groups in the region who are committed to participating in network events and activities and access membership benefits for employers such as seminars, one-on-one employee coaching services and be recognized as a Welcoming Employer in the Grey-Bruce Region.
Business
Employers in the region who are committed to participating in network events and activities and access membership benefits for employers such as seminars, one-on-one employee coaching services and be recognized as a Welcoming Employer in the Grey-Bruce Region
Charter member
Recognized as founding members of the impact network, businesses, organizations, and individuals who wish to support the establishment of the impact network and be recognized as leaders in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies in the Grey Bruce region.
Individual
Patron: Individual or group who want to support the work of WCGB and be recognized leaders in the region supporting the WCGB mandate.
Supporter: Individual who wants to support the work of WCGB and be a participate in the network events and activities.
In-kind: Member may be financially restricted in supporting the organization financially but can participate through in-kind contribution to support network events and activities.
We can all be a part of building the Everyone Belongs social impact network. Join us now.
meet our board of directors
“Conversations about discrimination are uncomfortable, but we all want to belong. We all want to be accepted for who we are.”
Colleen Purdon — Founding Board Member
Colleen Purdon
joined 2003
founding member
Colleen has worked on national, provincial and regional community development projects focusing on violence prevention, poverty and womens’ equality issues in rural communities. She worked as the Executive Director of The Women’s Centre (Grey Bruce) and Coordinator for Violence Prevention Grey Bruce. Colleen is a founding member of the Inclusive Communities Committee and the Grey Bruce One World Festival. She has chaired the Making Grey Bruce Home Advisory Committee, and is currently co-chairing the Rural Pathways for Newcomer Women project. Colleen has a Bachelor of Music and Diploma in Music Therapy.
Manpreet Kaur Sangha
joined 2003
administrator, editor
Manpreet is an Economic Development Officer with Bruce County, and sits on the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership. Before moving to Grey Bruce, she worked as an Economic Development Officer for the City of Estevan, Saskatchewan. She was on the Board of Directors with the Saskatchewan Summer Games as the Director of Ceremonies and Protocol. She has a MBA and Bachelor Degrees in Economics and Business Administration. Manpreet is a founding member of WCGB and Vice Chair.
Shayna Beeksma
joined 2003
administrator, editor
Shayna Beeksma and her family moved to the Hepworth area from Hamilton. She learned about WCGB when she attended an event at the library that was part of the Diversity and Inclusion in the Rural Workplace project. Shayna owns and operates Beeksma Law Professional Corp. (business law, estate law, real estate) and has experience since 2015 as a board member on several governance boards providing strategic direction and financial oversight. She has been active in community service since 2014 in Hamilton, Collingwood and nationally.
David Morris
joined 2003
administrator, editor
David has a Bachelor and Master of Science in Crop Science from The University of Guelph. Prior to retirement, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and as a self-employed consultant (research, coordination, crop production, soil management). He volunteered for many years with Grey Bruce Newcomer Network and most recently with the New to Grey and Making Grey Bruce Home newcomer projects. He is a member of the GBLIP, representing WCGB and sits on the Advisory Committee of Grey Bruce Settlement and Language Services. David is the Chair and founding member of WCGB. He is also a member of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists and leads outings featuring some of the interesting plants that grow in this area. David is a founding member of WCGB and Chairperson
Azar Azad
joined 2003
administrator, editor
Azar Azad joined the WCGB Board in 2020 and is the board Treasurer. She describes herself as a serial entrepreneur with a doctorate in medical diagnostics, a Ph.D. in clinical biochemistry, and more than 25 years of experience working in major healthcare systems and developing partnerships and collaborations with the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. She is passionate about early cancer detection and improving patients’ quality of life. She is the CEO and founder of an artificial intelligence company and volunteers at GBHS and WCGB. Azar took the lead on a WCGB partnership project with Georgian College in 2020 called Making Grey Bruce Home for International Talent (Nov. 2020-March 2021) and she manages the WCGB Facebook page. Azar is the Treasurer for WCGB
Donald Anderson
joined 2003
administrator, editor
Donald has a Masters of Sociology, diplomas in Rehabilitative Services and Dietary Management and over 28 years of experience as a community volunteer. He volunteers with the CNIB Foundation, Good Neighbours Network and on the municipal Access Committee. Since he lost his sight, he has worked as a Volunteer Manager, the Coordinator of a mental health Distress Line, CNIB and Reception and Information Services with CMHA. Donald is the former chair of PRIDE Grey Bruce. He is a member of the GBLIP, and a founding member of WCGB
Sadhana Prasad
joined 2003
administrator, editor
Sadhana immigrated to Canada in 1967 and practiced as a physician specializing in Geriatrics for 33 years in the Kitchener Waterloo area. She moved to Owen Sound in 2020 and brings her clinical, educational, and administrative experience in medicine to WCGB. Sadhana has received several awards, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for community service and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Council award for exceptional service. Since moving to Owen Sound, Sadhana works part time as consultant geriatrician and at the Partnership Table of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team as a member of the MD/NP Council. She joined WCGB in the fall of 2022 and looks forward to opportunities to be more immersed within the community in Grey Bruce Region.
Previous board members
Mokless Hassan, Muna Shrestha
The board of directors tell a different story of contribution and connection. We invite people to see themselves as agents of change that is wanted, with a share and say in the future.
How did we get here?
Welcoming Grey Bruce Timeline
Welcoming Grey Bruce started in 2003 as a small group responding to community needs. Today we are growing into a region-wide impact network of individuals and organizations that have an interest in making Grey-Bruce inclusive and welcoming to all.
2005
Inclusive Communities Committee
The Inclusive Communities Committee was the original community group that became the Welcoming Communities Initiative and WCGB. Membership has grown and changed but the focus on inclusivity, welcoming and addressing racism and discrimination remains.
2010
Grey Bruce One World Festival
A one-day festival to celebrate diversity in Grey Bruce began in 2010 as a response to racism and discrimination in the region. Annual participation up to 1,000 children from regional schools. Annual funding ranges from 5,000 – 12,000 from Heritage Canada, Bruce Power, ETFO and others. Partners: WCGB, ETFO, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Library, M’Wikwedong Indigenous Cultural Resource Centre
2013
Grey Bruce Welcoming Communities Initiative
A new group created because of community concerns about the lack of settlement and welcoming services for newcomers: Two community meetings with community and agency stakeholders looked at the need for a community response for newcomers, immigrants, and refugees.
2015
Grey Bruce Newcomer Network
A group of volunteers (involved with Welcoming Communities Initiative) developed and conducted training for volunteers who wished to be mentors for newcomers, set up a network to match newcomers with trained volunteers and developed the Good Neighbours Network and Mentor Toolkit.
2016
Rural Economic Development Newcomer Grant
6-month project funded by OMAFRA with WCGB in partnership with United Way Bruce Grey to build capacity and to support, integrate and attract refugees and newcomers in Grey Bruce
2017
New to Grey
Funded by Ontario Municipal Affairs to Grey County in partnership with WCGB to make Grey County more attractive by training employers, service providers and the public in all 9 municipalities in Grey County.
2018
Making Grey Bruce Home
$161,576 from Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, WCGB in partnership with United Way Bruce Grey to develop, implement and evaluate a rural model to support the social and economic integration of refugees and newcomers.
2019
Rural Pathways for Newcomer Women in Grey Bruce
$246,576 from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in partnership with United Way Bruce Grey to research and develop new pathways to employment for newcomer women in rural communities without settlement services. As well this year, Welcoming Communities Grey Bruce receives notification of Incorporation.
2020
Making Grey Bruce Home for International Talent
$50,000 from OMAFRA and Georgian College. Partnership project (County of Grey, WCGB, Georgian College) to build supports for international students, and retain skilled workers and potential citizens in the region.
2022
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Rural Workplaces
$94,000 from Canadian Heritage in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Owen Sound and District to make workplaces more inclusive for newcomers, and visible minorities and to build capacity, develop tools and training approaches.
2023
Everyone Belongs in Grey Bruce
$25,000 from Community Foundation Canada to research and develop an Social Enterprise Business Plan for WCGB. $33,000 from Community Foundation Canada to build organizational capacity and build community connections to launch the Everyone Belongs Initiative.
We are addressing discrimination with a strategy to engage diverse groups of people in creating a more welcoming and inclusive region through concrete actions.
Grey-Bruce is situated on the territory of two First Nations, with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples living on and off reserve throughout the area. GB has a significantly lower population (approximately 8%) of immigrants than the provincial and national proportions (29.1% and 21.9%). A 2022 study that interviewed immigrants to explore experiences of discrimination in Grey and Bruce Counties found that discrimination was prevalent throughout the region (Khan et al., 2023). All participants reported experiencing discrimination in some form, mainly based on their race, with experiences ranging from microaggressions to racism. A 2023 immigrant survey by the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership (GBLIP) found that 43% of respondents had experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months, most often due to race or skin colour, ethnicity and culture.
People of all ages and walks of life in Grey-Bruce benefit from a more welcoming and inclusive community. There will be specfic benefits for Immigrant Services and the GBLIP, Municipal governments, employers, Indigenous and newcomer workers.