As we welcome June, I want to share a personal milestone — this will be my final message as CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.
Serving in this role has been the honour of a lifetime. Over the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside passionate individuals and dedicated organizations who believe in the transformative power of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). From sparking national conversations to creating meaningful tools, we’ve built something truly special, together.
While this marks the end of my time as CEO, it’s not goodbye. I’m excited to continue with CCDI in a new role — one focused on thought leadership, strategy, and advocacy. I also look forward to supporting our incoming CEO, Sartaj Sarkaria, who officially steps into the role on June 18. Sartaj brings a deep commitment to inclusive leadership, and I have full confidence in her ability to guide CCDI into its next chapter.
June marks both National Indigenous History Month and the start of Pride season — important times to honour the histories, voices, and futures of Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. I invite you to explore the educational tools we’ve shared below and join us for two upcoming panel discussions:
On the podcast front, I’m excited to share that my guest this month on Leader Talks is Senator Andrew Cardozo. To coincide with Canadian Multiculturalism Day, this episode explores his journey from public broadcasting to the Senate and his vision for a more inclusive Canada. His insights offer a timely and thoughtful lens on where we are, what’s at stake, and how we move forward. I hope you'll tune in to this timely conversation.
Just in case you missed them — our May releases are still available:
I had the privilege of speaking with Teresa Woo-Paw, founder of eight nonprofits and the first Asian Canadian woman elected to the Alberta Legislature. We discussed the 2025 Asian Heritage Month theme, Unity in Diversity, and how her advocacy continues to shape a more inclusive Canada.
We also published a blog for Jewish Heritage Month, reflecting on the Royal Ontario Museum exhibition, Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away. It was a profoundly moving experience for our team and a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance and education.
Thank you for your continued support. It’s been a joy to help CCDI grow over the years — and I look forward to what lies ahead under Sartaj’s leadership. I’m deeply grateful for the journey we’ve shared and optimistic about the continued impact CCDI will have in the months and years to come.
Greetings
Anne-Marie Pham
CEO
The Board of Directors for the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion is pleased to announce the appointment of Sartaj Sarkaria to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective June 18, 2025.
Sartaj joins CCDI with more than a decade of executive experience driving strategic growth, culture change, and inclusive leadership across multiple sectors. As Sartaj assumes the CEO role, she will work closely with Anne-Marie Pham and CCDI’s senior leadership team to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition.
We look ahead with confidence and excitement as Sartaj takes the helm.
New partnership brings free DEI learning to more Canadian youth
CCDI’s youth development initiative, See Different, has partnered with BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) to launch Level 1 of the See Different program – The Principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion certificate – on the MyBGC.com platform.
Through this collaboration, and generous support from the Government of Canada, youth aged 15 and up across Canada can now access this self-paced online course for free, earning a certificate that recognizes their growing knowledge and leadership in DEI.
To learn more about the See Different program, visit SeeDifferent.ca.
Commemorate and honour our communities with the awareness building tools provided in these resources.
Ten years of Truth, a lifetime of action (Part 1): Webinar
National Indigenous History Month is a celebration of Indigenous history in the spirit of pride and reclamation. In part one of this two-part webinar series, Ten years of Truth, a lifetime of action: Part one - Prioritizing Indigenous justice with action and accountability as non-Indigenous settler peoples, we will explore how honoring Truth through the Calls to Action and addressing injustice begins with understanding the responsibilities of non-Indigenous individuals and settlers. Participants will delve into the principles of living allyship and actionable steps that drive meaningful change.
June marks the beginning of Pride Season (from June to September), when 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and allies celebrate resilience, and acknowledge obstacles faced, including political, economic, and physical challenges to personal wellbeing.
Underlying the excitement of this season’s festivities is a desire for change, one that CCDI is committed to supporting through our 2SLGBTQIA+ educational guide. This learning resource is designed to support the building of inclusive environments where 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals feel safe, respected, and affirmed all year long.
The May episode of Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham to commemorate Asian Heritage Month is available at your preferred podcast platform. In this powerful discussion, Anne-Marie speaks with Teresa Woo-Paw, the first Asian Canadian woman elected to the Alberta legislature and a dedicated advocate for human rights and equity. Teresa shares her family’s immigration journey, confronts the impact of Yellow Peril stereotypes and discusses the challenges of the Bamboo Ceiling in leadership. Tune in to learn how we can all contribute to a more inclusive future in Canada and benefit from practical tips on cultural competency, inclusive history-telling, and active allyship.
In recognition of the UNESCO initiative, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, Megan Wishart, CCDI’s Coordinator of Operations, reflects on her experience as a Francophile in the Canadian Francophone space. She explores how Francophiles are often excluded from discussions and celebrations surrounding Francophone communities and highlights the many ways people can become a part of the French-speaking world.
Together we are shaping more equitable workplaces, schools and communities through our Employer Partners, moving towards a truly inclusive Canada. Join us in extending a warm welcome to our newest Employer Partners.
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