The following is a statement from the Senior Leadership of the Cape Breton Partnership in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21.

As Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization, the Cape Breton Partnership is dedicated to driving economic growth and prosperity for the Island. We recognize that true prosperity cannot be achieved without equity, inclusion, and the intentional dismantling of systemic racism.

As a leader in the regional business community, the Cape Breton Partnership acknowledges our responsibility to lead by example. We are committed to fostering a workplace and a professional ecosystem where racialized individuals, Indigenous peoples, and newcomers are not only welcomed but are empowered to lead and succeed.

Our Three-Year Commitment
The senior leadership of the Cape Breton Partnership formally commits to the following strategic pillars from our Anti-Racism Action Plan:

• Assessment and Baseline Accountability: We will establish a clear baseline by conducting a comprehensive audit of our current policies, procedures, and workplace culture to identify and eliminate systemic racism. We are committed to upholding this public pledge and forming a diverse Anti-Racism Action Committee to guide our implementation.
• Education and Applied Awareness: We will equip every employee with the knowledge to disrupt racism through mandatory training on unconscious bias. We will support this through a curated resource library to foster a culture of allyship across the entire Cape Breton Partnership.
• Systemic Policy Reform: We will critically analyze and update all HR policies—including hiring, promotions, and performance reviews—to ensure they are fair and free from bias. We will implement new strategies to attract and retain a more racially diverse talent pool through standardized and inclusive recruitment practices.
• Safe Reporting and Continuous Improvement: We will establish clear, confidential, and safe channels for reporting incidents of racism without fear of retaliation. We commit to a continuous feedback loop with our staff and committee to ensure our plan remains a living, effective document.

Our Vision for the Future
The Cape Breton Partnership believes that an anti-racist Island is a more innovative, resilient, and prosperous Island. We invite our partners and the Unama’ki – Cape Breton community to hold us to these standards as we work together to build a more equitable future.

Signed,

Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO
Cape Breton Partnership