Month: June 2022

SURREY – As part of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association’s (ICBA) ongoing work with Indigenous communities, ICBA announced today the launch of an Indigenous logo design competition, seeking to enhance ICBA’s brand and reflecting the pillars of ICBA while incorporating elements of Indigenous culture.

“ICBA is committed to understanding the history, culture and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President. “We are excited to launch this logo competition and to continue meaningful, progressive and respectful engagement with BC’s Indigenous communities.”

The competition is open to all Indigenous artists in BC and offers a cash prize of $35,000 to the winning designer. Artists are being asked to create a logo that reflects ICBA’s mission and vision as well as the values that guide ICBA – leadership, opportunity, and fairness.

“ICBA’s Indigenous engagement is grounded on the idea of ‘building possibilities,’” said Gardner. “We believe that reconciliation is achieved through real action, by providing opportunities for meaningful, successful, and long-term partnerships.”

At its annual gala dinner in April, ICBA invited seven Indigenous leaders to the stage to present a specially painted drum to NFL quarterback and keynote speaker Russell Wilson. The gift commemorated Wilson’s ten seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

“We are learning more every day about Indigenous traditions and perspectives,” said Gardner. “On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, our team is developing plans around the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #92, such as offering cultural awareness training for all our employees and members, and plans for workshops in the fall to highlight best business practices towards economic reconciliation and to hear from Indigenous leaders.”

The deadline for submissions to the logo competition is October 6, 2022, at 4:00PM Pacific time. A selection panel (to be named shortly) will make recommendations for the winning submission to the ICBA Board of Directors. ICBA plans to formally announce the winning logo before the end of the year.

For full contest rules and submission forms please visit: icba.ca/logocompetition

Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

This week’s resource on diversity and inclusion included this interesting description from Verna Myers:

“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”

While I am renowned among my family for my two left feet and complete lack of rhythm, I feel inclusion is a dance that one should never sit out. Making everyone feel comfortable in a workplace or on a team is vitally important – it needs to be front-of-mind.

This, in turn, promotes good mental health among workers. People who have positive relationships in their work life are less likely to experience feelings of depression and anxiety compared to those who feel excluded.

A few quick ways to be more inclusive at work:

• Connect with new team members in a positive way (have lunch with them!)
• Call out behaviour that is intended to exclude someone
• If someone’s good idea is ignored, try and encourage others to reconsider it – show the person you hear them, and they’re supported

Now that’s a dance I can do!

ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 75 companies and 7,000+ construction professionals better understand mental health. The program is free for ICBA members — see icba.ca/wellness.

Each week, ICBA’s Jordan Bateman reflects on what we’ve learned as we participate in ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program. This program is free for all ICBA members – check out icba.ca/wellness for details.

As we close out our month on inclusion and diversity, I can’t help but reflect on the relationships ICBA is building with British Columbia’s Indigenous peoples.

Last week, as part of ICBA’s ongoing work with Indigenous communities, we announced the launch of an Indigenous logo design competition, seeking to enhance ICBA’s brand and reflecting the pillars of ICBA while incorporating elements of Indigenous culture.

“ICBA is committed to understanding the history, culture and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President, when we announced the competition. “ICBA’s Indigenous engagement is grounded on the idea of ‘building possibilities.’ We believe that reconciliation is achieved through real action, by providing opportunities for meaningful, successful, and long-term partnerships.”

We have a long way to go, as we learn more about Indigenous traditions and perspectives. But the Indigenous leaders we have engaged with have been incredibly kind, warm and generous with their time – and we’re grateful to them.

ICBA’s Workplace Wellness Program is helping more than 75 companies and 7,000+ construction professionals better understand mental health. The program is free for ICBA members — see icba.ca/wellness.