Our responsibility to create a culture of belonging

Even though we're not physically together, we need to stand together.

The last week has been exceptionally difficult and painful for many of us. I’m deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd and the human injustice that continues to follow these tragedies. His story is the latest in a series of raw reminders that racism and human injustice exist not only in the US, but also in Canada and in our local communities — and of the devastating impact they can have. No one deserves to live in fear simply because of the colour of their skin. It’s unacceptable and we have absolutely no tolerance for it at EY. 

We can’t sit back while members of our own EY family or broader community feel unsafe or are treated with prejudice. Our public statements of outrage are important, but not enough. We must commit to meaningful and sustained action. We need to take a stand. 

Our firm’s platform of influence is powerful, and we need to use it to do more than talk about our values — we must live them in explicit, open and brave ways. This is how we can honour George Floyd and the many others whose lives were cut short by systemic racism and intolerance. 

I’m incredibly proud of our firm and people but know there’s more we can do to contribute to a world that is fair and just for all. We are working closely across the Americas and will be taking actions to strengthen our internal position on fighting racism and discrimination, leveraging our collective reach with our own people, our vendors and clients, and within our communities.

June typically kicks off Pride month across the country, where we celebrate the importance of belonging, inclusion and the bravery of our LGBTQIA+ community. This year, our conversation and our commitment to our values needs to be even bigger and our voice needs to be louder. 

I want to reinforce our commitment to making sure everyone belongs. No matter who you love, the colour of your skin, your gender or religious beliefs — you belong to our EY family. Diversity and inclusiveness will always be our greatest strength. We are far from perfect and have a lot to work on, but we are committed to driving change. 

Even though we’re not physically together, we can stand together.

Jad Shimaly
Chairman & CEO, EY Canada