Commissioner's Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility

About COHREA

At the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPR), we are committed to upholding dignity, respect, equity, and human rights for all members of our school board community. This includes students, staff, parents/caregivers, trustees, volunteers, and community partners. KPR strives to maintain learning and working environments where everyone can participate fully in an inclusive, welcoming, healthy, and safe education culture free from discrimination and harassment.

The Commissioner’s Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility (COHREA) supports KPR in embedding human rights principles into decisions, practices, and relationships across the Board. COHREA is a resource for members of the KPR community and responds to matters involving the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code). This includes Code-related concerns and complaints, advice to staff on complaint management, system-wide human rights education and training, and guidance that supports KPR’s commitment to an inclusive culture free from discrimination and harassment.

Visitors can learn more about the Commissioner’s Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility and its role within KPR in the video below.

Understanding Rights and Responsibilities

Discrimination and harassment can harm the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of members of the KPR community and can negatively affect student success and belonging. These actions are inconsistent with KPR values and with the Code. Under the Code, every person has the right to be free from discrimination and harassment in educational services and employment based on Code-protected grounds, including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences (in employment only), marital status, family status, or disability. The Code also prohibits harassment in employment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Sexual misconduct is generally considered harassment and/or discrimination under the Code.

KPR Policies and Prevention

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act also prohibits workplace harassment and workplace violence. KPR addresses sexual harassment, workplace harassment, and Code-based discrimination and harassment through its Workplace Harassment Policy and its Human Rights Code Based Discrimination and Harassment Policy.

COHREA uses a comprehensive approach to help KPR prevent, identify, and respond to discrimination and harassment. This includes:

• Monitoring KPR systems and practices for barriers related to Code-protected grounds.
• Establishing and following fair, effective procedures for responding to discrimination and harassment concerns within KPR.
• Supporting procedural fairness and due process for all parties involved in discrimination or harassment concerns.
• Conducting site-based visits or reviews, when requested by the Director of Education/Chief Executive Officer, to address systemic discrimination in a KPR department, area, or school.
• Providing referrals, information, and support for individuals affected by discrimination or harassment.
• Recommending appropriate remedial or disciplinary action, where necessary, in consultation with Human Resource Services and/or school-based superintendents.
• Offering training and education so members of the KPR community understand their human rights-related rights and responsibilities.
• Engaging in public education, awareness, and prevention activities for the KPR community.

Supporting Inclusive Schools and Workplaces

KPR is committed to ensuring that its schools, workplaces, services, and decision-making reflect and serve the diversity of the communities we support. Everyone who learns, works, volunteers, or engages with KPR should be treated equitably and with dignity and respect. When human rights concerns are brought to COHREA, the office can assist in exploring available resolution options.

Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence & Non-interference

COHREA’s work is guided by confidentiality, impartiality, independence, and non-interference. Confidentiality involves handling information shared with COHREA carefully and ensuring it is not disclosed unnecessarily. Information is shared only with consent, where required by law, or where disclosure is necessary to address a serious risk to health, safety, or the integrity of a process. Impartiality requires COHREA to approach concerns without favouring any person, group, school, department, or outcome. Independence entails carrying out human rights work at arm’s length from other KPR departments, schools, and offices. Non-interference requires that COHREA not seek direction from, or act under the influence of any individual or area of KPR when responding to human rights concerns or complaints. These principles help ensure that concerns are addressed in a fair, respectful, and impartial manner. 

Contacting the COHREA in Confidence

COHREA is intended to be a safe, neutral, and confidential point of contact for members of the KPR community who wish to bring forward human rights concerns, complaints, questions, or related issues. As an arm’s-length office, COHREA protects the confidentiality of people who report discrimination or harassment, as well as those who are responding to such concerns.

Questions or concerns about privacy and confidentiality may be raised with COHREA at any time.