Maximizing Profitability and Sustainability through

Workplace Diversity

Capitalizing on Cultural Competency and Foreign Labour Markets
to Maintain a Productive Workforce

DAY ONE: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Exploring the Benefits of Cultural Competency in Your Workforce   7:30 - 8:30   Registration and Continental Breakfast   8:30 - 8:40 Welcome and Opening Remarks from the Chair Dr. Marie Gervais, Education Coordinator, Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations Milé Komlen, Senior Diversity Consultant, CIBC   8:40 - 9:40 Case Study Creating an Inclusive Workplace through Diversity Councils and Affinity Groups Milé Komlen, Senior Diversity Consultant, CIBC Establishing individual diversity as a tool for employee empowerment and increased retention Using diversity councils, committees, and affinity groups to create an inclusive workplace Incorporating all stakeholders in diversity initiatives throughout global operations Benchmarking techniques to maximize performance and ensure top retention of talent   9:40 - 10:00   Networking Break   10:00 - 11:30 Interviewing and Selection Strategies for Diverse Candidates Violet Poon, Intercultural Coach, MCB Solutions Examine how different cultures write a resume Correctly interpreting body language during an interview Matching the Candidate to the position   11:30 - 12:30 Developing Cultural Competency as Part of a Retention Strategy Don Rutherford, President, Culture Connect Establishing a two way street for cultural understanding your duty to accommodate and foster tolerance and acceptance reasonable expectations of an employee Return on investment: satisfied workers are retained workers   12:30 - 1:45   Luncheon   1:45 - 2:45 Case Study Recognizing Diversity as an Essential Investment: Diversity Investment in the Calgary Police Service Inspector Bill Webb, Career Development Section, Calgary Police Department Inspector Richard Hinse, Human Resources Section, Calgary Police Department Using diversity to enhance an organization's capacity to fulfill core business functions Enriching organizational culture by embracing diversity Using diversity to enhance recruitment opportunities   2:45 - 3:00   Networking Break   3:00 - 4:00 Demonstrated Value of Building Workplace Communities Dr. Marie Gervais, Education Coordinator, Northern Alberta Alliance on Race Relations Developing a strong workplace community How to demonstrate the positive impact of a culturally supportive workplace Weighing the cost of implementation against the increases in retention rates   4:00 - 5:00 Establishing the Systems for Measurement and Accountability in Your Diversity Process Delaine Johnson, Manager, Healthy Diverse Populations, Calgary Health Region Setting clear and measurable objectives Conducting a diversity audit Incorporating measurement into the process not just the endgame   5:00   End of Day One See Agenda for Day Two REGISTER