WCMA Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Western Canadian Music Alliance (WCMA) recognizes the injustices perpetrated in Canada, in the music sector, and within our own structures and histories as an organization, against Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQ+, women, and other marginalized people.  The Western Canadian Music Alliance is committed to working towards correcting systemic racism and oppression in our industry and move actively towards equity.

We recognize the WCMA’s head office is on the ancestral lands of Treaty One Territory, the original lands and meeting place of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, the homeland of the Métis Nation and a frequent meeting place of the Inuit. 

WCMA stands with Black, Indigenous, Racialized and People of Colour in Canada and world-wide. We are in allyship with Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements that endeavour for systemic change.

WCMA recognizes that womxn and 2SLGBTQ+ people face stigma and barriers in Canada and especially in the music industry, and we support ongoing work to address these inequities. 

WCMA has a history of supporting and celebrating the music of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, womxn and 2SLGBTQ+ people through our awards and through the BreakOut West festival and conference, we have actively sought out both advice and partnerships with these groups, we have made steps to center equitable practices, and bring increased diversity and inclusion to our governance and staff, recognizing there is more we can do. We are committed to ongoing, timely and effective action.

• WCMA Board of Directors are creating policy to define our inclusion commitments and timelines. This will include policy for increased equity and representation on our Board of Directors. 

• WCMA is creating a hiring procedure that prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion when filling staff positions.

• WCMA is formalizing advisory roles in order to listen to and engage with diverse voices, which are underrepresented on our board and in our staff.

• WCMA is committed to ongoing training for staff and board, in anti-racism and anti-oppression, and safer spaces.

• WCMA is committed to being a leader in thought and in action, for training, conversation, and the sharing of ideas within our music industry community. 

• WCMA commits to sharing these goals and timelines with our membership, within our sector, and with the industry, as they are created, and to sharing our progress towards these goals. 

We are working to understand and address systemic barriers in all forms for potential directors, committee members, speakers, delegates, artists, employees, suppliers, and audience. This represents the actions we are committing to today but we recognize it cannot stop here and there will be more work to do. We recognise the dynamic nature of inclusive practices and language, and are therefore committed to ongoing learning, change, and accountability. We are committed to learning more, to improve, and to make change, and welcome all suggestions and recommendations. We also recognise our responsibility to seek out our own learning alongside the communities we represent.