Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect Policy              

Preamble

Founded in 1981, The Pro Coro Society - Edmonton (Pro Coro Canada) is an Edmonton based, not-for-profit, professional choral arts organization. The choir is comprised of professional contract singers, as selected for specific engagements, and an Artistic Director. Pro Coro Canada regularly performs a diverse selection of choral repertoire for in-person and virtual audiences as well as through recorded digital media (CDs, ProCoro TV).

Pro Coro Canada recognizes that Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect are core values that foster positive choral culture, improve morale, and promote integrity and professionalism. Pro Coro Canada values all feedback from singers, visiting artists, employees, volunteers, and the broader choral arts community to inform opportunities for learning.

This policy applies to all individuals associated with Pro Coro Canada, including employees, volunteers, board members, singers, contractors, and visiting artists; including all programs and events facilitated by Pro Coro Canada. The following Policy and supporting Pillars shall be foundational elements in all operational practices and procedures.

Policy

Pro Coro Canada shall actively foster a choral environment in which each person is individually valued, respected, and included. By building upon the pillars of equity, diversity, inclusion, and respect, Pro Coro Canada is purposefully creating a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive professional choral arts organization that reflects the richness and diversity of the world around us.

Pillars

1.    Equity, built on a set of principles, processes, and practices, reduces or removes barriers for individuals in Pro Coro Canada by providing varying levels of support to achieve fairness. Recognizing that within any group of individuals differences may exist, equity creates opportunities for unbiased outcomes for all members of Pro Coro Canada.

2.    Diversity refers to demographic or identity diversity, differences in human qualities, characteristics and perspectives that may include but are not limited to the protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act (2000) (e.g., age, gender identity/expression, race, language, sexual orientation) and forms of group singing. Fostering diversity facilitates the removal of barriers and biases and creates workspaces for the choral arts that are safe and free of harassment and discrimination.

3.    Inclusion is a sense of belonging to Pro Coro Canada and ensures that all individuals receive fair treatment, are valued, and welcomed for the talents and skills they bring to the group. Inclusion fosters the opportunity to grow in an accepting environment that supports quality music education and musical opportunities which are safe and free of harassment or discrimination.

4.    Respect is honoring the opinions, dignity, and choices made by individual members and by the choir and celebrating the talents, and skills that people bring to Pro Coro Canada. Being respectful improves relations, a sense of personal and group goals, and in many ways is the intended outcome of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Review and Revision

This policy will be reviewed biennially or at a frequency as determined by Pro Coro Canada's Board of Directors to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.