Tina Garnett

Tina Garnett is 6th generation Canadian; she is the descendent of an escape slave John Henry who arrived at the Great Lakes Black Settlement in Collingwood Ontario in 1831. Tina has been developing human rights based equity and inclusion policies and services with marginalized communities for over two decades. She is the current Human Rights & Inclusion Specialist with Hamilton Health Sciences’ Human Resources Department. Her work has been cutting edge and ground breaking, such as her time in Northern British Colombia, where she co-founded an Indigenous youth organization that supported street involved pregnant Indigenous youth; she was the person hired after the investigation at Children’s Aid Society of Toronto regarding the implications of systemic racism on child apprehension, which led to being seconded to CUPE Ontario to support equitable engagement amongst elected officials, and members. Tina’s work as a senior executive provides the expertise required when supporting leaders in change management, yet her genuine openness invites any to be comfortable and feel fully seen and supported.

As the Founder & Principal consultant of Providence International EDI Consulting (PIC EDI) Tina has supported organizations to lean into difficult conversation regarding authentic equity and inclusion. Her previous work with victims of violence left her with keen investigations and assessment agility, which are beneficial when meditating difficult conversations. Some of her clients have included the Ontario Women’s Directorate, Nova Scotia Dalhousie University, Plush Home Essentials, Sistering Women’s Shelter, and Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. She continues to provide ongoing private clinical support she provides to labour union leaders & members, government officials and other professionals.  Tina is committed to offering transformational equity, which involves providing the psycho-educational cognitive support to leaders who are interested in creating more equitable and safer work places. She shares her knowledge by volunteering on community governing boards, such as, MOYO Health and Community Services, the Hamilton Civic Centre for Inclusion, or DrumArtz to mention a few. She has facilitated human rights based classes in a myriad of academic institutions and most recently completed a Master’s degree, which focused on creating accessible social services for marginalized communities. In her spare time she enjoys yoga, reading, gardening and spending quality time with her 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

• 25+ years in developing & facilitating equity, inclusion and human rights based workshops for academic institutions, governments, and NGOs.
• Media Training; Public Speaking, Conference Moderator, Keynote Speaker, Panelist
• Extensive experience in motivational management, community relations and public education from an intersectional anti-racism: anti-oppression framework.
• Possess superior interpersonal communication skills to foster and sustain a healthy working relationships with a broad group of stakeholders with diverse views, skills and interests.
• Able to lead innovative change initiatives through the development of creative solutions, mediation, constructive problem solving and collaboration; trusted and credible relationship builder.

---

EDUCATION

• Master of Arts Degree in Environmental Studies, specialization in Social Systems, York University (2016)
• Child & Youth Worker Diploma, Fanshawe College (1996)

---

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Indigenous Canada Certificate, University of Alberta-distant education (current)
• San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Part 1&2 (2019-2020)
• Understanding Program Evaluation for Wellbeing Certificate, York University (2017)
• Human Resources Management Certification, George Brown College (2013)
• Project Management Professional Certification, George Brown College (2013)

---

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Human Resources

• Conducted sensitive investigations regarding workplace violence complaints; consult and/or support on incidents of workplace violence, harassment or discrimination.
• Provided managerial leadership and strategic advice for effective human resource management; payroll, scheduling, hiring, training, termination; streamlining programs and resources.
• Develop equity, diversity and inclusion focused educational curriculum regarding employee’s rights and legislation for executives leaders and frontline staff
• Support the implementation of an equity lens throughout the talent management process
• Review and develop human rights based policies to identify gaps and make recommendations

Academic Sector

• Facilitated intersectional gender-based violence lessons; coordinated and moderated annual speaker’s series; including sitting as panelist
• Completed research regarding disability access and inclusion, which lead to the creation of a student based survey and archive report;
• Conduct risk and change management; which led to the development of equity based policies, procedures and programs

Community Based Research & Development

• Provide leadership to private / public organizations to develop equity focused and legislative adherence within programs, policies and procedures; as well as, creating human resource manuals, leading conflict mediation; and providing individual support in employment/academic human rights case;
• Developed cutting edge wrap-around services for commercially exploited youth & women; co-founded rural youth organization
• Led strategic planning and team building retreats
• Clients include:
  • Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Community Consultant & Facilitator
  • Sistering Women’s Shelter, Trauma Expert and Group Facilitator
  • Ontario Women’s Directorate, Associate Researcher & Facilitator
  • Women & HIV/AIDS Initiative, Guest Speaker
  • Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Associate Researcher
  • Dalhousie University, Nursing Department, Associate Researcher
  • Working for Change, Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre, Guest Facilitator
  • Sista2Sista, Health Improvement Project for Teens (HIPTeens), Associate Researcher
  • Strategic Improvement Company, Community Based Researcher & Group Facilitator
  • Walls 2 Bridges, Women Incarcerated Program, Group Facilitator

---

Labour Union Movement Experience

• Facilitated adult education regarding human rights, equity and inclusion in the labour force; Led employment law & human rights workshops and anti-racism workshops at sector-specific conferences; Lead the development of anti-racism: anti-oppression action plan and resources; Developed terms of reference and recruiting rubrics
• Facilitated capacity building & leadership workshops to union leaders
• Support staff grievances and led conversations in bargaining regarding employment equity in policies and procedures

---

COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT

• Hamilton Trans Health Care Committee, General Committee Member, current
• Hamilton Civic Centre for Inclusion, Governing Board Member, current
• MOYO, Community Health & Community Services, Governing Board Member, current
• HHSC Trans Inclusion, Gender & Pronoun in Meditech Committee, Co-Chair, current
• Trauma Informed Committee, current
• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association, North American Representative, 2019
• Ontario NDP Women’s Committee Co-Chair, 2019
• CUPE Ontario Anti-Racism Organizational Action Plan, Co-Chair, 2018-2019
• CUPE Ontario Pink Triangle Chair Executive Board Member, 2018-2019
• CUPE/CAS Management Equity Advisory Committee Co-Chair, 2018-2019
• CUPE Local 2316, Executive Equity Chair Board Member, 2017-2019
• CUPE Local 2316, Equity Committee Co-Chair, 2016-2019
• CUPE Local 2316 Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiation Committee, 2018
• Promoting Education and Community Health (PEACH), Volunteer Board Member, 2016
• Accessibility, Community and Equity Committee, Co-Chair, 2015-2016
• Faculty of Environmental Studies Equity Committee, Member, 2014-2016
• Council of Faculty Instruction, General Member, 2014-2016
• Drum Artz of Canada, Human Resources Chair, Governing Board Member, 2014-2016
• Peel Regional Diversity Roundtable, 2009-2010
• Black Community Action Network (co-founding member), 2009-2010

---

PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA

1. John C. Holland Award Business Professional Achievement Award, 2020. 
2. CUPE Local #79, Black History Month Celebration, 2018. 
3. The Black Experience Project Interview, 2015.
4. Misogynistic society to blame. Toronto Star. 2015.