The Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) has created the President’s Council on Diversity. 

“AIC is dedicated to provide an atmosphere free of barriers in order to promote equity and diversity. We celebrate and welcome the diversity of all members, volunteers, employees and stakeholders,” AIC President Jan Wicherek said in a release.

AIC said the organization’s policy is to foster an environment that respects people’s dignity, ideas and beliefs, thereby ensuring equity and diversity throughout the organization as well as the profession at large.

“We seek to demonstrate our commitment to diversity by providing a supportive environment and a corporate culture that welcomes and encourages equal opportunities for all members, volunteers and employees,” AIC CEO Keith Lancastle said.

The President's Council on Diversity will assist the AIC board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing and making the following recommendations to the board:

• Identifying barriers to participation and proposing solutions to enhance the participation of under-represented groups in the full spectrum of AIC volunteer opportunities; and
• Supporting AIC's efforts to promote membership and volunteerism to individuals from all demographic groups with a focus on those groups where under-representation is an issue.

Additionally, it will be the council's responsibility to advise AIC volunteer leadership and staff on issues specific to diversity, promote and champion transparency and accountability in the volunteer; recruitment and development activities of the institute, review, as necessary, information to be posted to the membership and/or stakeholders including call for volunteers, and from time to time, assume such other responsibilities as may be delegated by the board.

The board is seeking expressions of interest from qualified parties and will announce the council's composition in early 2021.