Welcome to our new website!

Welcome to our new City of Niagara Falls website! Explore our updated pages, improved navigation, and new features designed to serve you better.

Please note that for approximately 24 hours, you may experience intermittent changes or minor glitches as the update is completed. By January 8, the website will be fully updated and operating smoothly.

If you encounter any issues after January 7, please report them by emailing service@niagarafalls.ca or by calling 905-356-7521.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee works to make Niagara Falls a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and included. We listen to our community, celebrate diversity, and help remove barriers so all residents and visitors can thrive.

About us

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DEI) provides recommendations, advice and information to the Mayor, City Council and staff on the following terms of reference:

  • Removing barriers to inclusion for all residents and visitors in our community
  • Achieving a greater understanding of the many diverse communities in Niagara Falls and their vision for our city, to help build cohesion among diverse populations
  • Reviewing City policies and master plans through a diverse lens to ensure they are executed, emphasizing improving all forms of diversity
  • Fostering greater inclusion of all residents and stakeholders so that they meet the needs of all residents in the community
  • Ensuring more effective outreach on diversity matters
  • Facilitating discussions with community groups to promote broader understanding and engagement between residents of diverse backgrounds and abilities

The application period is closed.

Qualifications

Members are selected through an application and interview process. The interview panel will include the appointed Council representative and staff representatives.  Recommendations will be presented to Council for approval. Selected candidates must attend an orientation session.

  1. Must be a Niagara Falls resident, business owner or stakeholder
  2. Have general knowledge of overall community issues facing inclusion and accessibility
  3. Bring understanding, expertise and experience covering one or more categories under the Human Rights Code:
    • Age – i.e. Youth (18-30), Adults (30-65), Seniors (65+)
    • Gender and gender identity
    • Sexual orientation – LGBTQ2S+
    • Faith – i.e. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish, Atheist, etc.
    • Ethno-cultural – i.e. Southeast Asian, Arab, Italian, Polish, etc.
    • Physical & mental ability – i.e. autistic, vision disability, etc.

On August 11, 2020 City Council endorsed support for participation in the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, a network that includes 121 Canadian cities. The Niagara Region and the 12 municipalities signed a joint declaration to join the Coalition on September 18, 2020.

Joining the Coalition and working actively towards the following 10 commitments is beneficial to help build respectful, inclusive and diverse societies and to positively impact newcomers, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ2S+ community:

  1. Increase vigilance against systemic and individual racism and discrimination
  2. Monitor racism and discrimination in the community more broadly as well as municipal actions taken to address racism and discrimination
  3. Inform and support individuals who experience racism and discrimination
  4. Support policing services in their efforts to be exemplary institutions in combating racism and discrimination
  5. Provide equal opportunities as a municipal employer, service provider, and contractor
  6. Support measures to promote equity in the labour market
  7. Support measures to challenge racism and discrimination and promote diversity and equal opportunity in housing
  8. Involve citizens by giving them a voice in anti-racism initiatives and decision-making
  9. Support measures to challenge racism and discrimination and promote diversity and equal opportunity in housing
  10. Promote respect, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and the inclusion of Aboriginal and racialized communities into the cultural fabric of the municipality

Location: Held virtually

Dates and times: Meetings start at 6:00 pm unless otherwise posted.

  • January 12, 2026
  • February 23, 2026 
  • March 30, 2026
  • April 27, 2026
  • May 25, 2026
  • June 29, 2026

General meeting procedures

  • We meet as required or decided by the Chair or at Council's direction
  • The dates of meetings are confirmed once the DEI’s annual work plan is finalized, so that they coincide with the plans and projects under discussion
  • The Chair of DEI, in consultation with city staff, may cancel a meeting if there are insufficient items to discuss
  • Half of the committee members, plus one, will constitute a quorum
  • Meetings will be open to the public. Requests to attend can be made by emailing the staff liaison at hr@niagarafalls.ca.
  • Other Members of the Council may attend meetings, but will participate as non-voting participants
  • Meeting agendas are prepared in advance. Meeting minutes will be prepared by a staff member or designated committee member and forwarded to each committee member (copied to the City Clerk).

Term:  Committee members serve a term of four years.

  • Councillor Mona Patel
  • Marilyn Tian (Chair)
  • Sheila DeLuca (Co-Chair)
  • Marla Terreberry-Portfilio
  • Erden Ertorer
  • Jitto Tom Uthup
  • Cat Thagard
  • Jamie Lauzon

Staff advisors from Human Resources and Recreation and Culture will join meetings when needed to support discussions, but they won’t vote. Their attendance will depend on the topics being discussed and may include City staff and other stakeholders.

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
4310 Queen Street
P.O. Box 1023
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5
Canada
905-356-7521
service@niagarafalls.ca