The city of Clarington in the Durham Region is taking further steps to promote diversity and inclusion in its community. On Feb. 11, 2025, Mayor Adrien Foster awarded DiversiPro founder Hamlin Grange the Challenge Coin award in recognition of his contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Grange has dedicated much of his career to advocating for DEI through his consulting firm. When Mayor Foster reviewed the list of candidates for the upcoming award, he noted that the former journalist’s resume stood out.
“I see people who have accomplishments that make me wonder how I wasted my life,” Foster joked when talking about Grange’s career history.
Grange has worked as a DEI consultant for more than 25 years and previously advocated for inclusion as a journalist with CBC and Global Television. He emphasized the role journalists play in shaping their communities but added that a commitment to diversity is essential to telling balanced, fair stories.
“Journalists can get a little bit lazy,” said Grange. “They tend to look for stories in the same places as opposed to going outside their comfort zone and exploring other communities.”
Both Foster and Grange noted how Clarington has grown increasingly diverse over the years, with people from a range of cultural backgrounds calling the city home.
Foster highlighted the importance of uncovering untold histories within communities. He pointed to Clarington as an example, reflecting on its evolution from a small town into a more culturally rich city.
As the demographic landscape shifted, Foster worked with the city to establish a Diversity Advisory Committee, a DEI coordinator role, and most recently, an Anti-Black Racism Committee.
“We have the DEI coordinator, the Diversity Advisory committee and we’ve just set up a separate Anti-Black Racism committee,” said Foster.
He added that there is still room for progress in their diversity engagement but remains dedicated to making those improvements.
“There was so very little taught to us about the Black communities achievements and the amazing culture and history around our Indigenous groups,” he said. “If you don’t know about it you can’t celebrate it, and it’s a loss for all of us.”
Grange reinforced that true inclusion comes from recognizing and celebrating all communities as integral to Canada’s history.
“Black history is Canadian history, I don’t see it as a separate thing from Canadian history, ” said Grange. He added that embracing different cultures makes a city stronger and more vibrant.
“It’s not about competing against each other and seeing which community deserves recognition above another,” Grange explained. “It’s acknowledging and recognizing all communities in terms of what they bring to create a livable city.”
Though he no longer works in journalism, Grange continues advocating for better DEI standards. He encourages journalists to actively engage with diverse communities, even when no immediate story presents itself.
“I think we need to rebuild trust,” said Grange. “The way we do that is by going into communities and talking to individuals. Even if there is no story to be told, eventually those stories will emerge.”