Belonging and accountability: Defence Team marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Belonging and accountability: Defence Team marks International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

April 07, 2026 - Defence Stories

Estimated read time - 2:30

On March 20, members of the Defence Team gathered in person and virtually across the country to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD). Hosted by the Defence Team Champions for Racialized Persons, Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Jacques P. Olivier and Associate Deputy Minister Natasha Kim, the event gave personal perspectives on the realities of racial discrimination and focused on the fundamental importance of belonging and accountability.

RAdm Olivier opened the event by framing IDERD as both a moment of reflection and a call to sustain institutional accountability. He emphasized that addressing racial discrimination is fundamental to professional conduct, trust, and operational effectiveness within the Defence Team. While acknowledging progress, he underscored that continued effort is required to confront behaviours that undermine dignity and cohesion. He also highlighted key institutional actions that are underway.

The event featured contributions from Defence Team networks, including the Defence Team Canadian Asian Network (DTCAN) and the Filipino-Canadian Defence Network (FCDN).

DTCAN emphasized the shared responsibility to foster a culture rooted in integrity, compassion, and meaningful action. Their remarks highlighted the importance of cultural identity and belonging, encouraging individuals to reconnect with and take pride in their heritage.

FCDN spoke candidly about the resilience of its members, noting that their commitment to serve remains stronger than the discrimination they have faced. They called attention to the ongoing barriers, including being overlooked for advancement despite strong performance, underscoring the impact of bias linked to race, accent, and gender.

A panel discussion followed, featuring Chief Warrant Officer Michael Fuentespina, Lieutenant-Colonel Indira Thackorie, Judge (Retired Lieutenant-Commander) Albert Wong, and Jenny Chen. Through personal and professional reflections, panelists shared powerful and, at times, difficult experiences of racial discrimination within both military and civilian contexts.

Their insights reinforced several key themes for the Defence Team:

• Racial discrimination, whether overt or subtle, undermines belonging, cohesion, and trust.
• Early, clear, and consistent intervention is essential to addressing harmful behaviours.
• Policies, frameworks, and guidance are only effective when applied in daily practice.
• Silence should not be interpreted as acceptance; it is often a response to fear of reprisal or exclusion.
• Challenging assumptions and first impressions is critical to inclusion.
• Addressing systemic issues requires collective accountability and openness to difficult conversations.

The discussion underscored that eliminating racial discrimination is not solely an institutional responsibility, but a shared obligation across all levels of the Defence Team.

Associate Deputy Minister Kim closed the event by reinforcing the importance of sustained vigilance, acknowledging both the progress made and the responsibility that remains. She emphasized that meaningful change requires continued leadership commitment, active engagement, and the willingness to listen, learn, and act.

As the Defence Team continues its efforts to strengthen culture and accountability, IDERD serves as a reminder that building an inclusive, respectful, and operationally effective institution requires both leadership and everyday action.

Video Links

• Live Sound (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
• English only (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
• French only (Accessible only on the National Defence network)

Resources

• Defence Team Anti-Racism Framework
• Anti-racism Lens
• Canadian Armed Forces Apology for Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment
• Find your organization's Employee Assistance Program provider
• Learning Resources: Combatting systemic racism and racial discrimination in the Defence Team