Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

For more than 65 years, Scholastic Canada has worked toward a more just and equitable world for students and families. We renew that commitment each day, guided by the words of the Scholastic Credo:

We believe in:

  • The worth and dignity of each individual
  • Respect for the diverse groups in our multicultural society
  • Cooperation and understanding among all people for the peace of the world
  • The basic freedoms of all individuals — we oppose discrimination of any kind on the basis of race, creed, colour, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, or national origin
  • Inspiring students to enlarge their concern for and understanding of today’s world and to help build a society free of prejudice and hate

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy

Our DEI work challenges systemic inequities in publishing, one project, one book at a time. It is ongoing and central to our mission, shaping our impact with students, educators, families, creators, and employees. In 2020, we hired our Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion who has supported the company in developing and implementing a long-term corporate DEI strategy with the following three pillars: Our Products, Our Partnerships and Our Workplace. Since 2020, our DEI Division has grown to a team of two, with the onboarding of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resource Specialist. This role plays a key part in creating valuable resources with an equity lens which is integrated and applied to the work we do across divisions. 

Our Three Pillars in Detail:

1. Our Products

  • We ensure our publishing lists reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, championing voices and stories that have historically been underrepresented.
  • We maintain an open call for submissions from unagented writers and illustrators, resulting in the publication of works so far such as The Friendship Blanket by Leonarda Carrenza, Jude Saves the World by Ronnie Riley, and You Need Pants! by Sonya Bell.
  • We have significantly increased our publication of titles by diverse creators and stories centering marginalized experiences and continue to track representation across English and French lists through annual DEI audits.
  • Our Education division hosted sessions with education experts who bring a DEI focus and continues to use their insights to improve its programs.
  • Our DEI internal tools including the quality of representation toolkit, conscious language and style guidance, and cross-divisional initiatives offer guidance on equity-focused editorial and corporate decisions.
  • Our marketing campaigns such as Power of Story, Read with Pride and Sharing Black Stories highlight diverse books and creators in schools, homes, and with our retail partners.

2. Our Partnerships

  • We expand access to books and literacy programs through initiatives like the Scholastic Canada Possible Fund, which has donated 128,189 books to 163 partner organizations so far.
  • Our Sponsorship Fairs bring the excitement of book fairs to school communities that cannot host events, ensuring equitable access to books and learning experiences. 
  • Employees are encouraged to volunteer with equity-deserving communities, connecting corporate resources to local impact.
  • Through partnerships with industry organizations such as the Canadian Publishers’ Council (CPC), we collaborate on programming that broadens access to careers in publishing.

3. Our Workplace

  • We foster an inclusive culture through equitable recruitment practices, mentorship programs, Employee Resource Groups, and internal DEI governance structures.
  • Employee Resource Groups create community, amplify voices historically underrepresented in publishing, and deliver programming that supports inclusion.
  • Our DEI training and professional development ensure employees have opportunities to build understanding and inclusive leadership skills.
  • Our corporate and divisional goal-setting, along with annual progress reviews, reinforce accountability and continuous improvement in equity, inclusion, and representation.