City Manager Defends Hiring Former Colleague Accused of Racism to Oversee Anti-Racism & DEI in Owen Sound
Janet Ashfield, placed on leave from the City of Markham in 2023 for using the N-word in a guest lecture at George Brown College, hired as City of Owen Sound's HR Manager.
Janet Ashfield, hired by the City of Owen Sound to oversee diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism for the city, was placed on leave from her role in Markham last year after using the N-word during a guest lecture at George Brown College.
The Owen Sound Current received a number of emails and messages from concerned residents last week as word began circulating that Ashfield, Markham's former deputy Director of People Services, had been hired by the City of Owen Sound as HR Manager.
While speaking to over 100 students as a guest lecturer in March 2023, Ashfield shared a case study in which two firefighters lost their jobs for posting offensive content on social media.
As part of that presentation, Ashfield displayed the offensive word spelled out in full on her slide deck and said it aloud to students.
According to CBC News, a video of the incident shows a student confronting Ashfield on her use of the word. Ashfield told the human resources management class it was necessary to use the exact word to understand the full context of the case study before she apologized to the class.
CBC reported that in an email to its Toronto division, Ashfield said she apologized immediately and again at the end of the class for what happened.
Destiny Udoh, a strategist at Canadian Equality Consulting, told CBC at the time, “The intent behind the use of the word doesn't change or erase the heavily weighted trauma that comes with it. For someone at such a high level to not have that basic foundational understanding of how that word could have affected so many people, yeah, it's disappointing.”
The City’s May 2024 job posting for an HR Manager lists the implementation of the Corporation of Owen Sound’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion plan and working on reconciliation, anti-racism, accessibility and equity as among the role’s responsibilities.
We asked the City Manager and Mayor last week to confirm whether the Janet Ashfield currently listed as HR Manager in Owen Sound’s staff directory, hired to oversee anti-racism efforts in this city, is the same Janet Ashfield involved in the George Brown incident.
We received the following response on November 20 after emailing again requesting verification:
“The City’s HR Manager, Janet Ashfield, previously worked for the City of Markham.
When she was hired, the City was aware of her past experience and conducted a thorough review of her qualifications and experience. She has shown dedication to learning and has made valuable contributions to the City.
HR matters are an internal responsibility of the municipality, and the City supports Ms. Ashfield’s excellent work and leadership.”
~ Tim Simmonds, City Manager, City of Owen Sound
Simmonds and Ashfield worked together from 2009 until 2012 for the City of Vaughan. At the time, he served as director of economic development, and she was director of human resources.
Ashfield was dismissed from that role in late June 2012 as part of a group dismissal of four senior managers that also saw Janice Atwood-Petkovski, now the City of Owen Sound’s Integrity Commissioner, let go.
Simmonds stayed on and worked his way up the ranks to his final position of Interim City Manager for the City of Vaughan. He left in February 2020 and was announced as the City of Owen Sound’s City Manager two months later.
As Deputy Director of Human Resources Operations at the City of Markham, Ashfield received an annual salary of $179,369.68. as per the records provided by the Government of Ontario.
The wage rate advertised for the HR Manager position in Owen Sound was $99,248 to $121,035. Skills, competencies and requirements of candidates included “extensive knowledge of pro-active human resources philosophies” and “thorough knowledge of labour law, employment standards, human rights and other related legislation.”
Whether or not Ashfield was selected over other qualified candidates is unknown. In his response, Simmonds stated the above would be his only comment on the matter.
The Owen Sound Current attempted to contact Janet Ashfield for comment. The email link for Ashfield on the City of Owen Sound’s directory webpage did not work, and an automated voice message notified us the phone extension listed was invalid.
Ian Boddy, Mayor of Owen Sound, did not respond to our requests for comment.
Sources:
EXCLUSIVE: Vaughan dismisses top managers, YorkRegion.com
Council Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2012, City of Vaughan Meeting archives
Owen Sound names new city manager, Owen Sound Sun Times
People: Janet Ashfield, City of Vaughan, OntarioSunshineList.com
City of Markham places HR director on leave for saying N-word during guest lecture, CBC News
I don't know a lot about the experience someone needs to oversee issues of racism. However, I always find it strange when the person chosen for the position is not a person of colour, or from a different culture. As much education as we have, can we ever be sensitive enough to the issues people face?