Ally is a verb, not an identity. Allyship is the practice of doing the work of standing up for marginalized communities and building relationships based on trust, consistency and accountability. Allies use their own privilege to oppose discrimination and injustice.
There are endless ways you can show allyship through action – these are just a few.
How can we show allyship by working to ensure that people from marginalized and equity-seeking communities are heard and their voices prioritized?
Allies can use their own privilege to help shift the narrative, include a diversity of voices and perspectives, and counteract silencing.
Accessibility is the practice of making information, activities and environments usable and meaningful for as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.
While the majority of Torontonians understand and support the values of diversity and human rights, accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities are often overlooked. People with disabilities often face barriers in their daily lives, and allies can play a role in advocating for those barriers to be dismantled. The Toronto For All Disability Inclusion campaign shared five ways to show allyship with people with disabilities:
Visit toronto.ca/accessibility to learn about accessibility in City of Toronto programs and services.
Inclusion is creating spaces, in your workplace, social or family circles, where people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against are welcomed and accepted. Acts of allyship helps to foster and build safer, more respectful communities and spaces.
Active and effective allyship is critical in promoting inclusion, and can create a sense of solidarity and belonging when most needed.
Compassion and empathy can be powerful tools for allyship. Compassion is often the starting point for allies and fostering this mindset can create a bridge to active allyship.
Leading with compassion can also help difficult conversations – often an act of allyship in itself – go more smoothly. Meeting people with respect and empathy when challenging harmful language or excluding behaviour can build bridges and help to recognize our shared humanity.
Active allyship with 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities can take many forms. It means refraining from making assumptions about someone’s gender or sexual orientation, and standing with 2SLGBTQ+ communities facing rising discrimination.
Speaking up when people around us use hateful language is not always easy, but discrimination thrives when we tolerate it. Our partner OCASI created a short video that shows how racism multiplies when nobody objects.
OCASI’s Backyard Blast video shows discriminatory language stopped in its tracks when interrupted. There are many ways for allies to speak up.
Speaking up can be an effective act of allyship and solidarity. The more of us that speak up against hateful language, the easier it becomes.
Allies can show solidarity with communities that have faced and continue to face long-standing inequities and discrimination as a result of colonialism and anti-Black racism by supporting Indigenous- and Black-owned businesses. When small businesses and entrepreneurs flourish, so do their communities.
The City’s Reconciliation Action Plan and Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism both highlight the need to support Indigenous-and Black-owned businesses to help communities thrive.
Allyship involves unlearning unconscious biases you may have
towards other people. Unconscious biases are attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes we form about groups of people without being consciously aware of them. These unconscious beliefs guide how we respond to people and situations without us realizing. It’s important for allies to first be aware of their own unconscious biases in order to unlearn.
Unlearning unconscious biases is an ongoing action allies can take over time rather than a short-term goal.
Learn more about allyship through these resources from community organizations, schools, grassroots groups, and institutional partners. This is not an exhaustive list but a starting point.
Resource | Description | Category |
---|---|---|
Allyship and Inclusion | An overview of allyship with definitions, University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine | General |
Microaggressions and Allyship | An explainer on allyship through challenging microaggressions, University of Toronto, #UofTMedCares campaign | General |
Allyship vs. Solidarity | A one-pager on allyship and solidarity, Womens College Hospital | General |
Public Art and Community Resources | A resource list on allyship through the arts, STEPS Public Art | General |
Being a True Ally | An article on allyship for health equity, Dialogue, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario | General |
Do You Want to be an Ally? Let’s Learn How. | A booklet on allyship, #HaveThatTalk, Ottawa Public Health | General |
Allyship | An overview of allyship, including the responsibilities of allies, Anti-Oppression Network | General |
Navigating the Conflict Zone and Becoming a Good Ally | A toolkit for educators and high school students, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion | Educator and Student Resources |
Drawing the Line (Elementary) | A sexual violence prevention guide for elementary educators, White Ribbon | Educator and Student Resources |
Drawing the Line (Secondary) | A sexual violence prevention guide for secondary educators, White Ribbon | Educator and Student Resources |
Allyship and Advocacy | A resource for allyship in the classroom, Stanford | Educator and Student Resources |
Allyship Art Project | A digital art exhibit by middle school students, International School Bangkok | Educator and Student Resources |
Gender and Sexuality Alliance Network | A community and resources for Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and queer students, staff, and allies, TDSB | Educator and Student Resources |
Combatting Hate and Racism Student Learning Strategy | A student-centred approach to creating respectful and culturally safe learning environments, TDSB | Educator and Student Resources |
Student Equity Collective | Students leading positive change to address racism, hate and discrimination, TDSB | Educator and Student Resources |
Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: A Resource for Educators | A foundation for reflection, discussion and social justice action, EFTO/TDBS | Educator and Student Resources |
Equity and Allyship Social Media Bundles | Youth-friendly graphics, School Mental Health Ontario | Educator and Student Resources |
Indigenous Ally Toolkit | How non-Indigenous people and groups can use their privilege to listen, shift power dynamics, and take concrete steps towards reconciliation, Montreal Indigenous Community Network | Indigenous Allyship |
Indigenous Resources for Allies | Non-exhaustive list of resources including reports, courses, documentaries, books, podcasts and organizations, Museum of Toronto | Indigenous Allyship |
Becoming an Ally to Indigenous People | A resource guide, Toronto Urban Growers | Indigenous Allyship |
Generation 4 Equality: Allyship Factsheet | Information for Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies, Native Women’s Association of Canada | Indigenous Allyship |
Allyship | A video exploration on how non-Black allies/accomplices/advocates centre the voices and experiences of Black youth, families and communities, YouthRex | Black Allyship |
Sustaining the Black Lives Matter Movement in the Workplace | A toolkit for employers, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion | Black Allyship |
Understanding Anti-Black Racism and How to be an Ally | An event recording featuring a panel discussion on the historical Black experience in Canada, including how to address anti-Black racism and how to be an ally, Government of Canada | Black Allyship |
Anti-Black Racism and Allyship Resources | A compilation of resources on allyship and anti-Black racism, University of Guelph | Black Allyship |
Tips on How to Practice 2SLGBTQI Allyship | Tips on learning, practicing and reflecting, Egale | 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship |
Ally is a Verb | Information sheets on allyship with trans and Two-Spirit communities, Ontario Federation of Labour | 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship |
WeAreAllies.ca | Resources to help adults learn how to support 2SLGBTQ+ young people, Momentum Canada | 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship |
Short Life Stories | A video and other content exploring the intersections of gender-based violence and transphobia, White Ribbon | 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship |
Anti-Asian Racism Primer | An overview of anti-Asian racism and tangible actions to combat it, University of Waterloo | Asian Allyship |
Resources for Combatting Anti-Asian Racism & Learning About Canadians of Asian Descent | A compilation of resources, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada | Asian Allyship |
Islamophobia: Strategies and Resources for Allyship | Strategies and resources to support Muslim Allyship, Royal Roads University | Muslim Allyship |
How to be an Effective Ally During Ramadan | A one-pager on allyship specific to Ramadan, Toronto Metropolitan University | Muslim Allyship |
How to be an Ally: Islamophobia at the Intersections | A one-pager on Islamophobia and allyship, University of Toronto | Muslim Allyship |
Anti-Islamophobia Resources | Tips and resources for allies, Islamophobia-is.com | Muslim Allyship |
Challenging Islamophobia in the Ontario Youth Sector | A webinar on how youth sector partners can engage in meaningful allyship, YouthRex | Muslim Allyship |
Antisemitism | An explainer on antisemitism, including learning, giving and getting help, Queen’s University | Jewish Allyship |
The stain of antisemitism in Canada | A historical account illustrating discrimination against Jewish people, Canadian Museum for Human Rights | Jewish Allyship |
A Brief History of Antisemitism in Canada | A reference guide to support classroom learning on antisemitism | Resources for Teachers and Students, Jewish Allyship |
Confronting Antisemitism | The 2022 Toronto For All campaign (City of Toronto) | Jewish Allyship |
Simple Steps to Become an Ally in the Workplace | Recommendations for effective allyship at work, Canadian Women’s Foundation | Allyship with Women |
How Men Can be Better Allies | Resources for effective allyship, CCWESTT | Allyship with Women |
Male Allyship: Why is it Important? | An interview with a leadership coach on allyship, Women in Leadership Foundation | Allyship with Women |
Gender Equity and Allyship | Advancing gender equity allyship in sport, Canadian Women & Sport | Allyship with Women |
Men of Quality | A public service announcement video promoting allyship with women and girls, White Ribbon, Toronto Maple Leafs | Allyship with Women |
I Knew All Along | An exploration of men’s allyship with women, White Ribbon | Allyship with Women |
6 Ways to be an Ally to Kids & Youth with Disabilities | How to advocate for disability inclusion and belonging in your community, Holland Bloorview | Disability Allyship |
Standing in Solidarity with the Disability Community | How to be an ally to people with disabilities, Easter Seals | Disability Allyship |
Disability Awareness and Allyship | Tips and resources, Mind Your Mind | Disability Allyship |
Disability and Inclusion | The 2018 Toronto For All campaign, City of Toronto | Disability Allyship |
Take Action on Violence Against Immigrant and Refugee Women | An infographic with statistics and actions allies can take, OCASI | Newcomer Allyship, Allyship with Women |
Us Too | A working paper and call to action on meeting the needs of migrant and racialized communities in anti-gender based violence work, OCASI, Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic | Newcomer Allyship, Allyship with Women, 2SLGBTQ+ Allyship, Allyship with Racialized People |
Tips on How to be an Ally | A video and other content on allyship with newcomers, Immigration Partnership Saskatoon | Newcomer Allyship |
Allies for Refugee Integration | Allyship for settlement service organizations, Immigration and Refugees and Citizenship Canada | Newcomer Allyship |
Some facts and information listed on this page may be out of date. The City of Toronto is not responsible for the content of the external websites listed on this page. The City of Toronto does not endorse, approve, or guarantee the accuracy of the information available on these websites.
This campaign was created in partnership and with guidance from:
Some facts and information listed on this page may be out of date. The City of Toronto is not responsible for the content of the external websites listed on this page. The City of Toronto does not endorse, approve, or guarantee the accuracy of the information available on these websites.