Mitacs collects self-identification information to be able to report to funders, for program planning and development, and for an accurate understanding of equitable representation of underrepresented groups. Answering these questions is optional, and applicants can choose all items that apply. The information is reported in aggregate and not linked to individuals. It will not be used as part of the adjudication process.

Our definitions are drawn from federal and provincial government offices, such as Statistics Canada, government legislation such as the Employment Equity Act, as well as associations representing underrepresented groups, such as the National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS). If you have questions or concerns, please contact policyfellowship@mitacs.ca.

• Gender refers to the gender that a person internally feels (“gender identity” along the gender spectrum) and/or the gender a person publicly expresses (“gender expression”) in their daily life, including at work, while shopping or accessing other services, in their housing environment or in the broader community. A person’s current gender may differ from the sex a person was assigned at birth (male or female) and may differ from what is indicated on their current legal documents. A person’s gender may change over time.
• An Indigenous person in Canada is a person who identifies with First Nations (Status/Non-Status), Métis or Inuit, cultural, and/or ancestral background.
• A person in a visible minority group is someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
• A person with a disability refers to impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which one lives. Overcoming the difficulties faced by people with disabilities may require interventions to remove environmental and social barriers.

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