Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf

The key mandates of the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD) are as follows:

• To preserve, encourage and advance the cultural and sign language interests of Canada’s Deaf population
• To promote Deaf and sign language arts, media arts and literature
• To advance sign languages across Canada
• To encourage new and developing forms of creativity, research, participation and interest in the arts
• To develop and promote Deaf heritage, sign language and sign language literature resources
• To foster humanities, social sciences and sign language literacy development.
• To build community, foster greater sense of belonging and agency for Deaf Canadians
• To increase social equity for Deaf Canadians
• To guide provincial societies in their cultural pursuits and in highlighting the unique cultural contributions of the Deaf community
• To promote better understanding between Deaf and hearing people
• To advocate for Deaf employment across Canada
• To provide a warm, welcoming, and thriving culturally Deaf space for both Deaf and hearing visitors.
• In addition, CCSD is committed to strengthening our upcoming Deaf generation through providing job opportunities for young Canadian Deaf performing artists, celebrating young Deaf artist achievements, and promoting Deaf well-being by reducing the stigma associated with being Deaf and increasing understanding between Deaf and hearing people through the arts, signed languages and Deaf culture diversity.