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Home / Uncategorized / 2020 / October / 16 / Update on Systemic Bias and Anti-Racism in Higher Education Sessions

Update on Systemic Bias and Anti-Racism in Higher Education Sessions

October 16, 2020

Last week, our senior leadership team attended a series of learning and dialogue activities on Systemic Bias and Anti-Racism in Higher Education. I invited Professor Malinda Smith, recently appointed the Vice Provost, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at the University of Calgary, and my EDI team (Dr. Sara-Jane Finlay, Dr. Minelle Mahtani, and Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot), to facilitate one day of learning and dialogue activities for my Executive team. It was a full day of listening, reflection and robust discussion on Revisiting the Equity Myth: Racialization and Indigeneity at Canadian Universities, Racial Literacy & Anti-Black Racism, Transforming Colonization & Anti-Indigenous Racism, and Mapping Systemic Racism: Data and Policy Directions. Drs. Malinda Smith, Sara-Jane Finlay, Minelle Mahtani and Sheryl Lightfoot moderated the panels and were joined by panelists from UBC and across Canada who shared their insights and stories. Panelists include:

  • Dr. Frances Henry, York University
  • Dr. Ena Dua, York University
  • Prof Henry Yu, UBC
  • Dr. JP Catungal, UBC
  • Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard
  • Dr. Annette Henry, UBC
  • Dr. Handel Wright, UBC
  • Dr. Ruth Koleszar-Green, York University
  • Mr. Harley Eagle, UBC Rural Indigenous Patient-Led CPD project
  • Mary Gerges, Castlemain Group
  • Dr. Delia Douglas, Anti-Racism Practice Lead, University of Manitoba
  • Dr. Ninan Abraham, UBC
  • Dr. Howard Ramos, Western University

In addition, we held two shorter sessions for our Board of Governors and our academic and administrative leadership on Revisiting the Equity Myth: Racialization, Indigeneity and Nuances of Blackness at Canadian Universities. Over the course of two afternoons, panelists Drs. Frances Henry, Handel Wright, Ninan Abraham, Minelle Mahtani and Sheryl Lightfoot joined moderator Dr. Malinda Smith and presented to 162 senior leaders across UBC V and O at the President’s Leadership Forum and to the UBC Board of Governors.

I would like to thank the moderator and the panelists for sharing their stories and insights.

Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor

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