Queen's University Human Rights and Equity Office

In 2021, September 30th marked Canada’s first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a newly designated day of remembrance to honour victims and survivors of Canada’s Indigenous residential school system. For years, the 30th of September has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day. Artwork designed by Kingston-based artist Jaylene Cardinal
https://www.queensu.ca/indigenous/truth-and-reconciliation/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-0

Queen’s University is honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation from September 23 – October 12. In support of this important moment of reflection and learning, the university will be offering activities and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn, engage, and act toward advancing reconciliation both on and off campus. For more information about Truth and Reconciliation and events visit queensu.ca/indigenous. Artwork designed by Kingston-based artist Jaylene Cardinal
https://www.queensu.ca/indigenous/truth-and-reconciliation/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-0

We all play a role in challenging hate and promoting safety and respect for all members of our community. Access Queen’s University’s resources to confront, cope with, and report hate and discrimination. https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/anti-hate?utm_source=fb-hreo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024-ur-antihate&utm_content=complaint

We all play a role in challenging hate and promoting safety and respect for all members of our community. Access Queen’s University’s resources to confront, cope with, and report hate and discrimination. https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/anti-hate?utm_source=fb-hreo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024-ur-antihate&utm_content=anonymous

If you have experienced hate or discrimination, Queen’s University mental health services are available to support you. Access resources here: https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/anti-hate?utm_source=fb-hreo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024-ur-antihate&utm_content=support

We can all help shape a community built on respect, acceptance, and understanding. Access Queen’s University’s resources to confront, cope with, and report hate and discrimination. https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/anti-hate?utm_source=fb-hreo&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2024-ur-antihate&utm_content=key

The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 brought an official end to slavery in the British colonies beginning August 1, 1834, establishing what is now known as Emancipation Day. As we acknowledge this momentous day, let us re-affirm no human should be treated as property, discrimination is wrong, and each of us, no matter our hue or place of origin, should ever be denied the inherent right of freedom and happiness.

Please join the City of Kingston August 1-3 for activities that commemorate Emancipation Day. Visit the link for details. https://www.cityofkingston.ca/arts-culture-and-events/city-calendar-and-events/feature-events/emancipation-day-celebrations/

Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the rich culture and countless contributions of Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island. June, which is National Indigenous History Month, has featured several activities in the Queen’s community, and today, we encourage you to join students, faculty, and staff at City Park for the City of Kingston’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations. Later in the day, head to Springer Market Square for a free performance by 2nd Line Bluegrass, a group hailing from Six Nations.

Use this time to learn more about Indigenous life and reflect on what reconciliation means to you and those around you. Please see the link below for more information on activities at Queen’s and for the City of Kingston’s event schedule. https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/queen-s-marks-national-indigenous-peoples-day

June marks the start of both National Indigenous History Month as well as Pride Month. As we move about Turtle Island, let us all acknowledge and be grateful for the people who inhabited this land long before us. Indigenous Peoples have shaped this land for millennia, welcoming visitors with a spirit of humanity and sharing. Please use this month to highlight and celebrate the important achievements and contributions of Indigenous Peoples throughout history. As we go about our daily lives on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek, know that we are all treaty people and we should familiarize ourselves with those accords.

Work continues in making Queen’s a place where you can show up as you are and be embraced. Whether you are Indigenous or a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, that is essential. As we celebrate Pride Month, take the time to get to know people through a lens of compassion and a desire to understand. Events will take place around Kingston, and we hope you are able to enjoy and give support however you can. No effort is too small!

Both occasions remind us to reflect on how we can make Queen’s and the surrounding area a more welcoming and inclusive community. We can all be allies, while giving each other the respect and kindness we each deserve.

Important information for both students, staff, and faculty can be found on the Human Rights and Equity Office and Employee Resource Groups websites. Additional resources for those in the Indigenous community are available at the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and at HREO. Resources for members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community who are students, can be found at the Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion site.

Links:
https://www.queensu.ca/indigenous/
https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/indigenization
https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/resources/s*xual-and-gender-diversity
https://www.queensu.ca/vpcei/initiatives/employee-resource-groups
https://www.queensu.ca/yellow-house/

As we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, it is important to know that everyone is welcome here. Striving for that sense of belonging is not just done in words, but through the actions of our community. Tangible examples include the support provided through multiple outlets across campus for members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Resources can be accessed through the Human Rights and Equity Office, Yellow House, as well as Student Services. The purpose of this day, created in 2004, is to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by le***an, gay, bis*xual, trans, inters*x people, and all of those with diverse s*xual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and s*x characteristics. It is also a reminder to be kind to each other, while fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity at Queen’s that not only welcomes diversity, but allows it to thrive. Resources can be found by visiting the following sites: https://www.queensu.ca/hreo/, https://www.queensu.ca/yellow-house/, and https://www.queensu.ca/studentaffairs/resources/students .

External Academic Accommodations Review Confidential Questionnaire Available Until December 1st.

The external academic accommodations review team invites Queen’s students, staff, and faculty to share their perspectives and experiences with academic accommodation policies and procedures by way of a confidential, online questionnaire. The survey is hosted on a platform accessible only to the consultants.

More information about the review can be found at: https://loom.ly/ZnIdivM

We are excited to share that the team has received one of the 2023 CBIE BCEI Excellence Awards in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) category.

Queen's team recognized that students often do not have the tools to critically engage with complex and intersectional global inequities. To remedy this, they created the Decolonizing Global Engagement Module. This learning module includes reflections on the colonial roots in Global Engagement, moving students to a place of learning where they can build their skills around cultural humility and navigating systems of oppression.

The idea for the Decolonizing Global Engagement Module was envisioned at Queen’s University by Stephanie Simpson, Vice-Principal of Culture, Equity, and Inclusion, with collaborative content guided under the direction of Dr. Erin Clow, Associate Director of Education and Learning, with support from Nirosha Balakumar, Justin Makasoff, Aaron St. Pierre, staff from the Office of the Vice-Provost, Global Engagement, and funding from the Global Skills Opportunity.

https://loom.ly/A8-Omuk