Feb. 2, 2023
UCalgary celebrates equity, diversity and inclusion with 6th annual EDI Week
The University of Calgary celebrates another year of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion during EDI Week 2023. Taking place from Feb. 6 to 10, EDI Week is presented by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI). The celebration will include keynote presenters and culminates in the annual EDI Awards ceremony.
While the OEDI hosts year-round events which encourage open and candid discussions on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility within the community, such as the Courageous Conversations series, EDI Week offers an increased variety of workshops and lectures. This year’s topics range from solidarity and intersectionality to tokenism and allyship. The goal of the event is to showcase the many routes to the pursuit of EDI and encourage participants to get involved.
EDI Week also marks the beginning of Black History Month and so will open on Feb. 6 with a lecture on active allyship and anti-racist solidarity presented by keynote speaker Dr. Wanda Costen, PhD, dean of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. A panel on solidarity through intersectionality will follow on Feb. 7 with Dr. Kim Clark, PhD, of Western University’s New School for Social Research; Dr. Aruna Srivastava, PhD, associate dean (pluralism and inclusion) with UCalgary’s Faculty of Arts and academic director (race, disability, decolonization) with OEDI; and Dr. Sonia Aujla-Bhullar, BA’04, MA’12, PhD’21, co-chair of The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Action Committee.
The sixth-annual EDI Awards Ceremony, which recognizes inspiring students, faculty and staff working to make UCalgary more accessible and equitable, will take place on Feb. 8 and will be hosted by Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor; Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost, equity, diversity and inclusion associate vice-president research (EDI); and Elder Reg Crowshoe, Hon. LLD’01. The Haskayne School of Business will also host a lecture series on Feb. 9.
Events include:
Not just allyship, but ACTION: Insights on how to implement the changes needed to address EDI
Presented by: Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Keynote speaker: Wanda Costen, Queen's University
Time: Feb. 6, 12 – 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: virtual
Educator, researcher and leader Wanda Costen will share her insights on what solidarity means across equity-deserving groups. Costen will encourage participants to reflect on intersectional perspectives and courage, safe spaces, solidarity in action, and anti-racism and EDI work on campus and beyond.
Solidarity through an intersectional lens: Equity in action
Presented by: Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Keynote speakers: Kim Clark, Western University; Aruna Srivastava, Faculty of Arts; Sonia Aujla-Bhullar, City of Calgary
Time: Feb. 7, 12 – 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: virtual
The three panellists will present their understanding of solidarity in action and how to think about action and allyship through intersectional lenses, and how to take concrete steps and measures toward change (equity in action).
EDI Awards ceremony
Presented by: Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Keynote speakers: Ed McCauley, Malinda Smith, Reg Crowshoe
Time: Feb. 8, 12 – 1 p.m. (MT)
Location: virtual
UCalgary’s annual Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Awards recognize and celebrate inspiring students, faculty and staff working to advance a more accessible, equitable, diverse and inclusive university.
Tokens Lecture Series
Presented by: Haskayne School of Business
Keynote speakers: Mary Tidlund, BSc’80, co-founder of Williston Wildcatters Oil Corporation and founder of the Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation, and Jon Cornish, president and founder of the Calgary Black Chambers and 15th chancellor of UCalgary.
Time: Feb. 9, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (MT)
Location: Event centre, 3rd floor Mathison Hall, UCalgary main campus
Join local philanthropist/entrepreneur Mary Tidlund and UCalgary Chancellor Jon Cornish in an intimate discussion to kick off Haskayne's new Tokens Lecture Series. This series will flip the idea of tokenism on its head and investigate how the things that "other" us can develop us into great leaders.
An ASL interpreter will be providing translation for this event.
For many other events happening across UCalgary, please visit the EDI Week 2023 website.
The University of Calgary is committed to an equitable, diverse and inclusive university. It recognizes that diverse faculty, staff, students and alumni benefit and enrich the work, teaching, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and broader community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been, and continue to be, encountered by equity-seeking groups, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, visible/racialized minorities, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ2S+.
Learn more about upcoming and past events from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
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