Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office / en U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination /news/u-t-mark-international-day-elimination-racial-discrimination <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T to mark International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-03/UofT89996_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-10-crop.jpg?h=f8255f12&amp;itok=H_SVWUMj 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-03/UofT89996_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-10-crop.jpg?h=f8255f12&amp;itok=zAu4xpAF 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-03/UofT89996_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-10-crop.jpg?h=f8255f12&amp;itok=reuU68ip 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-03/UofT89996_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-10-crop.jpg?h=f8255f12&amp;itok=H_SVWUMj" alt="a closeup of flowers near Robarts library"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-03-20T13:32:56-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 13:32" class="datetime">Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:32</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/adina-bresge" hreflang="en">Adina Bresge</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anti-racism-cultural-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-violence-prevention-support-centre" hreflang="en">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/diversity-and-inclusion" hreflang="en">Diversity and Inclusion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/iderd" hreflang="en">IDERD</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity" hreflang="en">Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/school-continuing-studies" hreflang="en">School of Continuing Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Ƶ is bringing together perspectives from across the tri-campus community to mark the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day" target="_blank">International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination</a>&nbsp;(IDERD).</p> <p>Established by the United Nations, IDERD is observed on March 21, the day that in 1960, police opened fire on a group of peaceful protesters in Sharpeville, South Africa, killing 69 people.</p> <p>U of T recognizes IDERD annually as part of its ongoing commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and racism across the university while promoting a more inclusive learning and working environment.&nbsp;</p> <p>Presented by the Institutional Equity Office and the&nbsp;<a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/">Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a>&nbsp;in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management’s Equity, Diversity &amp; Inclusion Office, this year’s event –&nbsp;<a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/programs/iderd/">Faith, Hope and Dialogue: Strengthening Anti-Racism Tools and Strategies for the Path Ahead</a>&nbsp;– will be held in Rotman’s Desautels Hall and broadcast via livestream.</p> <p><strong>Nythalah Baker</strong>, director of U of T Mississauga’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/edio/">Equity, Diversity &amp; Inclusion Office</a>, and&nbsp;<strong>Natasha Prashad</strong>, adviser in the Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office, will emcee the proceedings, which are set to open with remarks from&nbsp;<strong>Jodie Glean-Mitchell</strong>, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion in U of T’s Division of People Strategy, Equity &amp; Culture.</p> <p>Glean-Mitchell is also scheduled to speak on a panel about the challenges and opportunities of navigating EDI work alongside&nbsp;<strong>Allison Burgess</strong>, director of U of T’s&nbsp;<a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a>,&nbsp;<strong>Bharat Saini</strong>, director, equity, diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, and&nbsp;<strong>Angela Treglia</strong>, executive director, sexual violence strategy, prevention and support at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a>. The discussion will be moderated by&nbsp;<strong>Alexie Tcheuyap</strong>, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience.</p> <p>Later,&nbsp;<strong>Cherilyn Scobie Edwards</strong>, senior director of U of T Scarborough’s&nbsp;<a href="https://edio.utsc.utoronto.ca/">Equity, Diversity &amp; Inclusion Office</a>, will moderate a discussion featuring the perspectives and reflections of Black women in leadership. Panellists include&nbsp;<strong>Catherine Chandler-Crichlow</strong>, dean of the School of Continuing Studies,&nbsp;<strong>Sharon Grandison</strong>, director of human resources in the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education,&nbsp;<strong>Janelle Joseph</strong>, assistant professor of critical studies of race and Indigeneity at KPE, and&nbsp;<strong>Lesa Williams-George</strong>, director of equity, inclusion and transformative practices at Victoria College.</p> <p>There will also be a panel on enhancing community strategies to address anti-Asian racism on campus moderated by&nbsp;<strong>Loretta Ho</strong>, program and faculty development consultant in the Division of the Vice-President and Vice-Provost. The panellists include&nbsp;<strong>Vikram Chadalawada</strong>, director, IT strategy, innovations and digital transformation at Student Life,&nbsp;<strong>Joyce Hahn</strong>, chief administrative officer in the Division of the Vice-President &amp; Provost,&nbsp;<strong>David Kim</strong>, warden at Hart House, and&nbsp;<strong>Afsana Miah</strong>, vice-president, academics and student affairs in the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union at U of T Scarborough.</p> <p>Art therapist and psychotherapist&nbsp;<strong>Phuong Nguyen</strong>&nbsp;will close out the proceedings with art-centred activities that centre hope, restoration and care.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:32:56 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 306903 at U of T kicks off Pride Month with flag-raising ceremonies across its three campuses /news/u-t-kicks-pride-month-flag-raising-ceremonies-across-its-three-campuses <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T kicks off Pride Month with flag-raising ceremonies across its three campuses</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-06/tricampus-pride.jpg?h=bfddd6a9&amp;itok=NC8MPG7y 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-06/tricampus-pride.jpg?h=bfddd6a9&amp;itok=8kS7mqva 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-06/tricampus-pride.jpg?h=bfddd6a9&amp;itok=B_DuZdcm 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-06/tricampus-pride.jpg?h=bfddd6a9&amp;itok=NC8MPG7y" alt="pride progress flag raising at the 3 U of T campuses"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>siddiq22</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2023-06-01T15:26:13-04:00" title="Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 15:26" class="datetime">Thu, 06/01/2023 - 15:26</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Flags were raised at U of T Mississauga, the St. George campus and U of T Scarborough to mark the beginning of Pride Month (photos by Angelia Meffe, Polina Teif and Don Campbell)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/jelena-damjanovic" hreflang="en">Jelena Damjanovic</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/kimberly-howard" hreflang="en">Kimberly Howard</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/shauna-rempel" hreflang="en">Shauna Rempel</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/varsity-stadium" hreflang="en">Varsity Stadium</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity" hreflang="en">Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lgbtq" hreflang="en">LGBTQ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pride" hreflang="en">Pride</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george-campus" hreflang="en">St. George campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Ƶ kicked off Pride Month celebrations on its three campuses Thursday with flag raising ceremonies and associated events.</p> <p>As the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education (KPE) prepared for its annual flag-raising on the St. George campus,&nbsp;<a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/staff/canete-ivan"><strong>Ivan Canete</strong></a> thought back to when Toronto <a href="https://www.worldpridetoronto.com/">hosted WorldPride back in 2014</a>&nbsp;– in particular, the flags that lined Bloor Street.</p> <p>The event prompted the assistant manager of merchandise, apparel and ticketing sales for the KPE’s sport and recreation department&nbsp;to suggest a flag at Varsity Stadium. So, <strong>Beth Ali</strong>, U of T’s director of athletics and physical activity, tasked him with developing an accompanying ceremony.</p> <p>“I drafted a modest model and we held the inaugural ceremony in 2016,” Canete said. “We added the Trans flag in 2017 and transitioned to the Progress Pride flag – which includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of colour, along with the colours pink, light blue and white, which are used on the transgender Pride flag.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-06/2023-06-01-Progress-Pride-Flag-Raising_P-Teif-2-crop.jpg?itok=_QmDezQh" width="750" height="500" alt="U of T pride related merchandiese" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Polina Teif)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>KPE’s annual event, hosted&nbsp;in collaboration with the <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a>, takes place alongside similar ceremonies at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough, as well as other Pride-related events at the university throughout the month.</p> <p>At U of T Mississauga, the Pride Month launch barbecue and flag-raising opened with a performance by Danielle Migwans, an Indigenous drummer from M'Chigeeng First Nation and the community of Wikwemikong.</p> <p>For the first time on the campus, U of T Mississauga is displaying a 2-Spirit flag alongside the More Colour, More Pride flag.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-06/23_UTM_8-crop.jpg?itok=zx5rlRvQ" width="750" height="500" alt="pride festivities at UTM" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(Photo by Angelia Meffe)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Professor <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/vp-principal/announcements-news-and-events/appointment-professor-nicholas-rule-vice-principal-academic-and-dean"><strong>Nicholas Rule</strong></a>, incoming vice-principal, academic and dean, said the chance to speak at the U of T Mississauga’s kickoff event was meaningful in multiple ways.</p> <p>“As someone who identifies as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, [I] recognize that in many parts of the world – including in my own place of origin in the U.S. – issues such as anti-Trans bills and attacks on gender-affirming care continue to be pervasive,” he told a crowd gathered in front of the U of T Mississauga Student Centre.</p> <p>“Many people are suffering, dying and fighting for rights of equality – something that a lot of us in Canada take for granted. But today I want to focus on the positive by reflecting on how fortunate we all are to be able to gather here on this beautiful campus&nbsp;– on a beautiful day, in the spirit of comradeship&nbsp;– to commemorate and honour this month.”</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-06/UTSC0U1A0712-crop.jpg?itok=srPViC9l" width="750" height="500" alt="flowers being assembled in a mural at UTSC" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Don Campbell)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>At U of T Scarborough, the More Colour, More Pride flags were raised for the fifth year in a row.</p> <p>“By raising this flag, we honour the experiences and resiliency of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer people and the experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized people in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Additionally, we raise the Trans Pride flag to represent 2-spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people,” said <a href="https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/nadia-rosemond/"><strong>Nadia Rosemond</strong></a>, U of T Scarborough’s assistant dean, co-curricular programs and student leadership, during her opening remarks.</p> <p>“I want to pause and express gratitude and love to our 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty and librarians at UTSC. I don’t know how often you hear or feel this outside the month of June, but I want you to know that you belong here. You are welcomed here.”</p> <p>The ceremony was followed by a courtyard celebration in front of the Arts and Administration Building with snacks, a unique floral mural marking Pride Month and a welcome table set up by the <a href="https://positivespace.utoronto.ca/">Positive Space Committee</a>.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2023-06/UTSC0U1A0462-crop.jpg?itok=Ev4mZe_6" width="750" height="500" alt="balloons that say &quot;happy pride&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>(photo by Don Campbell)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Back at the Varsity Stadium event, Sport and Recreation aquatics instructor <strong>Alex Jung</strong> was selected as the KPE staff guest of honour for his dedication to improving trans pool hours and launching upcoming trans swim lessons.</p> <p>“As we swim through eliminationist policy and transgender athlete bans, I look to the spaces we trans folk grow for us,” Jung said. “I’m excited for more of us to be in the pool, comfortable in our own skin and in the water.”</p> <p><a href="https://people.utoronto.ca/memos/staff-announcement-executive-director-equity-diversity-inclusion-2/"><strong>Allison Burgess</strong></a>, U of T’s acting executive director of equity, diversity and inclusion, reminded guests that June is also <a href="https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1466616436543/1534874922512">National Indigenous History Month</a> and said raising the Progress flag should be viewed both as a gesture of support for 2SLGBTQ+ communities and a stand against all oppression.</p> <p>“All of this might feel like ancient history – but we know that, sadly, the fight for equity is not over,” said Burgess, adding that Pride is a time to celebrate the invaluable contributions of 2SLGBTQ+ members of the U of T community and get involved in Pride Month initiatives across the three campuses.</p> <p>“Simply being here today to help us raise the Pride flag is a political act, but I hope this won’t be the only action you take during Pride Month.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 19:26:13 +0000 siddiq22 301852 at U of T expands support for trans and nonbinary employees with $10,000 gender affirmation benefit /news/u-t-expands-support-trans-and-nonbinary-employees-10000-gender-affirmation-benefit <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T expands support for trans and nonbinary employees with $10,000 gender affirmation benefit</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT90006_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-23-crop3.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KNSj5V9_ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT90006_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-23-crop3.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=bpx2GkR5 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT90006_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-23-crop3.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TKS5aQbR 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT90006_2022-10-17_UofT-Fall-stock_Polina-Teif-23-crop3.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=KNSj5V9_" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-24T09:22:35-04:00" title="Monday, October 24, 2022 - 09:22" class="datetime">Mon, 10/24/2022 - 09:22</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo by Polina Teif)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/alexander-nathan" hreflang="en">Alexander Nathan</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/staff" hreflang="en">Staff</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p style="margin-bottom:11px">In what is an important step for the health and well-being of the trans and nonbinary community, the Ƶ recently adopted gender affirmation care benefits coverage for both non-unionized employees and staff who are members of the United Steelworkers Union.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><img alt src="/sites/default/files/2016-06-21-Allison-Burgess-photo-by-Romi-Levine-crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; float: left; width: 250px; height: 250px;">Through benefits provider Green Shield Canada, U of T now offers a $10,000 lifetime gender affirmation benefit. This additional coverage, which took effect July 1, comes two years after Green Shield worked with U of T’s <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a> to co-ordinate community outreach and consultation on how best to provide gender affirming care to its plan members.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>Allison Burgess</b>, director of the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office, recently spoke to <i>U of T News</i> about the evolution of this benefits coverage and how the addition may impact members of U of T’s trans and nonbinary community.</p> <hr> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>What is gender affirmation coverage?</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Gender-affirming care, as defined by the World Health Organization, includes a range of interventions – be they social, behavioural, psychological or medical – that are designed to support or affirm an individual’s gender identity when that may conflict or not align with the gender assigned at birth. These interventions can be quite expensive depending on what range of care is accessed.<br> &nbsp;<br> While some elements, such as hormone care, have been covered by our benefits packages in the past, many other medical procedures, surgeries or items have not been covered. The expansion of gender-affirming coverage means that employees have access to financial support for what isn’t covered by OHIP and, ultimately, this means that our employees and/or their eligible dependents can access care that they may not have been able to otherwise.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>Does this coverage fill a lot of gaps?</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Yes, the coverage does fill a lot of the gaps that were previously not covered under our benefits plan.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">For example, OHIP recently added coverage for <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/gender-confirming-surgery">top (or “chest”) surgery</a>, but only the surgery itself is covered – not chest contouring, even though that is a very common need.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Then there are many, many other kinds of surgeries, supports and devices that are needed that have not been covered. Green Shield’s offering also includes reimbursement for core surgeries not covered by provincial or territorial coverage – services that assist in the physical alignment of the individual’s transitioned gender, and surgical enhancement of the individual’s features that follows their accepted gender ideal (examples include vocal surgery, chest contouring/breast construction, laser hair removal, and nose surgery).</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The range of care that each individual needs is so vast that for some, this could cover everything while for others it will not, but $10,000 have a really positive financial impact.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Overall, this is a really big improvement. Does it cover everything? No. Some items such as shapewear are not considered medical items and are traditionally sold in sex toy stores or other non-medical settings. Or sometimes an item might not be medical grade, even though it serves the person’s needs in terms of gender affirmation. This is not about Green Shield not wanting to cover the costs for the items, but rather reflects a systemic limitation within our health-care and insurance systems more generally.<br> &nbsp;<br> We know there is always more to do, but this is a truly significant change and step forward in terms of being able to affirm our trans and nonbinary staff.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><br> <b>What did people do prior to this coverage? Why is it so important?</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In the past, people paid out of pocket or they simply didn’t have access to the care. I’ve seen lots of people doing fundraisers for surgeries. Some have also fought for coverage. They’ve argued for items to be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account, for example. But having to make a case for this is a lot of exhausting work.<br> <br> When someone has to argue for things that are essential – things that are critical to the core parts of who they are and that can significantly impact their experiences of navigating through the world and coming to work – it can be an extraordinary burden. There are corners of the medical profession that are thinking about how to do better with trans-affirming care, but so many of our institutions are steeped in a gender binary. There are multiple layers of institutional and historic transphobia that play out in these individualized moments of an employee seeking the care they need for themselves or their family.<br> &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<b>What consultation was undertaken before this change occurred?</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In 2019 <b>Ian MacEachern</b>, director of benefits, pension and payroll, the Benefits team and I completed a landscape assessment to see what was available. I knew that a framework for trans-affirming care existed but did not see a lot of companies offering it.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> That summer we were contacted by individuals from Green Shield Canada who were deeply committed to adding trans-affirming care to their coverage. They were trying to figure out how to get it done and wanted community feedback on what needed to be included to make the coverage meaningful. So, in collaboration with <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/resource/qute-queer-u-of-t-employees/#:~:text=Queer%20University%20of%20Toronto%20Employees,of%20social%20and%20networking%20events.">Queer U of T Employees</a> (QUTE), we sent <a href="https://people.utoronto.ca/benefits/focus-groups-benefits-trans-health/">a call out to our community</a> and the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office facilitated three focus group sessions: one for trans and nonbinary employees and faculty; one for employees and faculty with trans and nonbinary dependents (children, partners etc.); and a third for both.<br> <br> Green Shield Canada asked a series of questions about the gaps in services, what was needed, how people felt about their interactions with Green Shield and any issues that had surfaced relating to gender – and so on. Their goal was to improve both what they offered and their service orientation.<br> &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;The staff at Green Shield were incredibly grateful for the feedback they received from the U of T community. These sessions set them up for success by giving them a significantly more informed perspective and allowed them to relay people’s real stories and make a convincing case for change. The staff at Green Shield have told me directly how deeply grateful they are to all those who participated in that consultation.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>Where should employees go to find out more information about this?</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">For specifics around your coverage, it’s best to contact Green Shield. For questions about or challenges with seeking gender-affirming care, any member of the U of T community is always welcome to reach out to the <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/contact/">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a>. While we don’t administer this coverage, we’re always happy to help investigate and hopefully resolve any concerns, systemic or otherwise, related to gender or sexuality.&nbsp; We’re here to support our community and recognize that even with this tremendous change, there is still more work to do. We look forward to hearing feedback on this care and learning whether it is meeting our community’s needs.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:22:35 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 177703 at U of T accepts all recommendations of sexual violence and sexual harassment policy review /news/u-t-accepts-all-recommendations-sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy-review <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T accepts all recommendations of sexual violence and sexual harassment policy review</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86454_u-of-t-engineering_50091504116_o-lpr_2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vlJZnGIi 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT86454_u-of-t-engineering_50091504116_o-lpr_2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=46zQFm_O 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT86454_u-of-t-engineering_50091504116_o-lpr_2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=X-hdPFUk 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86454_u-of-t-engineering_50091504116_o-lpr_2.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vlJZnGIi" alt="Gates that say Ƶ with trees "> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-07-15T16:25:29-04:00" title="Friday, July 15, 2022 - 16:25" class="datetime">Fri, 07/15/2022 - 16:25</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo by Daria Perevezentsev)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/patricia-lonergan" hreflang="en">Patricia Lonergan</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/kelly-hannah-moffat" hreflang="en">Kelly Hannah-Moffat</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-violence-prevention-support-centre" hreflang="en">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cheryl-regehr" hreflang="en">Cheryl Regehr</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lawrence-s-bloomberg-faculty-nursing" hreflang="en">Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p style="margin-bottom:13px">The Ƶ is taking steps to boost its supports for those affected by sexual violence or harassment, address barriers to reporting and take a leadership role within the university sector to address sexual violence and sexual harassment in academia.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">The changes respond to recommendations made in <a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/155/2022/07/Final-Report_SVSHPolicyReview.pdf">the final report</a> of <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/planning-policy/review-of-the-policy-on-sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-2022/">U of T’s sexual violence and sexual harassment policy review</a>, which was released Friday<i>.</i> The university has indicated in <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/155/2022/07/Response-to-2022-Review-of-the-PSVSH.pdf">its response to the report</a> that it has accepted all 12 of the report’s recommendations and will begin to implement them immediately.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Co-chaired by Professor <b>Linda Johnston</b>, dean of the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and <b>Allison Burgess</b>, director of the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office, the review involved extensive consultation with students, staff, faculty and librarians over the course of almost half a year.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“In our conversations and consultations, we heard a great deal of appreciation for the work that is both historic and ongoing in the area of sexual harassment and sexual violence,” says Johnston. “We also heard frustrations and calls for the university to do better when it comes to fostering a culture of consent, accountability and respect.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Burgess adds that the review’s call to action aligns with U of T’s mission to foster an academic community in which every member may thrive.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">"The recommendations outlined in the report are offered with the sincere hope that the university can enhance those supports, improve processes and policies, and build a community of care on our campuses,” Burgess adds. “We have an institutional obligation to ensure that members of our community affected by sexual violence and harassment receive necessary supports so that they, too, may flourish.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Carried out every three years, the review looks for ways to improve the current <a href="http://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy-december-16-2021">Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</a> and strengthen supports and services. As part of this year’s review, the co-chairs facilitated a total of 54 consultation sessions across the three campuses. They also received responses through an online form and formal submissions from student groups.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">President <b>Meric Gertler</b> says he is grateful to those who participated in the review process and shared their experiences. &nbsp;</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“U of T is committed to building the best systems and practices to protect all members of our community from sexual violence and sexual harassment, to support survivors and ensure that the university is safe for learning, research and other activities,” he says.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“I commend the authors of the final report for their clear and thorough discussion of complex and challenging issues. I look forward to seeing their important recommendations implemented across the university’s three campuses.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">While many of the recommendations will be enacted swiftly, others will require appropriate consultation and thoughtful planning.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">To help co-ordinate and manage the various aspects of the reporting process under the <i>Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</i>, the university will prioritize hiring new case managers. These case managers will be responsible for taking reports, tracking the progress of reports through the process, and communicating relevant university decisions to participants. This will allow the staff at the Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support (SVPS) Centre responsible for supporting survivors to better focus on trauma-informed support and will also assist the university with its commitment to moving reports through in a timely manner.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">The university will also increase counselling supports in partnership with U of T’s existing Health &amp; Wellness offices, as well as community-based organizations that offer longer-term, culturally specific and after-hours counselling and support.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/10935_Sexual-Violence-Companion-Guide-AODA.pdf">Student’s Guide to the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</a> will be simplified to increase its clarity and ease of use, and a companion guide will be created for faculty, librarians and staff.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Steps have also been taken to broaden education on sexual violence and sexual harassment, a common theme found throughout the report. The SVPS centre recently hired an assistant director of education and communication&nbsp;who will oversee the centre’s tri-campus educational curriculum.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“We are continuously looking for ways to improve our policies, reduce barriers to reporting and strengthen our supports,” says <b>Cheryl Regehr</b>, vice-president and provost. “The actions we are taking on these recommendations reflect our ongoing commitment to prevent sexual violence and promote a culture where any member from our community who has experienced sexual violence or harassment feels safe and supported sharing their experiences.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">To increase institutional accountability, the university will provide more detailed annual reporting on sexual violence and sexual harassment beginning next year. The reporting will be readily accessible to the public but will still protect the privacy of all those involved.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“I’d like to thank all the members across the tri-campus community who provided feedback during this process,” says <b>Kelly Hannah-Moffat</b>, vice-president of people strategy, equity and culture. “It can be incredibly challenging to engage in these discussions.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">“I can see how your participation and insights have enriched the recommendations thoughtfully proposed by the co-chairs. Based on the recommendations of the review, we will continue to improve not only our processes but also how we educate and train our community about sexual violence prevention and supports.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">The university is also establishing guidelines and processes to share information with other institutions to help address sexual violence and harassment within academia.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">In 2021, U of T signed on to the principles of the Association of American Universities (AAU), which recommend that, when considering whether to hire a faculty member, institutions contact prior employers to determine if the faculty member has been found to have engaged in sexual harassment or misconduct while at that institution. The university is committed to developing processes to implement this recommendation in the 2022-23 academic year.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">U of T will also bring the AAU recommendation forward to various post-secondary organizations with which it is affiliated and will consult with international groups and peer institutions about how to expand the recommendation more broadly within the sector.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px">Work has already begun on new policy language in line with those changes recommended in the report. All proposed changes to the policy will go through U of T’s governance process this November and December. Members of the community will have an opportunity to provide additional feedback in September and October via the university’s <a href="https://consultations.utoronto.ca/">consultation website</a>.</p> <hr> <p style="margin-bottom:13px"><i>The Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre serves students, staff, and faculty at the Ƶ who have been affected by sexual violence and harassment.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px"><i>If you are in crisis or immediate danger, call 911.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px"><i>Consultations are available by phone, e-mail, in-person, and video conferencing. Email&nbsp;</i><a href="mailto:svpscentre@utoronto.ca"><i>svpscentre@utoronto.ca</i></a><i>&nbsp;or call 416-978-2266 to set up an appointment.&nbsp;</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom:13px"><i>If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, 24/7 crisis support is also available from&nbsp;</i><a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/resources/24-7-emergency-or-crises-support/" title="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/resources/24-7-emergency-or-crises-support/"><i>these community resources</i></a><i>.</i></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 15 Jul 2022 20:25:29 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 175665 at U of T raises Progress Pride flag to mark the beginning of Pride Month /news/u-t-raises-progress-pride-flag-mark-beginning-pride-month <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T raises Progress Pride flag to mark the beginning of Pride Month</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/jill_01062022_pride_flag-3552-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nKCbFdTb 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/jill_01062022_pride_flag-3552-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=jGSUOqd1 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/jill_01062022_pride_flag-3552-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=-Iskipcc 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/jill_01062022_pride_flag-3552-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nKCbFdTb" alt="pride flag flies next to the canadian flag and u of t flag at varsity stadium"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-06-01T15:56:14-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - 15:56" class="datetime">Wed, 06/01/2022 - 15:56</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The Progress Pride flag flies over Varsity Stadium on the St. George campus to mark the start of Pride Month (photo by Seyran Mammadov)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/jelena-damjanovic" hreflang="en">Jelena Damjanovic</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lgbtq" hreflang="en">LGBTQ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pride" hreflang="en">Pride</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The clouds cleared just in time for the beginning of Pride month celebrations at the Ƶ this week.</p> <p>The university marked the occasion&nbsp;with a flag raising at Varsity Stadium&nbsp;that was hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education (KPE) in collaboration with the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office (SGDO).</p> <p>Flags were&nbsp;also raised at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough.</p> <p>At St. George,<strong> Caroline Fusco</strong>, an associate professor at KPE specializing in social justice and equity issues in sport, kicked off&nbsp;the ceremony by sharing what the flag raising meant to her, an Irish-Catholic member of the LGBTQ community who grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.<br> <br> “When I represented Ireland in international field hockey, I never got to stand under the Irish tricolour, the national flag of Ireland, because the governing body of Northern Ireland hockey wanted the Irish team to stand under a politically neutral flag,” she said. “And when I came out as a member of the LGBTQ community in Ireland, there was no flag to celebrate my identification.”<br> <br> In fact, she said the first Pride flag was <a href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-councils-pride-flag-hailed-as-phenomenal-move-37155124.html">raised on a government building in Northern Ireland</a> only a few years ago, and that while there have been hostile responses to Pride flags in Ireland over the years,&nbsp;the post office recently produced two special edition rainbow stamps with all proceeds from sales of the stamps going to <a href="https://lgbt.ie/" target="_blank">LGBT Ireland</a>.<br> <br> “So, flags have stories and we have memories of them,” Fusco said.<br> <br> This year, the university raised the Progress Pride flag for the first time. The flag was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar, who added a five-colored chevron to the classic Rainbow Flag, which is widely recognized as the symbol of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities, to place a greater emphasis on inclusion and progression.&nbsp;<br> <br> The flag includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ communities&nbsp;– the black stripe doubly representing community members lost to HIV/AIDS and those currently living with AIDS – along with the colours pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride flag.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/jill_01062022_pride_flag-6383-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>A flag-raising event at Varsity Stadium was hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education in collaboration with the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office (photo by Seyran Mammadov)</em></p> <p>Fusco&nbsp;said that recognizing Pride month also means recognizing that June 1st is the beginning of Indigenous History Month and emphasized that fighting for LGBTQ rights also means fighting for an end to all oppression.<br> &nbsp;<br> “Our presence here at this flag raising is a dismantling of sorts, a disorientation and reorientation of our thinking&nbsp;– a provocation to look up at the progress flag and encounter the world differently,” she said.<br> <br> Professor&nbsp;<strong>Gretchen Kerr</strong>, dean of KPE, spoke of the faculty’s strong history of leadership in the areas of equity and inclusion in sport, recreation and academics.<br> <br> “In collaboration with SGDO, KPE has expanded training, programs and events to empower and include the 2SLGBTQ+ communities,” Kerr&nbsp;said. “These range from initiatives such as the Athlete Ally, a Varsity Blues program committed to ending homophobia and transphobia in sport, to the Sport &amp; Rec diversity and equity team, a student-led group that organizes inclusive events throughout the year such as the trans-positive swim time at the Athletic Centre.”<br> <br> Kerr also said the faculty has world-renowned researchers in the areas of equity and social justice who&nbsp;conduct research that informs its academic, sport and recreation programs.&nbsp;<br> <br> “The act of raising the flag is another strong signal of our faculty’s and U of T’s continued support for the 2SLGBTQ+ communities,” she said. “Not only does this event signify the beginning of Pride Month, it also shows our dedication to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels – in research, education and our broad spectrum of Sport &amp; Rec programs and student-driven initiatives.”</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/0601Pride006-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>The Progress Pride flag is raised at U of T Mississauga (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></p> <p>Professor&nbsp;<strong>Kelly Hannah-Moffat</strong>, U of T’s vice-president of people strategy, equity and culture, said that raising the Progress Pride flag to mark Pride is especially important within the context of renewed and ongoing efforts at the university to address racism and faith-based discrimination.</p> <div class="image-with-caption left"> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/utsc-pride.JPG" style="width: 300px; height: 477px;"><em><span style="font-size:12px;">The Progress Pride flag is raised at U of T Scarborough.</span></em></p> </div> <p>Moffat reflected on the history and successes of the fight for equity, saying Pride is a time to recognize the invaluable contributions that 2SLGBTQ+ members of the U of T community have made – and continue to make – to research and teaching,&nbsp;campus life, services&nbsp;and operations,&nbsp;and across all disciplines.<br> <br> She encouraged members of the U of T community to extend their celebration, advocacy and learning beyond Pride Month, noting that ceremonies such as this one serve to celebrate hard-fought progress and as a reminder that our work is never finished.<br> <br> Last to speak was&nbsp;<strong>Raiya Thomure</strong>, who is graduating with a&nbsp;bachelor of kinesiology degree.&nbsp;<br> <br> “It means so much to be able to be up here, taking up space as a queer member of the student body in KPE,” said Thomure, who identifies as a queer, non-binary, Muslim Arab. “As a queer Muslim, I am often tasked with explaining my connection to the faith or my embracing of queerness, but queer and trans* people should not be tasked with the sanitization or suppression of our identities for the comfort of others.</p> <div>"The Progress Pride flag rejects this status quo.”<br> <br> Thomure brought attention to Indigenous communities, saying that inclusion of two-spirit/queer Indigenous Peoples needs&nbsp;to be backed up by inclusion of Indigenous knowledge. They also spoke about the importance of not ignoring gender-based violence against trans* athletes.&nbsp;<br> <br> Thomure did a self-directed research study in their third year at KPE. They investigated online social media abuse towards a trans woman power-lifter and interviewed five different trans* athletes for their fourth year project. Each had experienced transphobic violence in their current or previous places of sport.&nbsp;<br> <br> They and four other students, athletes and alumni of KPE – <strong>Val Gerlings</strong>, <strong>D Bell</strong>, <strong>Matt Dans</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Katie Pajor</strong> – were guests of honour at the event and were applauded for work that positively impacts 2SLGBTQ+ peoples’ access, participation and inclusion at the university and beyond.&nbsp;</div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 01 Jun 2022 19:56:14 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 175056 at U of T celebrates Black History Month with virtual film screenings, discussions and other events /news/u-t-celebrates-black-history-month-virtual-film-screenings-discussions-and-other-events <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T celebrates Black History Month with virtual film screenings, discussions and other events </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-1234530062-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kF9jaK5U 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/GettyImages-1234530062-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=HyoWjlyv 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/GettyImages-1234530062-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7YJcbNaw 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-1234530062-main.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kF9jaK5U" alt="Andre de Grasse"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-02-01T15:05:10-05:00" title="Tuesday, February 1, 2022 - 15:05" class="datetime">Tue, 02/01/2022 - 15:05</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse will be the guest of honour at U of T's Black History Month Luncheon, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Feb. 28 (photo by Lui Siu Wai/Xinhua via Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/anti-racism-cultural-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/institute-health-policy-management-and-evaluation" hreflang="en">Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black" hreflang="en">Black</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-history-month" hreflang="en">Black History Month</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/factor-inwentash-faculty-social-work" hreflang="en">Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-music" hreflang="en">Faculty of Music</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ontario-institute-studies-education" hreflang="en">Ontario Institute for Studies in Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/women-and-gender-studies" hreflang="en">Women and Gender Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>From film screenings to conferences and thought-provoking discussions, the Ƶ community is celebrating Black History Month with virtual events across the three campuses.</p> <p>Events are scheduled for every week in February and will culminate on Feb. 28 with U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon, which is celebrating its 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary and features six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse.</p> <p>Here’s a snapshot of what’s taking place at U of T and beyond this month:</p> <hr> <h3>Jan. 30 – Feb. 2</h3> <h4><a href="https://blackscientists.ca/events-media/#BESTEMM">BE-STEMM 2020</a></h4> <p><b>&nbsp;</b>The Canadian Black Scientists Network is holding the first annual conference for Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine/Health. With local host U of T Scarborough, the four-day virtual event will feature academic programming, leadership summits, a career fair, panels and talks meant to support Black Canadians in STEMM.</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 2</h3> <h4><a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/what-makes-us-human">What Makes Us Human? AI, Spirituality and Race</a></h4> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/what%20makes%20us%20human.png" alt></p> <p>Join <b>Rhonda McEwen</b>, U of T Mississauga’s vice-principal, academic and dean and professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, <b>Suzanne van Geuns</b>, PhD candidate in the department for the study of religion in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, and others for a conversation about AI, spirituality and race. The virtual event, presented by Hart House, the Centre for Student Engagement and the Multi-Faith Centre, will be moderated by <b>Efosa Obano</b>, program manager for the Black Founders Network at U of T’s Entrepreneurship Centre. <b>6 – 8 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 3</h3> <h4><a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/event/q21-black-queer-students-on-mental-health/">Black Queer Students on: Mental Health</a></h4> <p><b><img alt="&quot;&quot;" src="/sites/default/files/Q21-Poster-Feb.png" style="width: 750px; height: 750px;"></b></p> <p>The Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office is hosting an open discussion about mental health for Black students. Centering around Black queer voices, the virtual event will feature <b>Carae Henry</b>, community assistant with U of T Mississauga Residence and Equity Outreach Network and co-founder of Prism, a QTBIPOC group, and U of T Scarborough student <b>Mi(chelle) Yvonne Carter</b>, who is the president of the Sexual Diversity Studies Student Union. <b>3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 3</h3> <h4><a href="https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/event/fireside-chat-celebrating-black-excellence-and-authors/">Fireside Chat: Celebrating Black Excellence and Authors</a></h4> <p>A webinar hosted by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health will launch with a performance from award-winning poet Amoya Ree. The virtual event will then move to a conversation between moderator <b>Beverley Essue</b>, associate professor of global health in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation and<b> Dexter Voisin</b> of Case Western Reserve University and former dean of the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, about their personal journeys and themes impacting Black cultures, communities and experiences. <b>6:30 – 8 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 3</h3> <h4><a href="https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/events/2022/02/03/conversation-black-students-design-building-black-spaces">In Conversation with Black Students in Design: Building Black Spaces</a></h4> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/feb_3_daniels_website_banner_0.gif" alt></p> <p style="margin-bottom:20px">A virtual event discussing the role of architecture in building Black spaces will be moderated by Black Students in Design at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. On the panel will be Rashad Shabazz,&nbsp;associate professor at the Arizona State University’s School of Social Transformation, Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall, dean of design at OCAD University, and&nbsp;<b>Rinaldo Walcott</b>, a professor at U of T’s Women and Gender Studies Institute and at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.&nbsp;<b>6:30 – 8 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 7</h3> <h4><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Toronto/Black_History_Edit-A-Thon_(February_2022)">Black History Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon Launch</a></h4> <p>U of T is co-hosting a month-long series of events on the basics of editing Wikipedia and Wikidata entries to improve the quality of Black history pages. The kick-off event will feature moderator <b>Mark Campbell</b>, assistant professor of music and culture at U of T Scarborough, Cheryl Thompson, assistant professor of creative industries at X University, and Collette Murray, a PhD candidate and African-Caribbean arts-based educator at York University. <b>1 – 2:30 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 7 – 11</h3> <h4><a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/aboutstudent-outreach/diversity-equity">Fourth Annual Diversity &amp; Equity in Wellness and Physical Activity Conference</a></h4> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Diversity%20and%20Equity%20Conference_website%20banner_845x400.jpg" alt></p> <p>The virtual conference will host four sessions focused on wellness and physical activity with a lineup of speakers to guide participants through engaging discussions and movement practices.</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 12</h3> <h4><a href="https://socialwork.utoronto.ca/event/because-she-cares-film-launch/">Because She Cares Film Launch</a></h4> <p><b><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/https-cdn.evbuc_.com-images-200368999-262473259026-1-original.jpg" alt></b></p> <p>The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work will host a 60-minute screening of <i>Because She Cares</i>, a spoken word film series that documents the experiences of African immigrant women living with HIV. It will be followed by a panel discussion with performers, film artists and African, Caribbean and Black women who work in Ontario AIDS service and allied organizations. <b>2 – 4 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 14 and 16</h3> <h4><a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/reflect-restore-action/">Restore Celebrates – Happy Black Futures Month</a></h4> <p>Join Yamikani Msosa, facilitator of Restore, for wellness and restoration sessions for Black community members. A session for faculty and staff who identify as members of the Black community will take place on <b>Feb. 14, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET</b>. And on <b>Feb. 16, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET</b>, there is a session for students who identify as members of the Black community.&nbsp;</p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 15</h3> <h4><a href="https://music.utoronto.ca/concerts-events.php?eid=3268">Freedom: Spirit and Legacy of Black Music</a><i>&nbsp;</i></h4> <p><i><b><span id="cke_bm_2207S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><i><b><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/beau-dixon-by-diana-bentley-crop.jpg" alt></b></i></b></i></p> <p><em>(Photo by Diana Bentley)</em></p> <p>Beau Dixon, award-winning actor, musician, playwright, music director and sound designer, will present a lecture that focuses on the creation and curation of his Stratford Festival production of <i>Freedom: Spirit and Legacy of Black Music. </i>The event is organized by the Faculty of Music and will be streamed on their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/UofTMusic">YouTube channel</a>. <b>12 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 16</h3> <h4><a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/event/black-faculty-in-conversation/">Black Faculty in Conversation</a></h4> <p>Six faculty members from U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) will gather to discuss the new Centre for Black Studies with moderator&nbsp;<b>Andrew Campbell</b>. The panel features:&nbsp;<b>George Dei</b>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<b>Njoki Wane</b>, both professors in the department of social justice education,&nbsp;<b>Lance McCready</b>, associate professor in the department of leadership, higher and adult education,&nbsp;<b>Rosalind Hampton</b>, assistant professor in the department of social justice education,&nbsp;<b>Whitneé Garrett-Walker</b>,&nbsp;assistant professor in the department of leadership, higher and adult education, and&nbsp;<strong>Linda Iwenofu</strong>,&nbsp;assistant professor in the department of applied psychology and human development.&nbsp;<strong>4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET</strong></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 16</h3> <h4><a href="https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/event/it-takes-a-riot-black-histories-black-futures-and-community-organizing/">It Takes a Riot: Black Histories, Black Futures, and Community Organizing</a></h4> <p><b><img alt src="/sites/default/files/4-1536x864.png" style="width: 750px; height: 422px;"></b></p> <p>The Dalla Lana School of Public Health will screen the documentary <i>It Takes a Riot: Race, Rebellion and Reform</i>&nbsp;before joining one of the filmmakers, Simon Black, for a panel discussion on the documentary’s impetus, how it maintained authenticity and other themes in the short film. <b>6 – 7:30 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 25</h3> <h4><a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/event/addressing-anti-black-racism-at-the-intersections-stories-advocacy-and-actions/">Addressing Anti-Black Racism at the Intersections: Stories, Advocacy and Actions</a></h4> <p>A keynote presentation by Moya Bailey, associate professor at Northwestern University, and a film screening of <i>HERstory in Black </i>will explore anti-Black racism as it intersects with forms of gender-based discrimination. The virtual event is hosted by the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office. <b>10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 24</h3> <h4><a href="https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/event/adbcc-celebrates-black-history-month-2022-with-author-canute-lawrence/">Black History Month 2022 with Canute Lawrence and Gayle Gonsalves</a></h4> <p>Hosted by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and A Different Booklist Cultural Centre, authors Canute Lawrence and Gayle Gonsalves discuss Lawrence’s book <i>Pathology of a Pandemic. </i><b>7 – 8 p.m. ET</b><i></i></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 28</h3> <h4><a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/black-history-month-luncheon/">Black History Month Luncheon</a></h4> <p><b><span id="cke_bm_365S" style="display: none;">&nbsp;</span><b><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/GettyImages-1234530062-crop.jpg" alt></b></b></p> <p><em>(Photo by Lui Siu Wai/Xinhua via Getty Images)</em></p> <p>Celebrating its 20<sup>th</sup> year, U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon will feature six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse and his mother Beverley DeGrasse. The virtual event will also feature Ontario Poet Laureate&nbsp;Randell Adjei&nbsp;and a special guest appearance by actor&nbsp;Tatyana Ali. <b>12 – 2 p.m. ET</b></p> <h3>&nbsp;</h3> <h3>Feb. 28</h3> <h4><a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/black-indigenous-futurisms-2022/">Exploring Black and Indigenous Futurisms: Rock as Witness</a></h4> <p><b><img alt src="/sites/default/files/hh_events_rock_as_witness_re.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 422px;"></b></p> <p><em>Quentin VerCetty,&nbsp;Michael Belmore,&nbsp;Karyn Recollet and Audrey Hudson.</em></p> <p>Hart House has partnered with the AGO to present a discussion meant to support Afro-Indigenous thinking. The event features Quentin VerCetty, multi-award-winning multidisciplinary storyteller, educator,and Afrofuturist, Michael Belmore, artist and sculptor, <b>Audrey Hudson</b>, chief of education and programming at the AGO, and <b>Karyn Recollet</b>, assistant professor at U of T’s Women and Gender Studies Institute. <b>6 – 8 p.m. ET</b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:05:10 +0000 mattimar 172376 at U of T launches review of sexual violence and sexual harassment policy /news/u-t-launches-review-sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T launches review of sexual violence and sexual harassment policy</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT88034_0W7A0433-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=dNgh1vlj 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT88034_0W7A0433-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=TEAFoLbf 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT88034_0W7A0433-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=tKT_8GBA 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT88034_0W7A0433-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=dNgh1vlj" alt="Sexual violence prevention and support centre"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-10-07T15:47:31-04:00" title="Thursday, October 7, 2021 - 15:47" class="datetime">Thu, 10/07/2021 - 15:47</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo by David Lee)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-harassment" hreflang="en">Sexual Harassment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-violence-prevention-support-centre" hreflang="en">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lawrence-s-bloomberg-faculty-nursing" hreflang="en">Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Ƶ is launching a review of its <a href="https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy-december-12-2019">sexual violence policy</a>, as well as the supports that are available to students and other community members.</p> <p>Carried out every three years, the review looks for ways to improve the current policy and strengthen supports and services with input from students, staff, faculty and librarians.</p> <p>The review comes at a time when <a href="https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000812/ontario-strengthening-supports-for-postsecondary-students-reporting-sexual-violence-or-harassment">regulatory amendments</a> by the Ontario government require universities and colleges to update sexual violence and harassment policies. The amendments ensure individuals who report sexual violence do not face action for violations of university policies related to drug and alcohol use at the time the incident took place, and that students who disclose or report sexual violence are not asked irrelevant questions about their sexual history or sexual expression.</p> <p>Technical changes to reflect the amendments are now proceeding through U of T’s governance process while its more extensive review gets underway.</p> <p>The university is seeking the views of community members on a range of questions, including topics like how to address&nbsp;concerns of sexual violence or harassment when no formal report has been made.</p> <p>“We have a collective responsibility to eliminate sexual harassment and violence in all its forms,” says U of T President <b>Meric Gertler</b>.</p> <p>“U of T is committed to supporting survivors and will do its part to make the university safe for learning, research and all other activities. This policy review is an opportunity to continue improving the work we do.”</p> <p>Professor <b>Linda Johnston</b>, dean of the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and <b>Allison Burgess</b>, director of the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office, will co-chair the consultation phase, which runs through February 2022. That includes reaching out to student groups and other stakeholder groups for feedback. Review recommendations and any resulting policy changes will be presented to the university’s governing bodies in late spring.</p> <p>All members of the university community are invited to submit their feedback on the <a href="https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy-december-12-2019">Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</a>, the <a href="https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/Student-SV-Policy-Companion-Guide-Jan2019.pdf">Student’s Companion to the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</a>, and the supports and services available to the U of T community, including the <a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a>, through <a href="https://consultations.students.utoronto.ca/review-of-the-policy-on-sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment/">the&nbsp; consultation website</a>.</p> <p>“We know this is an important issue for our community, and we want to hear from them,” says <b>Trevor Young</b>, acting vice-president and provost. “We hope that by working together, we can address this critical issue and offer people the services and supports they need.”&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Sandy Welsh</b>, U of T’s vice-provost, students, adds that conducting regular reviews of the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment is a key part of U of T’s commitment to making our campuses safe and supporting survivors.</p> <p>“We are always looking for ways to reduce the barriers to disclosing, reporting and accessing supports,” Welsh says.</p> <p>The tri-campus <a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/">Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre</a><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="text-decoration-line:underline"> (SVPSC)</span> plays a key role in addressing sexual violence and sexual harassment at U of T – from helping community members access counselling and academic accommodations to referrals and legal and financial aid. It also carries out proactive education and outreach to promote a culture of consent and care.</p> <p>The SVPSC works with community members affected by sexual violence to support their needs and help them understand their options. That can include guiding and supporting survivors through a robust formal reporting process that may involve an independent internal investigation, disciplinary action and measures to protect complainants.</p> <p>Established in 2017 as part of the university’s <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/committees/prevention-response-to-sexual-violence/">Action Plan on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence</a>, the SVPC ensures all members of the U of T community have access to services, supports and accommodations. The centre’s work is heavily informed by community feedback as well as independent initiatives such as the Ontario government’s Student Voices on Sexual Violence survey, <a href="/news/student-survey-sexual-violence-highlights-need-more-action-awareness-support-and-prevention">which more than 20,000 U of T students participated in</a>.</p> <p>Any member of the U of T community who discloses an experience of sexual violence to the centre can expect a range of support and services, said <b>Angela Treglia</b>, the centre’s director.</p> <p>“The Sexual Violence Prevention &amp; Support Centre is the first place to go to receive support services and accommodations related to sexual violence,” Treglia said. “We know that there are a lot of different resources and processes available, and sometimes that can feel overwhelming.</p> <p>“That’s why we provide a single point of contact to help co-ordinate and manage all the different access points that someone may want to reach out to. Our team helps co-ordinate various supports to address unique needs someone may have.”</p> <p>Treglia said supports available are trauma-informed and confidential, and the exact nature of services can vary based on what’s most important and helpful to the individual.</p> <p>In addition to disclosing experiences of sexual violence and seeking supports, individuals who have experienced sexual violence can also choose to file a formal report with the support of the centre.</p> <p>The reports are submitted to the Office of Safety and High Risk, which carries out assessments and implements fair processes in keeping with the university’s <a href="https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-policy-december-12-2019">Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment</a>. At the conclusion of an investigation, relevant decision-makers in university administration can take appropriate action to address the matter – including disciplinary action.</p> <p>However, the SVPSC does not itself carry out investigations or take disciplinary action. &nbsp;</p> <p>“Our role, first and foremost, is to provide support,” Treglia said. “That includes helping individuals understand the various steps in the reporting process and connecting them with a front-line worker who can be with them as they go through the process, if they choose to make a report.”</p> <p>As for the provincial announcement, Treglia said U of T’s policy makes it clear that investigators must act in a timely, fair, impartial and professional manner.</p> <p>“This means not asking irrelevant questions, such as about one’s sexual history or sexual expression,” she says. “An individual’s sexual history is not an indicator of consent.”</p> <p>As well, students who bring forward a report won’t be disciplined for violations of university policies related to drug and alcohol use at the time the sexual violence took place.</p> <p>“We understand that a fear around ‘getting in trouble’ may prevent someone from seeking help or reporting an incident,” Treglia says. “That’s why it’s so important for survivors to know they won’t be subjected to any penalties related to substance use.</p> <p>“Sexual violence is never a survivor’s fault.”</p> <p>One of the centre’s key mandates is education. It offers workshops, training modules and educational programs to individuals, student groups, units and departments across U of T’s three campuses.</p> <p>Many of the workshops focus on themes around consent, rejection resilience and communicating boundaries. “So, understanding our responsibilities related to consent, how we practise consent, what are the challenges to practising consent and how we overcome these,” Treglia said, noting that consent applies not only to intimate sexual contact but also in everyday interactions with friends, colleagues and family.</p> <p>One of the centre’s most popular workshops is “Skills for Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence: Using a Trauma-Informed Approach.” Available to faculty, staff and administrators, the workshop aims to equip people with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively manage a disclosure of sexual assault and support individuals in a non-judgmental manner.</p> <p>“We know that the way someone responds to an individual disclosing an incident of sexual violence can impact whether the individual feels supported on their path of recovery and healing, or whether they feel like ‘I can’t share or talk about this with anyone ever again,’” says Treglia. “So, we want to make sure that friends, faculty and colleagues in these positions are prepared to receive disclosures and respond to them in a supportive, non-judgmental way.”</p> <p>The centre also provides training on the university’s sexual violence policy and the reporting process, and runs healing-based and survivor-focused programs that include themes such as self-compassion and intersections between sexual violence and other forms of violence and harm – often in collaboration with other offices across the university.</p> <p>Much of the centre’s programming was moved online during the pandemic, which has helped improve access.</p> <p>“Moving forward,” Treglia says, “we’re going to be looking at some sort of hybrid model of providing services and supports to take advantage of what we’ve learned from this experience.”</p> <p>Treglia says that as the university embarks on another academic year, she wants members of the community to know that we all need to take care of each other and the SVPSC is here for them.</p> <p>“No one ever deserves to be subjected to sexual violence, sexual harassment or other forms of harm,” she says. “We want you to know that you’re not alone. We’re here for you and we’re here to make sure you get the best support available.”</p> <hr> <p><i>The Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre (SVPSC) serves students, staff, and faculty at the Ƶ who are affected by sexual violence and harassment.</i></p> <p><i>If you are in crisis or immediate danger, call 911.</i></p> <p><i>Consultations are available by phone, e-mail, and video conferencing. Email&nbsp;</i><a href="mailto:svpscentre@utoronto.ca"><i>svpscentre@utoronto.ca</i></a><i>&nbsp;</i><i>or call 416-978-2266 to set up an appointment.</i><i>&nbsp;</i></p> <p><i>If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, 24/7 crisis support is also available from&nbsp;</i><a href="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/resources/24-7-emergency-or-crises-support/" title="https://www.svpscentre.utoronto.ca/resources/24-7-emergency-or-crises-support/"><i>these community resources</i></a><i>.</i></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><i></i></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:47:31 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 170373 at Reflection and celebration: June events mark Pride, Indigenous history and convocation /news/reflection-and-celebration-june-events-mark-pride-indigenous-history-and-convocation <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Reflection and celebration: June events mark Pride, Indigenous history and convocation</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/june-events-v2.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G2d-EZRY 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2023-04/june-events-v2.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=UCdeWnzr 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2023-04/june-events-v2.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3GL1WZYU 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2023-04/june-events-v2.jpeg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=G2d-EZRY" alt="Canadian and pride flags"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-06-01T13:10:32-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - 13:10" class="datetime">Tue, 06/01/2021 - 13:10</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Flags fly at half-mast in remembrance of the 215 children who died at a former B.C. residential school; dancing is on the agenda at a June 19 virtual pow wow; U of T's virtual convocation airs on June 23 (photos by Makeda Marc-Ali, Hannah James &amp; UTSC)</p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2021" hreflang="en">Convocation 2021</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/icube" hreflang="en">ICUBE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-grad" hreflang="en">Black Grad</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/accessibility" hreflang="en">Accessibility</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/entrepreneneurship" hreflang="en">Entrepreneneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lgbtq" hreflang="en">LGBTQ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pride" hreflang="en">Pride</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>June is among the most eventful months at the Ƶ,&nbsp;with&nbsp;myriad opportunities for students, faculty and staff to express solidarity, build awareness and celebrate life-changing educational milestones.</p> <p>U of T's virtual spring convocation takes place on June 23 this year. It&nbsp;will be book-ended by events that promote inclusion of people with disabilities and celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ+ communities. The month is also a time when the history, heritage and contributions of Indigenous Peoples are commemorated through National Indigenous History Month as well as National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.</p> <p>This year, with events being reinvented and moved to virtual spaces, there are more opportunities than ever to participate in some of the most important and highly anticipated&nbsp;events of the year.</p> <p>Here’s a snapshot of&nbsp;the notable events taking place virtually across U of T in June:</p> <hr> <h3>May 31 – June 4</h3> <p><strong>National AccessAbility Week: Reframing Disability, Embracing Difference</strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><a href="https://hrandequity.utoronto.ca/news/national-accessability-week-reframing-disability-embracing-difference/">Each day from May 31 to June 4</a>, the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities) Office in U of T’s Division of Human Resources &amp; Equity, as well as its partners, will host events and discussions aimed at commemorating the contributions of Canadians with disabilities, celebrating those working to foster greater inclusion&nbsp;and inspiring action on accessibility.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">From inclusive curriculum design to accessibility in health-care settings and peer support networks for university employees with disabilities, the National AccessAbility Week sessions will explore a number of ways to eliminate barriers to accessibility, reframe disability and elevate intentional inclusivity.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">All events will feature American Sign Language and live captions.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">June 1</span></h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong>Pride and Trans Flag Raising</strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">The first day of June sees U of T kick off Pride month with the official raising of the Pride and Trans Flag at virtual events hosted by all three campuses – the first of a <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/events/pride/">broad range of virtual events</a> celebrating diverse LGBTQ+ communities.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">By raising these flags, the U of T community signals its commitment to representation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ across the university. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><a href="https://utoronto.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvdeCgrTgrG9N0oD0Fp3KcshmbUopgQMAc">U of T Mississauga’s virtual flag raising ceremony</a> will include remarks from Vice-President and Principal <strong>Alexandra Gillespie</strong> and a talk by Professor&nbsp;<strong>Elspeth Brown</strong> on the history of LGBTQ+ communities in Mississauga. <a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/our-community/u-t-scarborough-celebrates-pride-month">U of T Scarborough’s flag-raising</a> will kick off a month of Pride events around the theme of “Love is Here,” which seeks to embrace a diversity of sexualities and ethnicities while&nbsp;celebrating our differences.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">June 3</span></h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><b>Annual Rainbow Tie Celebration: Moving Forward Together&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">U of T Scarborough’s Positive Space Committee invites you to connect with the campus’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community at the <a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yuaFBsboTHuhPDwYNqCUjw">Annual Rainbow Tie Celebration: Moving Forward Together</a>. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">The virtual celebration will include a number of special guests including <em>Canada’s Drag Race</em> winner Priyanka, musician, writer and artist Vivek Shraya, comedian Monica Garrido and writer/performer Heath Salazar. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">June 16&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong>U of T Pride Pitch<span style="vertical-align:baseline">&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">LGBTQ+ students and entrepreneurs can showcase their innovative business ideas and potentially share in&nbsp;$5,000 in prizes at the <a href="https://icubeutm.ca/pridepitch/">second annual U of T Pride Pitch</a>.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">Organized by U of T Mississauga’s Positive Space Committee in partnership with the ICUBE accelerator program, U of T Pride Pitch will also feature a keynote from Martha Chaves, a Nicaraguan-Canadian and LGBTQ comedian, actor, activist and playwright.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">June 17</h3> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>Display Your Pride</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Use colours, creativity and your personal flair to <a href="https://positivespace.utoronto.ca/event/display-your-pride/">showcase what your Pride looks like at the annual “Display Your Pride” event</a> organized by U of T’s Positive Space Campaign.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Whether it’s decorating your room, office or student space, creating a piece of art or designing a virtual background, this is your chance to visually celebrate Pride and support LGBTQ-affirming spaces on all three campuses – and share your creation with the world using the #DisplayYourPride hashtag.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">If you’re looking for inspiration, ideas and tips on how to create physical or virtual crafts, you can take part in a trio of sessions ahead of the event:</p> <ul> <li style="margin-bottom: 11px;">Zoom Pride Backgrounds – June 8, 3 p.m.</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 11px;">Hand crafts – June 11, 11 a.m.</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 11px;">Macrame – June 14, 2 p.m.</li> </ul> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">This is the seventh consecutive year that U of T’s Positive Space Campaign will participate in “Display Your Pride” alongside Ryerson University, York University, Humber College and OCAD University.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">June 19-27</span></h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong>Virtual Pride &amp; Remembrance Run<span style="vertical-align:baseline">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">For the past 25 years, the Pride &amp; Remembrance Run has raised funds for organizations providing cultural programming and health and wellness support for the LGBTQ+ community. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><a href="https://www.priderun.org/">This year’s Virtual Pride &amp; Remembrance Run</a> will be held virtually from June 19 to June 27, with U of T staff able to register to take part in the interactive virtual run as part of a university team led by the Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office and team captain <b>Mark Seymour</b>. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">June 19</span></h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong>Honouring our Students Pow Wow</strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><a href="https://issupowwow.wixsite.com/my-site">The Indigenous Studies Students' Union will be hosting this virtual pow wow</a> on June 19, an event that will include&nbsp;dancing, drumming, teachings, contests, giveaways and more.&nbsp;</p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">Held on the YouTube Premieres platform, the fifth annual Honouring Our Students Pow Wow will feature head dancers John Hupfield and Cedar Smoke, special guests and Elders.&nbsp;</p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom: 11px;">June 21</h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><strong>National Indigenous Peoples Day</strong></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">The city of Toronto is planning a <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accessibility-human-rights/indigenous-affairs-office/indigenous-events-awards/">virtual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day</a>, which recognizes the cultural significance of&nbsp;First Nations, Inuit and Métis.&nbsp;Details to come.</p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="margin-bottom: 11px;">June 22</h3> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><b>U of T Pride Concert featuring Jeremy Dutcher</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Take in a special live-streamed concert by Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Jeremy Dutcher, a classically trained operatic tenor and composer whose music is deeply influenced by his roots in the Wolastoq&nbsp;First Nation. His debut album “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa” involved rearranging wax cylinder field recordings from his community dating back to the early 1900s.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In addition to showcasing his distinct musical style, Dutcher will also engage with the audience through a live Q&amp;A.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The concert will be preceded by an opening performance by Nenookasi, an afro-Indigenous two-spirit queer wife, mother of three and artist-activist who draws on music and mixed media for the causes of Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ rights.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px"><a href="http://public.eve.utoronto.ca/events/1651">The event&nbsp;–&nbsp;hosted by U of T’s Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office, Hart House, First Nations House, Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the U of T Mississauga Indigenous Centre&nbsp;–&nbsp;takes place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 22.</a> Registration is free.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> <h3>June 23</h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><b>Convocation</b></span></p> <p>Celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of U of T’s Class of 2021! This year’s virtual&nbsp;<a href="/convocation">spring convocation ceremony will air&nbsp;on June 23 at 12 p.m.</a>&nbsp;<a href="/news/mixing-novelty-and-tradition-u-t-gears-virtual-convocation-spring">More than 15,500 students from 105 different countries</a> will have their degrees conferred <em>in absentia</em>, with parchments mailed out around the world.&nbsp;</p> <p>Graduating students can showcase their pride by renting optional gowns and hoods, while friends and family can purchase grad gifts at the <a href="https://uoftbookstore.com/shop_main.asp?catalog_group_id=MTU5&amp;catalog_group_name=R3JhZHVhdGlvbg">U of T Bookstore</a>. Customized Zoom backgrounds, GIPHY stickers and Instagram activities are also available to use for everyone tuning into the celebrations. Use the hashtag&nbsp;<strong>#UofTGrad21</strong> to share your moments on social media.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>June 24</h3> <p><strong>Indigenous Toronto: Stories that Carry this Place</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://communityevents.td.com/en/event/852">panel discussion hosted by the Toronto Public Library</a> will bring together contributors to the newly released book, <em>Indigenous Toronto: Stories that Carry this Place</em>, an anthology that explores the impact of Indigenous cultural continuity and settler colonialism on Toronto.</p> <p>Panelists, who will include Chef Johl Whiteduck, visual artist Philip Cote, author and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor and creative director Denise Bolduc, will share their perspectives on how&nbsp;12,000 years of continued Indigenous presence and nationhood.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>June 26</h3> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline"><b>Black Grad celebration</b></span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">U of T’s Black graduating students will be honoured and recognized&nbsp;at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blackgraduoft">fifth annual tri-campus Black Graduation</a>&nbsp;event. The student-run celebration is hosted by the U of T Black Students’ Association and takes place at 12 p.m. on June 26. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="vertical-align:baseline">Due to overwhelming interest, two extra rounds of registration were added for students keen to take part in Black Grad 2021, with the final round ending on June 10.&nbsp;Students who register by the deadline will receive a Kente stole to showcase pride in their identities&nbsp;and academic accomplishments.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 01 Jun 2021 17:10:32 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 301377 at In a celebration of Pride and inclusion, U of T raises flags above Varsity Stadium /news/celebration-pride-u-t-raises-flags-above-varsity-stadium <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">In a celebration of Pride and inclusion, U of T raises flags above Varsity Stadium</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Pride%202020.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=mDR8UZYa 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Pride%202020.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=cdZ6RKAp 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Pride%202020.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=PUoavZl2 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Pride%202020.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=mDR8UZYa" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2020-06-04T12:36:23-04:00" title="Thursday, June 4, 2020 - 12:36" class="datetime">Thu, 06/04/2020 - 12:36</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The Trans Flag, Canadian flag and new "More Colour, More Pride" flag fly above Varsity Stadium (photo by Jill Clark)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/jelena-damjanovic" hreflang="en">Jelena Damjanovic</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/diversity-and-inclusion" hreflang="en">Diversity and Inclusion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/equity" hreflang="en">Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pride" hreflang="en">Pride</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/varsity-0" hreflang="en">Varsity</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When the Pride and trans flags were raised this week at the University&nbsp;of Toronto’s Varsity Stadium on St. George campus, there was no cheering audience to mark the occasion. Due to COVID-19, all public gatherings have been cancelled until further notice. But&nbsp;the empty stands weren’t the only thing that was different about the event this year: The Pride flag had black and brown added to its colour palette.</p> <p>“The addition of the black and brown stripes serves to highlight the importance of representation and inclusion of queer, trans, Black, Indigenous and people of colour (QTBIPOC) communities and is a sign of U of T’s commitment to being intentionally inclusive,” says&nbsp;<strong>David Pereira</strong>, director of U of T’s Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The newly added black and brown stripes are a visible symbol of the importance of including more voices and experiences in the LGBTQ2S+ community.”</p> <p>The ‘More Colour; More Pride’ flag was designed in 2017 by Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs, which worked with the advertising agency Tierney on an inclusivity campaign. The added black and brown stripes were meant to address issues of racism and exclusion in Philadelphia’s gay neighbourhood, but the new symbol quickly raised the attention of communities of colour globally. &nbsp;</p> <p>“Raising the ‘More Colour; More Pride’ flag along with the Trans Flag at U of T’s Varsity Stadium is a testament to our faculty’s commitment to the LGBTQ2S+ community and our ongoing work towards greater representation and inclusion of queer, trans, Black, Indigenous and people of colour,” says&nbsp;<strong>Robin Waley</strong>, assistant manager of co-curricular diversity and equity at U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education (KPE).</p> <p>“Through U of T Sport &amp; Rec programs like the Diversity in Motion Conference, Black Excellence Kiki Ball and Move with Pride workshop series, we provide students with intersectional learning opportunities from the diversity of experiences that exist within the LGBTQ2S+ community.”</p> <p>Professor&nbsp;<strong>Ira Jacobs</strong>, dean of KPE, says he regrets that the U of T community wasn’t able to come together this year to celebrate the raising of the flags in person.</p> <p>“I enjoyed watching it on video with the rest of our supportive community,” he says. “It was a proud reminder of our faculty’s and university’s dedication to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion at all levels, not only in research and education, but also in our broad spectrum of co-curricular physical activity and sport programs.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Reflecting on the protests against anti-Black racism and racial violence that have swept across the United States and countries around the world, Jacobs affirmed the faculty’s solidarity with the Black community.<br> <br> “I am proud to be the dean of a faculty that intentionally embeds equity, diversity and inclusion awareness within its curriculum, and within the framework of sport and recreation opportunities for all U of T students,” says Jacobs, adding the faculty recently produced its first&nbsp;equity report&nbsp;to highlight its efforts to uphold these values.<br> <br> “We know that sport and recreation are not immune to racism. But we also know that sport can be a powerful platform for positive individual, social, political and collective development.</p> <p>“As a faculty, we are dedicated to studying, researching and advocating for physical activity and sport, not only because they are vital to personal health, but because they are so important to societal health.”&nbsp;<br> <iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/425630989" width="750"></iframe></p> <p><a href="https://vimeo.com/425630989">U of T Pride Flag Raising 2020</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/uoftkpe">UofT Kinesiology &amp; Phys Ed</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:36:23 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 164837 at Convocation, Remembrance Day and Hart House’s centennial celebrations: Check out these November events /news/convocation-remembrance-day-and-hart-house-s-centennial-celebrations-check-out-these-november <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Convocation, Remembrance Day and Hart House’s centennial celebrations: Check out these November events</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT17283_085A3224.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NWQScmbS 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT17283_085A3224.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=bV4itfNu 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT17283_085A3224.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=W_PlPxnL 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT17283_085A3224.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NWQScmbS" alt="Students line up for fall convocation outside of convocation hall"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-01T00:00:00-04:00" title="Friday, November 1, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Fri, 11/01/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Lisa Lightbourn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/tom-yun" hreflang="en">Tom Yun</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/convocation-2019" hreflang="en">Convocation 2019</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/munk-school-global-affairs-public-policy-0" hreflang="en">Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/innis" hreflang="en">Innis</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/innis-college" hreflang="en">Innis College</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/john-h-daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/oise" hreflang="en">OISE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/remembrance-day" hreflang="en">Remembrance Day</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sexual-gender-diversity-office" hreflang="en">Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/thomas-fisher-rare-book-library" hreflang="en">Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-libraries" hreflang="en">U of T Libraries</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/woodsworth-college" hreflang="en">Woodsworth College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The temperatures may be dropping, but the number of events at the Ƶ’s three campuses&nbsp;remains high as we enter the final stretch of 2019.</p> <p>Here’s some of what's taking place this month:</p> <h3>Nov. 1</h3> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/478611412731457/">Celebrate Diwali on campus</a>&nbsp;with U of T’s Hindu Student Council. A pooja (prayer ritual) followed by a casual social will be held at the Multi-Faith Centre to mark the Hindu festival of lights.</p> <p>Kick off November with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/402246290469214/">U of T Scarborough’s drama society</a> at their fall open mic night. Talented students and faculty will be acting, singing, dancing, performing comedy and&nbsp;more. There&nbsp;will be snacks and refreshments.</p> <p>Come to the U of T Scarborough Library Makerspace for a zine workshop with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2723505431022600/">Scarborough Studies Collective</a> and explore the stories of Scarborough though a creative lens. Workshops will take place on Nov. 1 and 8.</p> <h3>Nov. 4</h3> <p>Convocation ceremonies are&nbsp;taking place&nbsp;this week at Convocation Hall. <a href="/convocation">Visit our Convocation 2019 hub for more information and stories</a>.</p> <p>The Fields Institute is organizing its <a href="http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/19-20/fieldsmedalsym-opening">2019 Fields Medal Symposium</a> at the Isabel Bader Theatre. Brazilian mathematician and 2014 Fields medallist Artur Avila will deliver the public lecture. Admission is free and open to the public.</p> <p>U of T Scarborough’s artist talk series continues at the Doris McCarthy Gallery.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2367175390172113/">Filipino-Canadian artist Patrick Cruz</a>&nbsp;will be speaking about his work, which tackles issues of decolonization and globalization.</p> <h3>Nov. 6</h3> <p>The U of T Scarborough cricket club is hosting an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/526883241436248/">India vs. Pakistan match</a> at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. The game will also be livestreamed.</p> <h3>Nov. 7</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT5194_20140610_ThomasFisher_DoorsOpen_004.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Visitors explore the Thomas Fisher Rare Book&nbsp;Library&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p> <p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2538747359506228/">Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library</a>&nbsp;is opening its doors for its biannual open house. The library is the largest publicly accessible collection of rare books in Canada, with&nbsp;materials from as far back as the 16<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;century.</p> <p>See the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/news/2019/10/21/daniels-faculty-launches-its-new-gallery-november-7-inaugural-installation-new">opening of&nbsp;<em>New Circadia</em></a>, an installation at a&nbsp;new,&nbsp;7,500-square-foot gallery in the lower level of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. The exhibition runs until April 20.</p> <p>U of T’s Sexual &amp; Gender Diversity Office is <a href="https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/event/sgdo-20th-anniversary-event-stories-from-our-past-visions-for-our-futures/">marking its 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary</a> at Hart House. The event will feature a panel discussion on LGBTQ+ communities, moderated by <strong>Lance McCready, </strong>associate professor of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, followed by a reception.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.reelasian.com/">Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival</a> is taking place from Nov. 7 to 15, showcasing films by filmmakers from Asia and the Asian diaspora around the world. Films will be screened at various locations throughout the city, including U of T's Isabel Bader Theatre and Innis Town Hall.</p> <p>Former Liberal Party leader and writer&nbsp;<strong>Michael Ignatieff</strong>, the rector and president of Central European University in Budapest, will be <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/democracy-versus-democracy-the-crisis-of-liberal-constitutionalism-tickets-75681945737">speaking at the Munk School of Global Afffairs &amp; Public Policy</a>&nbsp;about populism and liberal democratic institutions. The event, which is sold out, will&nbsp;be livestreamed.</p> <h3>Nov. 8</h3> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/Oresteia">The ancient Greek tragedy, <em>The Oresteia</em>,</a>&nbsp;is being performed by Theatre Erindale at U of T Mississauga on Nov. 8 to 10 and 15 to 17. Tickets are $5 at the door.</p> <h3>Nov. 11</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT63879_Remembrance_day-75_0.jpg" alt="an orchestra plays on remembrance day at the meeting place at UTSC"></p> <p><em>An orchestra plays during a Remembrance Day ceremony at U of T Scarborough (photo by Ken Jones)</em></p> <p>It’s Remembrance Day and the U of T community will pause to reflect on the sacrifices that Canada’s veterans have made.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://alumni.utoronto.ca/alumni-networks/shared-interests/soldiers-tower/service-of-remembrance">A service of remembrance</a> will be held at Soldiers’ Tower on the St. George campus, followed by a reception at Hart House.</li> <li>At U of T Mississauga, a ceremony will be held <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/remembrance-day-ceremonies">inside the Innovation Complex</a>.</li> <li>There will also be a ceremony at <a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/events/remembrance-day">the Meeting Place at U of T Scarborough</a> that will feature the U of T Scarborough concert band, concert choir and string orchestra.</li> </ul> <h3>Nov. 12</h3> <p>As part of Hart House’s 100<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;anniversary, <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/artist-talk-with-rebecca-belmore-and-osvaldo-yero">artist team Rebecca Belmore and Osvaldo Yero will be unveiling</a> their public sculpture entitled <em>waabidiziiyan doopwining</em>&nbsp;at the Hart House Great Hall. The name means to see oneself at the table and the sculpture seeks to honour the past from an Indigenous perspective and to imagine&nbsp;the future. The work will be unveiled at the 100<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;anniversary gala on Nov. 12 and the artists will host a discussion about their work on Nov. 13.</p> <h3>Nov. 13</h3> <p>Wendy Schmidt, the president of the Schmidt Family Foundation and the co-founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, will be delivering a keynote on <a href="https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/special-lecture-wendy-schmidt-president-schmidt-family-foundation-and-co-founder-schmidt-ocean">issues relating to the ocean health</a> as well as how scientific breakthroughs are helping restore our marine resources. Registration is free and the talk is taking place at the Health Sciences Building.</p> <p>Explore the history of rap at Hip Hip 101 Café. <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/utm-hip-hop-101-cafe-salman/">Salman Rana, also known as YLook</a>, will be leading a conversation on the role of faith in hip hop. The talk is taking place at U of T Mississauga’s Maanjiwe Nendamowinan Building and is presented by Hart House and the Centre for Student Engagement and Inter-Faith.</p> <p>Nov. 14</p> <p>Acclaimed poet, author and documentarian <strong>Dionne Brand</strong> will be delivering the 2019 Harold Innis Lecture at Innis College.&nbsp;Her talk,&nbsp;<a href="https://alumni.innis.utoronto.ca/event/dionne-brand">“To look again: Fragments, history, fiction,”</a>&nbsp;will be followed by a discussion moderated by<strong> Marieme Lo</strong>, U of T associate professor and African studies program director.</p> <h3>Nov. 15</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/portias-screen.jpg" alt></h3> <p>Catch the opening night of Hart House Theatre’s production of <a href="https://harthouse.ca/theatre/show/portias-julius-caesar/2019/11/15/"><em>Portia’s Julius Caesar</em></a>, which offers a feminist perspective of the classic Shakespearian tragedy. The play runs from Nov. 15 to 30. Tickets are $28 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students.</p> <h3>Nov. 17</h3> <p>Hart House is pulling out all the stops for its centennial year. A concert series is being held throughout the school year to celebrate its 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary. The <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/hh100-singers">Hart House Singers</a> will be performing on Nov. 17, followed by the <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/hh100-chorus">Hart House Chorus</a> on Nov. 24 and the <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/hh100-jazz-ensemble-combo">Hart House Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo</a> on Nov. 25.</p> <h3>Nov. 18</h3> <p>As part of the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science’s <a href="https://alumni.artsci.utoronto.ca/2019-wiegand-memorial-foundation-lecture/">2019 Wiegand Memorial Foundation Lecture</a>, Cornell University professor and U of T alumnus&nbsp;<strong>Andrew Hicks</strong> will take you on a journey through the sounds of the cosmos, from the “hushed woosh of gravitational waves” to the big bang. The free lecture is taking place at 6 p.m. at the Campbell Conference Facility.</p> <h3>Nov. 19</h3> <p>With populism on the rise,<strong> Stephen Lewis </strong>will be <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/opportunity-lost-a-call-to-global-action-in-the-age-of-trump">delivering a keynote at Hart House</a> to talk about global engagement in the age of Trump. Lewis has been a UN diplomat and the leader of the Ontario NDP. He’ll also be joined by CBC Radio’s Shelagh Rogers and journalist and activist <strong>Michele Landsberg</strong>. Admission is $10 and free for students with a TCard.</p> <h3>Nov. 20</h3> <p>Woodworth College is holding the annual <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/saul-goldstein-memorial-lecture-tickets-74992391261?fbclid=IwAR0aScVmGrq5yPluwZol-MJY6bXtys6KDAcdnQUjz1o0M9TXAU00Uz_h23M">Saul Goldstein Memorial Lecture</a>. <strong>Anna Shternshis</strong>,&nbsp;a professor and director at U of T’s Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies, will discuss how the Holocaust was documented through music.</p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/486421098880576/">Winter Market returns</a> to U of T Scarborough. Local vendors will gather at the Meeting Place in front of the Science Wing and will be selling fresh produce and artisanal crafts.</p> <h3>Nov. 21</h3> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/war"><em>This Is War</em> is a play</a> that follows four Canadian soldiers who struggle to deal with the psychological toll from their service in Afghanistan. The play opens at U of T Mississauga’s Theatre Erindale on Nov. 21 and runs until the 24<sup>th</sup> and again from Nov. 29 to&nbsp;Dec. 1.</p> <h3>Nov. 22</h3> <h3><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT19600_UTM-Maanjiwe-nendamowinan-01.jpg" alt></h3> <p><em>(photo by&nbsp;Drew Lesiuczok)</em></p> <p>A ceremony will be held for the official opening of <a href="http://mncfn.ca/join-us-for-the-official-opening-of-maanjiwe-nendamowinan-at-the-university-of-toronto-at-mississauga/">U of T Mississauga’s newest building</a>, Maanjiwe Nendamowinan, which houses many&nbsp;humanities and social science departments. The building bears an Anishinaabemowin name that means “gathering of minds.”</p> <h3>Nov. 27</h3> <p><a href="http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/ProfessionalDevelopment/Events/UpcomingEvents/20191127RobynDoolittle">What’s fair in the age of #MeToo?</a> Globe and Mail investigative journalist Robyn Doolittle will be&nbsp;at the Rotman School of Management&nbsp;talking about her new book, <em>Had it Coming</em>, which looks into the culture shifts that have come as a result of #MeToo.</p> <h3>Nov. 28</h3> <p><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/alumni/events/utm-beyond-campus-future-of-meat-plant-based">Is the future of meat plant-based?</a> U of T’s&nbsp;<strong>Lisa Kramer</strong> will be delivering a talk om Brampton on the marketplace for meat alternatives as well as the groundbreaking technology being used to develop these products.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 160108 at