Background
As a values-based institution, VIU is committed to improving its community with a safe and inclusive environment for all. VIU has taken a proactive stance in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues. Knowing that other universities across Canada are also developing or implementing their EDI plans, VIU invited members of the Alliance of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities (ACCRU), a network of small and medium-sized comprehensive universities from across Canada, to join a community of practice and collaborate in a symposium about the best practices for EDI Action Plans.
VIU led the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council’s (SSHRC) Connection Grant to fund the symposium that will provide a venue for collaboration, discussions and shared learning around equity, diversity and inclusion action planning. The purpose of the symposium is to provide a space for the participating universities to collaboratively develop a deeper understanding of research-based EDI best practices, including how to build institutional capacity; how to handle resistance to advancement of EDI on campuses; how to manage institutional cultural shifts when prioritizing EDI at universities; how to effectively apply an intersectional lens to EDI action and analysis; and the legal and human rights aspects of EDI. The event will take place over two days (March 24-25) with sessions ranging from presentation of data to interactive workshops.
Participating Universities
Goals of the EDI Symposium
- To catalyze and energize a network of institutions with similar interests in, and a commitment to, developing CRC and university-wide EDI plans for enhancement of research excellence at Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities.
- To provide a venue for sharing research-based best practices and lessons learned in the development of EDI plans.
- To curate and create a set of shared online resources such as policy guidelines and training materials for EDI plan development and implementation.
- To actuate a commitment among participating universities to reviewing and commenting on one another’s EDI plans, post-event.
The symposium will serve to initiate an EDI Community of Practice that will continue to collaborate for optimal EDI planning and implementation.
Symposium Sessions
On Day 1, the focus is on the general aspects of equity, diversity and inclusion and best practices based on the literature, primary or secondary data, and experiences. The following sessions on Day 1 until 1 pm (PST) are webinar style and open for all to register on a first come, first served basis. Register to join the webinar.
Webinar – Open to all registrants
Time (PST) | Session | Speaker(s) |
8:30 – 9:00 am | Welcome |
Hosts and Local Indigenous Elder |
9:00 – 10:00 am |
Keynote address: |
Dr. Denise O’Neil Green VP, Equity and Community Inclusion, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON |
10:30-11:00 am | Session 1 – Student Co-Curricular Talks |
Taylor Lebrun Maria Clemotte Parshva Jain Seth Recalma |
12:00-1:00 pm |
Session 2 – Voices Panel: EDI Best Practices |
Leif Rasmussen, Alison Taplay & Dr. Teresa Swan: Intellectual Disabilities (Vancouver Island University) Dr. Michael Quinn: Indigenous Researchers (Mount Royal University) Dr. Benita Bunjun: Cluster Hiring of Racialized Employees (Saint Mary's University) Tung Nguyen & Laura Clark: Gender/LGBTQ2S+ (Vancouver Island University) |
Session Details
March 24, 2021 - 9:00-10:00 amKeynote Title: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the University: A Model of Inclusive Excellence Abstract: Historically, the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) have been at the margins of Canada’s postsecondary education sector. However, changing demographics along with economic and political forces, have moved EDI to a more central place in the foundation of university and college life but not without challenges of resistance and cultural barriers. In the early 2000s, three papers on Making Excellence Inclusive were commissioned by the Association of American Colleges and Universities to begin addressing those challenges and barriers. Almost 20 years later, Universities Canada released its own version of Inclusive Excellence Principles. Building upon the Making Excellence Inclusive monograph series and Inclusive Excellence Principles, this keynote seeks to advance promising EDI practices, to promote knowledge and skill development, and to inspire participants to take action that can set them on a path to operationalize their own Inclusive Excellence. Speaker: Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion, Ryerson University Bio: Dr. Denise O'Neil Green was appointed Ryerson University’s first Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion in 2017. With a passion for advancing inclusive excellence, Dr. Green draws on her teaching, scholarly and leadership background of 30 years, establishing new and innovative pedagogical initiatives and programs. Dr. Green is accomplished in building rapport and networks, effectively collaborating with diverse stakeholders both inside and outside the university sector. Dr. Green brought the first White Privilege Conference (WPC) Global to Toronto in 2018 and convened the first University and Research Funding Agencies’ Equity Officers Roundtable. Dr. Green is well published in the area of EDI and is the Executive Editor for InstitutionalDiversityBlog.com. A frequent speaker on EDI in higher education, she has received numerous awards including the 2017 Association for the Study of Higher Education Council on Ethnic Participation Founders’ Service Award and the 2016 Pioneers for Change Award. |
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March 24, 2021 - 1:30-3:00 pmIn the afternoon, we will regroup in our invited session to reflect on the day’s proceedings and our thoughts on our previous experiences and the alignment or lack thereof in what we learned in the morning. This afternoon session will allow participants to reflect on their learning. |
Zoom Meetings – By invitation only
Time (PST) | Session | Speaker(s) |
1:30-2:50 pm | Home Room #1: Share EDI Action Plan Experiences and Thoughts | Small groups – 4-5 participants from each university |
2:50-3:00 pm | Concluding Reflections | Hosts |
By invitation
Day 2 will focus on establishing a community of practice on EDI Action Planning. Therefore, all sessions on March 25th will be by invitation only to facilitate relationship building and collaborative learning. These sessions will hone in on EDI Action Planning presentations and workshops. These collaborative and interactive sessions aim at allowing participating universities to reflect on their EDI Action Planning by sharing their experiences thus far, and future directions in EDI policy making, refining, and/or implementation in light of the discussions.
Time (PST) | Session | Speaker(s) |
8:30-9:00 am |
Welcome Review & Reflections |
Dr. Carol Stuart, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Vancouver Island University) |
9:00-10:15 am |
Session 1: EDI Action Plan Presentations |
Gwen Hill & Lisa Robinson (Royal Roads University) Dr. Asma Sayed, (Kwantlen Polytechnic University) Drs. Eve Stringham, Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham & Robynne Healey (Trinity Western University) Dr. Kathleen McNutt (University of Regina) Monica Kay (Vancouver Island University) |
10:15-10:30 am | Break | |
10:30-11:45 am | Session 2: Interactive Workshop | Dr. Roselle Gonsalves (EDI Consultant) |
11:45-12:45 pm | Lunch break | |
12:45-2:00 pm | Session 3: Interactive Workshop | Dr. Jennifer Chisholm & Dylan Mazur (Lakehead University) |
2:00-2:30 pm | Home Room #2: Explore EDI Action Plan Ideas | All (in small groups) |
2:30-3:00 pm | Bringing it all together |
Dr. Carol Stuart, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Vancouver Island University) |
Session Details

The Symposium Team
