Explore anti-racism and inclusive excellence at UBC, including UBC’s commitments, news and events, and access to resources and support.
LEADERSHIP
EXECUTIVE CO-LEADS
Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice-President Students, and Dr. Ananya Mukherjee Reed, Provost and Vice-President Academic, UBC Okanagan, are the Co-Executive Leads for Anti-Racism. As senior administrators, they will provide a critical bridge between the UBC executive, the Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence, and our Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) community members.
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| Dr. Ananya Mukherjee Reed Provost and Vice-President Academic, Okanagan |
Dr. Ainsley Carry Vice-President, Students |
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| “We currently find ourselves at a very critical moment – there is huge hope for change but there is also a lot of work ahead of us. The initiatives highlighted on this website show the work we’ve done so far – with much more to come.” | “I am incredibly grateful to President Ono for making anti-racism one of his top priorities for his second term. I am also humbled by his invitation for me to serve as a co-Executive Lead and bridge to our community” |
Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence
The Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force was created as part of the response to the institutional commitment to build a more inclusive university community. The work of the Task Force is supported by the Office of the President and the Co-Executive Leads for Anti-Racism.
“We must work together to dismantle the tools of oppression and white supremacy that remain prevalent and entrenched in our everyday systems.”
DR. SANTA ONO
UBC President and Vice-Chancellor
In the News
Perspectives of Black Scientists webinar – Interview with Emmanuel Osei | CBC Daybreak South
Leading Black scientists take part in third webinar of a series | Penticton Herald
‘Most people were never taught or told’: The fight to stop systemic racism in science at UBC | APTN News, Toronto Star, INFOnews
Racism at root of Indigenous knowledge being ignored in academia says UBC professor | APTN News
Indigenous knowledge systems often overlooked in academia | The Discourse
UBCO hosts webinar to discuss science and systemic racism | Castanet
UBC Okanagan speaker series on systemic racism provides public forum on difficult topic | Global News
Okanagan initiatives
FACULTY actions
A Talk with Dr. Kerrie Charnley: Why we capitalize the ‘I’ in Indigenous
What is the most respectful way to communicate with and about Indigenous Peoples and individuals? in this webinar participants will be introduced to guiding insights from Gregory Younging’s Elements of Indigenous Style (2018) . . . Read more
Truth and the Role of Engineers in Decolonization
school of engineering, faculty of applied science
Join the Faculty of Applied Science for a speaker series which will introduce our UBC Engineering community to Indigenous knowledge keepers, industry professionals and faculty from across Canada. . . . Read more
A statement from the School of Nursing on the In Plain Sight Report
school of nursing, faculty of health and social development
The release of the report In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care exposes the longstanding, pervasive, and systemic racism that exists throughout the health care system in BC . . . Read more
Weaving the Threads of Indigenous Stories
college of graduate studies
Five years ago, Sandra Fox was working as an Aboriginal Student Advisor with UBC Okanagan’s Aboriginal Programs and Services.. . . read more
UBCO researcher says equity is key to global health
faculty of health and social development
A UBC researcher says the COVID-19 outbreak provides a distinct example of how different populations are differentially affected by health issues . . . read more
Webinars on Addressing Systemic Racism
panelists:
Dr. Maydianne Andrade, Professor; President, Canadian Black Scientists Network; Co-Chair, Toronto Initiative for Diversity & Excellence; Special Advisor to the Dean, Inclusive Recruitment & Equity Education, University of Toronto Scarborough
Dr. Namandjé Bumpus, E.K. Marshall and Thomas H. Maren Professor and Director, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Dr. Emmanuel Osei, MITACS & Michael Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UBC.
learn more
panelists:
Albert Marshall, Elder, LLD, Mi’kmaw Nation
Jeannette Armstrong, Canada Research Chair in Okanagan Indigenous Knowledge and Philosophy, UBC Okanagan
Aaron Prosper, Graduate student, University of Prince Edward Island & project manager of the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Nation Cancer Care Strategy
watch the recording
panelists:
Ian Foulds, Principal’s Research Chair – Indigenous Reconciliation in Engineering (Tier 1), UBC Okanagan
Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief, Nature
Alejandro Adem, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Watch the recording
panelists:
Andrea A. Davis, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities, and Special Advisor on Anti-Black Racism Strategy, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University
Handel Kashope Wright, Professor, Faculty of Education, and Director, Centre for Culture, Identity and Education, UBC Vancouver
watch the recording
panelists:
Prof. Anthony Stewart, John P. Crozer Chair of English Literature, Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, USA
Hussein Keshani, Associate Professor, Faculty of Critical and Creative Studies, UBC Okanagan
Binta Sesay, Student, International Relations, UBC Okanagan; Equity and Inclusion Assistant, Equity and Inclusion Office, UBC Okanagan
WATCH THE RECORDING
panelists:
Jane Udochi, Arts Student & President of the UBC Okanagan African Caribbean Student Club
Binta Sesay, International Relations Major & Equity and Inclusion Assistant in the UBCO Equity and Inclusion Office.
watch the recording
Get Involved
Funding Opportunities
Funding is available to students, faculty and staff members at UBC to support equity enhancement and anti-racism initiatives. Learn more about the available funds and how they may be applied to your projects.
ANTI-RACISM INITIATIVES FUND
UBC’s Anti-Racism Initiatives Fund supports initiatives that seek to celebrate and elevate diverse communities and advance anti-racism efforts at our UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
EQUITY ENHANCEMENT FUND
The Equity Enhancement Fund (EEF) supports community-based initiatives that enhance equity, diversity and inclusion at UBC.
Suggest a Speaker
If you would like to propose topics or speakers for future webinars, please write to the Office of the Provost, to Raina Reddecliff (raina.reddecliff@ubc.ca). In your email please include the proposed topic area, its relevance and proposed speakers.
Join a Club
Find community at one of the many student-led cultural clubs at UBC Okanagan.