The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is working on a new suite of anti-oppression and anti-racism training courses. The framework is shared below. Sign up to the EDIA newsletter for updates.

Anti-racism knowledge and awareness support ongoing development of institutional practices that connect race-conscious principles with the values of MRU's Strategic Plan. We aim to facilitate inclusive dialogues and reflection on race relations and intercultural understanding to ensure all members of our community are meaningfully included and can participate without barriers.

The aim of this anti-oppression and anti-racism training program is to create awareness and increase understanding of race, racism and anti-racism. During the program participants will critically reflect, actively engage and develop effective anti-racist competencies and skills for individual and social change. These training courses will provide a clear sense of what racism and anti-racism on campus look like. They will explore ways that we can all make changes to create a welcoming, inclusive learning and working environment free from discrimination and systemic racism. *See MRU Strategic Plan, Goal 4.

 

 

Rise in hate crimes based on race and religion in Canada

In a statement released on Jan. 29, 2024, the Canadian human rights commission expressed they are “deeply concerned by the dramatic rise in Islamophobia in Canada since Oct. 7, 2023.” The commission advises that “we must recognize that for every reported incident of hate, discrimination or violence, there are many more frightening incidents that go unreported.” On May 6, 2024, B'nai Brith Canada reported a steep rise in antisemitism.

Statistics Canada also recently published data demonstrating that police-reported hate crimes based on race and religion are on the rise. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of police-reported crimes motivated by hatred of a race or ethnicity increased 80%; a result of more police-reported hate crimes targeting the Black population (+318 incidents), East or Southeast Asian population (+202 incidents), the Indigenous population (+44 incidents) and the South Asian population (+38 incidents) (Jing Hui Wang & Greg Moreau, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, 2022).

To meet the needs of our community, specific modules are developed to match both the Canadian statistics and the recent political conditions worldwide. Each module provides an in-depth overview of a specific intersectional form of anti-oppression and anti-racism. As conditions are constantly changing, this is a living course that will be modified and adapted to meet the needs of our community. Input is welcomed and encouraged.

 

 

Draft framework for the upcoming anti-oppression and anti-racism training