DEI Task Group Meeting Highlights for November 23, 2021

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Group was established to assist the College in moving forward on its commitment to increase diversity, equity and inclusion – a key priority in the College’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

  • Task Group member Carrie McEachran, Public Member, read a Land Acknowledgement and provided reflections on her own learning and experiences with respect to Reconciliation and the land.
  • Chair Sanjay Govindaraj, RSW welcomed the Task Group members to the meeting.
  • Task Group member Sandra Southwind, RSW set the intention for the meeting.
  • The minutes from the October 28, 2021, meeting of the Task Group were reviewed.
  • The Task Group reviewed its work plan and discussed areas of focus.
  • The Task Group recommended that the Action Plan to Increase Engagement with Indigenous Communities, which had been revised based on input from the October 28, 2021 Task Group meeting, be forwarded to Council for its consideration.
  • A draft Equity Tool for use in the Task Group’s review of College bylaws, policies and other materials was considered; the Task Group recommended further revisions after which the Tool will be piloted with a sample of College policies and/or other materials.
  • The Task Group provided recommendations in relation to draft demographic questions intended to form part of the survey that will be circulated to members and other stakeholders as part of the first phase of the College’s review of the Standards of Practice.
  • The Task Group provided recommendations with respect to the Land Acknowledgement read at the beginning of Council meetings and suggested that an Indigenous member of the College or an Indigenous elder be invited to open Council meetings.
  • Sandra Southwind, RSW closed the meeting with a smudging ceremony to purify the mind, spirit and physical surroundings.