Events

This is a 3-hr introductory workshop to help students develop a sense of accountability and understanding of the pervasive nature of racism within the Institution. The workshop will provide a high-level overview of racism and how to support someone who has experienced racism (through informal or formal mechanisms).

Register for the workshop on:

• April 26, 2023
• June 28, 2023
• August 23, 2023

Facilitator: Jennisha Wilson

Jennisha comes with 13+ years of work experience at the intersections of anti-violence and anti-racism. Through interactive workshops, supports and strategies Jennisha has supported and co-created programs, resources, and strategic plans to address discrimination within both community and institutional settings. Jennisha’s lived experience as a mixed-race Black woman coupled with a trauma-informed and anti-racist lens has informed the processes and practices she employees when addressing racism.

Red Dress Day marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people in Canada. Join Elder Myeengun Henry to honour and remember our missing and murdered sisters and to show solidarity with their family and loved ones. 

Dr. Bird will emphasize the two types of language taking place in video games: mechanical, coded language, and visual, representational language. She presents the importance of teaching the history of Indigenous representation in games and will break down various examples from Custer’s Revenge to the Mortal Kombat and Red Dead Redemption series to demonstrate these types of gamic language. Building upon these examples, she centers on the problematic ways players have historically translated the messages they are being presented within the digital medium of the video game. She illustrates how these translations result in harmful narratives about Indigenous avatars becoming cemented within the overarching discourse and design of games. Finally, she will look at new Indigenous works and how inclusive and decolonial game design and practices like ROM hacking can push back against these established narratives and the ways in which players read them, and instead create sovereign digital spaces for Indigenous peoples.

Neurodivergent students encounter a variety of barriers to learning in academic settings that have been designed for neurotypical students. In this workshop, you’ll learn about neurodivergence and discuss how course design and instructional strategies that support neurodivergent students are beneficial for neurotypical students as well.  Using student scenarios, we will consider how we can apply these strategies into our practice and share resources available for both neurodivergent students and instructors. 

Speaker: Dr. Hilary Bergsieker
45 Minute talk followed by Q&A session with the speaker 

Abstract: When, why, and with what effect are women sometimes excluded from informal social networks in STEM fields? Drawing on social identity threat and structural hole theories, a series of studies assess social network dynamics that may limit women's full inclusion in STEM circles. 

The workshop will explore the ways Vicarious Restorative Justice (VRJ) can be used in supporting the needs of survivors of sexual harm: Surrogacy.

Vicarious Restorative Justice (VRJ) is a model of restorative justice that brings together victims, offenders and others impacted for a dialogue, but who are not parties of the same harm or crime. It provides opportunities for those whom a traditional restorative justice approach would not be possible because one of the parties is unable, unwilling, or not ready to participate. Since the parties do not have a relationship, a VRJ process can increase safety and decrease the risk for re-traumatization.

In this workshop, we will discuss:

What is Vicarious Restorative Justice and why we would use it

How Revive is piloting Surrogacy

Initial learnings and where we are now

Q&A

The Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office (SVPRO), is hosting a virtual Lunch & Learn to discuss and answer questions about how and why it is important to teach young children about consent and boundaries. We will also discuss the power and importance of language and politeness conditioning and provide resources.

In this session, join two restorative justice practitioners in a workshop that will discuss the ways the criminal legal system is often a site of violence for survivors, and others impacted, and the importance of offering restorative pathways for accountability. The space will highlight the essential principles for using RJ models engaging a trauma and violence-informed lens. This is a challenging conversation for many of us to consider and it is one that we are hearing, more and more, is critically needed from those impacted by sexual harm. The discussion will explore opportunities for ethical reflection and practical ways to grow our skills and capacity in non-punitive responses to experiences of sexual harm.

As part of Sexual Violence Prevention Month (SVAM), join us for an evening of discussion on creating a culture of consent in sports with former OHL and professional hockey player Brock McGillis.

What does it look like to build an equitable and safe sports community? With many stories coming to light about sexual violence and other harms experienced in sports communities, we are bringing folks together to discuss how to do better. After a talk by Brock McGillis, our panel of community experts will share their perspectives on sexual and gender-based violence in athletics.

Doors open at 5:30pm, with the event beginning at 6:00pm. Light refreshments will be provided.

Using the latest research, this workshop will attempt to uncover how pornography changes our thought patterns, teaches us views both consciously and unconsciously, and we will discuss whether or not it is possible to ethically consume pornographic content. This workshop will not show explicit photos or videos, but will discuss adult themes from an academic lens.