We're here to support you
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (EDI-R) works with students, faculty and staff across campus to advance equity through evidence-based policies, practices and programs.
Message from the Associate Vice-President (AVP)
Welcome to the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism (EDI-R), a space built on the energy, time, and advocacy of many community members from the University of Waterloo. My role as the AVP of EDI-R is to ensure that we, as a team, work with others in the University to lead transformative culture change, disrupt oppressive systems, dismantle institutional barriers, and embed anti-racism and equity in policies, processes, environments, and experiences on campus.
I am proud to achieve this vision with a team of subject matter experts with knowledge on equity, anti-racism, oppression, and settler colonialism. They understand how these factors manifest in colonial and primarily white Canadian university systems, have experience interrupting these systems, and believe in the work they do.
As an office, our immediate goals for the next two years are based on the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Lead and facilitate culture change
Goal 2: Ensure EDI-R leadership is centralized, accessible and accountable
Goal 3: Increase the sustainability of the EDI-R Unit on and off campus
We will continue to evolve in ways that best support members of our communities and turn to you as co-creators in this work to build, incubate, and enhance equity and anti-racism competency and capacity across campus.
I invite you to visit our website to learn about the initiatives our units are working on and look forward to connecting with you, in-person or virtually.
Dr. Christopher Taylor (he/him)
AVP Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism
Our units
News
Approaching Ramadan with care and inclusion
Muslim members of the University of Waterloo will begin observing Ramadan/Ramzan at sundown on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Re-introducing the Curve with Dr. Christopher Taylor
The Curve with Christopher is a podcast series hosted by Dr. Christopher S. Taylor, associate vice-president of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism, which features discussions about sports and its intersections with race, history, culture, and society.
Recognizing Emancipation Day
Following years of campaigning by Black lawmakers and community advocates, in 2021, the government of Canada federally recognized August 1, as Emancipation Day, and the month of August, as Emancipation Month.
While it was less than 200 years ago, in 1834, that the British Empire ended the practice of slavery in the former British colonies, which included Canada, many Canadians are unaware that Black and Indigenous peoples were once enslaved here.
Events
Webinar: Disability Justice for 2SLGBTQIA+ Employees
This webinar will explore anti-oppression and ableism, from disability rights to disability justice as a way to fully support disabled colleagues and employees by identifying power dynamics and taking action today while mirroring what has happened in queer and trans communities in the past.
Workshop: Building Belonging in Hiring Processes
Using Pride at Work Canada’s journey to more inclusive hiring practices with a focus on accessibility and anti-racism, presenters will share strategies to build in belonging from the start.
Pathways to Addressing (with Care) Disclosures of Racism | Students
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.