Canada prides itself on diversity—and for good reason. Again and again, we’re enriched by the perspectives, experiences, and worldviews of those around us. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.
But diversity for diversity’s sake doesn’t mean much if people can’t be their authentic selves—or if those around them don’t have the tools to understand each other beyond the surface.
Living in a diverse environment is more than grabbing shawarma from the corner shop or dancing to Caribbean music at a summer festival. Our introduction to different cultures may begin there—but it shouldn’t end there. Diversity isn’t a playlist or a plate. It’s people.
And real inclusion means going beyond cultural artefacts. It means being able to ask respectful, thoughtful questions to better understand each other’s lived experiences, customs, and beliefs—without tokenizing or exoticizing. It means staying curious, even when we’re unsure how to ask.
The trouble is, many of us have become so afraid of saying the wrong thing that we’ve stopped asking anything at all. For instance, you might have a genuine question about why someone wears a hijab—but you’re afraid it’ll come across as offensive. And so, what could have been a moment of mutual understanding stays suspended in silence, and assumptions fill up the awkward gaps. No one wants to be labeled insensitive, or worse—racist. So we avoid the conversation altogether. We walk on eggshells around topics that matter deeply to our colleagues and communities. But avoidance doesn’t protect inclusion. It limits it.At the same time, even well-intentioned curiosity can miss the mark when asked in the wrong setting. I once stood in a long airport security line—jetlagged and exhausted—when a stranger tapped me on the shoulder. She pointed to a group of Sikh men ahead and asked what the different turban colors signified in my faith. As a Muslim woman in a hijab, I politely told her that I wasn't the right person to ask, and that I wasn’t sure of the answer.
That moment wasn’t malicious—but it was misplaced. What could have been a meaningful question in a respectful setting instead became an awkward exchange.
That’s why we need brave spaces.
As a community we need to create structured spaces where we can bravely ask our questions- without fear of judgment and bravely answer these questions- even if they make us feel vulnerable. Responding to questions about your identity requires as much fortitude as asking them.
Brave spaces allow us to be curious and respectful. They remind us that dialogue isn’t about agreement; it’s about understanding.
We may not always share each other’s beliefs, perspectives, or ways of life. But when we take time to understand where someone is coming from, we build empathy—and empathy is crucial to co-existing in diverse spaces, especially when we work, live and learn in those spaces.
The Brave Space Conversations workshop, hosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, offers a 90-minute, equity-rooted experience designed for exactly this kind of growth. It equips staff, faculty, and leaders with practical tools to move from silence to dialogue—to engage in hard conversations with confidence, compassion, and care.
Because when it comes to building an inclusive campus, we don’t need to have all the answers.
We just need the courage to start asking the right questions—in the right space.
Mifrah Abid
Anti-Racism Specialist, Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism