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
During the Community Corner hosted by the Office of EDI-R, this is where we wanted to center our reflections on Pride Month and Pride events on campus. What is the story of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Kitchener-Waterloo? What did community, progress, and dissent look like before, during, and after calls for legal recognition and equality? And what do milestones and celebration for the community look like outside of institutional acceptance?
The Trans and Non-Binary Equity Strategy was informed and co-created by members of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities—students, staff, and faculty who showed deep courage in sharing their experiences and speaking up in the hope of sustainable change. They didn’t just point to problems—they helped imagine solutions. They spoke up not only for themselves, but for those who couldn’t, or didn’t feel safe enough to. That is leadership. That is community in action.
As of June 2, 2025, University of Waterloo students and employees have the option to set or add pronouns (i.e., words we use to replace someone’s name in a sentence, such as “he”, “she”, or “they”) to their Microsoft 365 profile card (the card with your picture or initials in the circle). It may take up to 24 hours before this feature is visible on your Microsoft 365 profile card.
In Canada, we celebrate Asian Heritage Month during the month of May, an initiative introduced in the 1990s and made official by Senator Vivienne Poy in 2001. The Asian population of Canada has established itself over the past two centuries, adding to Canada’s rich diversity across the provinces.
The Government of Canada’s theme for Asian Heritage Month 2025 is: “Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity”. This theme recognizes the profound and enduring ways in which Asian communities have helped shape Canada’s social fabric. From the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway by Chinese labourers in the1880s, to the election of Douglas Jung as the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament in 1957, to trailblazing figures like Adrienne Clarkson, the first Asian Canadian Governor General.
We are constantly surrounded by headlines, data, and official stories about how the world works. But how often do we stop to ask: Where do these ideas come from? Who benefits from them? What’s being left out?
Today marks International Pronouns Day, an annual event that raises awareness on the importance of respecting and using individuals' chosen pronouns. Observed on the third Wednesday of October each year since its inception in 2018, the day encourages the proper use of pronouns and their role in affirming identities to create an inclusive society.
To learn more about pronouns and how to use them respectfully, visit the Pronouns FAQ on the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism website.
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (EDI-R) are excited to announce the launch of a new intake form designed to enhance support for campus community members. Available through both the SVPRO and EDI-R websites, this form streamlines the process for requesting direct service, consultation, or education, among others.
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism are hosting sessions for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff with special attention for those who identify as Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming (2STNBGNC+). These insights will play a vital role in shaping the new Trans & Queer Equity Strategy for our University.
On January 18, the Princess Twin Cinema became the stage for an interactive screening of Stephen King’s 'Carrie,' marking a unique approach to sparking conversations around menstruation and challenging societal taboos. The event was hosted by the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti Racism, the Women’s Centre and Changing the Flow, and was a captivating intersection of horror cinema and societal discourse.