Sept.19: Standing in solidarity with Canada's queer community

Dear UWaterloo community, 

By now many of you will have heard about anti-Trans and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ events happening across our country on Wednesday. I want to acknowledge the damaging effects these events will have on many people in our community. 

The University of Waterloo stands in solidarity with Canada’s queer community during these hateful protests. We are working to ensure that our University remains a place free from hate and violence. We’re looking at our campus culture and safety protocols to find ways to be better. More inclusive. More thoughtful. More deliberate. I’m confident that we will continue to solve these problems together. 

That’s why I am so gratified to see that our community has come together, led by the Faculty of Arts and the students, staff and professors of the Gender and Social Justice program, to hold an event tomorrow.   

The Urgency of Social Justice will give our campus communities a wonderful opportunity to gather to hear speeches, performances, and music that build awareness and broader support for social justice activities, programs, services, and advocacy groups at UWaterloo and in the local community. 
The event will happen in and around the Arts Quad outside the Dana Porter Library between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. I encourage all members of the community to attend.   

I want to express sincere thanks to those involved in putting on this event. Wednesday will be an important day for allies of the queer community to show their solidarity and support, and to make sure that we reach out to those who might be feeling an extra need for connection. 
 
In solidarity,

Vivek Goel 
President and Vice-Chancellor 
Office of the President