A message from President Vivek Goel
Across our campuses, we celebrate Pride this month with numerous events and activities. This month is about recognizing who we are as a community and ensuring our 2SLGBTQIA+ members are seen and heard. This month, we also mark National Indigenous History Month, an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous cultures and experiences, including the intersectional ones of Two-Spirit individuals.
June is also a sombre reminder of the hate-motivated attack that occurred on our campus two years ago. Many in our community continue to be impacted by what transpired on June 28, 2023.
Following the attack, we committed to meeting with community groups to better understand gaps, needs and concerns relating to their experience and safety on our campus. Together with Campus Wellness and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, we have conducted campus-wide consultations with community members to listen and learn.
Feedback from these consultations has resulted in the development of a comprehensive Trans and Non-Binary Equity strategy involving 28 recommendations aimed at addressing six areas: medical wellbeing and gender-affirming care, social wellbeing and belonging, recognition and support for 2STNBGNC+ identities, community education and training, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community development and sustainability.
As a university, we have endorsed the strategy and have begun collaborating with campus partners to develop an action plan for implementing its recommendations.
I am grateful to the many community members who have contributed to this process so far. We acknowledge that the trauma and impact of the attack on our community continues, and we are committed to supporting everyone in our community through mental health support, safety protocols and community building. This commitment and the implementation of the strategy, co-created by community members, is part of our collective journey.
As a community that strives to think differently, act with purpose and work together, we flourish when we bring together different ideas, perspectives and lived experiences. A diversity of perspectives helps us see the world in different ways and encourage innovation and discovery.
This month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the individuals and groups who work toward making our campuses more inclusive. I’m inspired by the work of third-year environmental engineering student Lucas Shumaker, who is also an EDI-R student ambassador. Their work towards dismantling barriers is helping us develop community spaces where meaningful change can occur.
Waterloo is fortunate to have a strong voice and organization on campus like the Glow Centre. Glow is the oldest continually running university-based 2SLGBTQ+ group in Canada, dedicated to promoting healthy attitudes toward all sexual orientations and gender identities. And it started right here at the University of Waterloo.
Throughout Pride month, I encourage you to take time to get involved in the many activities and events taking place on campus and in the community. The Pride Month flag raising will take place on June 3 at 11:45 a.m. in H Lot. A brief program begins at 12:15 p.m., and there will be an opportunity to visit booths from campus programs and services. Free ice cream and treats will be available, while supplies last.
The lineup of activities also includes an event to help us celebrate both National Indigenous History Month and Pride, an afternoon with Kai Potts. Kai is a proud Two-Spirit community builder who will share stories about Indigenous identity, queerness, fashion, or his favourite video games.
Learn more about Pride events on the Pride Month web page.
Through our collective efforts, we can ensure everyone on our campuses feels part of our community.
