The School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) is deeply committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression. In our Strategic Plan, we state that “We celebrate diversity and embrace programs that engage communities from local to global. We challenge the social and structural factors that undermine health, including structural bias, social inequities, and racism. We value a healthy workplace that fosters well-being for members of our community.”
It is important to acknowledge the SPHS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group Final Recommendations that were shared in March 2021. This student-led group identified important anti-oppression issues and changes needed within the School. The School is working to implement these recommendations. At the same time, an Anti-Racism Task Force begins its work in May 2021, with a mandate to:
- Act on recommendations in the student-led SPHS EDI Advisory report that have not yet been addressed by SPHS Executive; and
- Consult with faculty, staff and student-led organizations to develop anti-oppression practices in SPHS courses (e.g. curriculum), structures (e.g. admissions, hiring) and environment (e.g. provision of training/resources, reporting mechanisms, statement of expectations for appropriate conduct in the classroom).
In these webpages, we provide information and resources for students, staff and faculty that arise from our anti-racism and anti-oppression efforts.
- Campus units, clubs, and services with mandates or resources relevant to equity
- Reporting discrimination and accessing support
- Resources for instructors to decolonize and indigenize teaching and learning
- Giving a meaningful territorial acknowledgement and connecting it to action
- Community care, healing and wellness resources
About the SPHS Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF)
The School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) is deeply committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression. In our Strategic Plan, we state that “We celebrate diversity and embrace programs that engage communities from local to global. We challenge the social and structural factors that undermine health, including structural bias, social inequities, and racism. We value a healthy workplace that fosters well-being for members of our community.”
In July 2020, the School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) Director Craig Janes set up an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Committee to identify issues of racism and other forms of oppression in SPHS and to develop recommendations for change. This SPHS EDI Advisory Group was led by SPHS students and facilitated by two faculty members, released a report on March 16, 2021, with important recommendations for improving EDI in SPHS.
Inspired by this report, the School Executive released a statement acknowledging racism and other forms of oppression will not be tolerated within the SPHS. The SPHS Executive committed to develop and implement actions in response to recommendations put forward by the committee, and any other recommendations that should arise.
The Anti-Racism Task Force has been named as such to communicate unequivocally that racism will not be tolerated in any form within and beyond the SPHS, while embodying the values of equity, diversity and inclusion. The SPHS Anti-Racism Task Force was formed in May 2021 to act on these recommendations and to build on the March 16, 2021 student report work, to draw in faculty and staff voices to this important movement, and to develop a plan for further action, with a mandate to:
- Act on recommendations in the student-led SPHS EDI Advisory report that have not yet been addressed by SPHS Executive; and
- Consult with faculty, staff and student-led organizations to develop anti-oppression practices in SPHS courses (e.g., curriculum, instruction), structures (e.g., admissions, hiring) and environment (e.g., provision of training/resources, reporting mechanisms, statement of expectations for appropriate conduct in the classroom).
Learn more about the actions of the task force.
Task force members
The Task Force is comprised of individuals with a range of valuable skills that will contribute to the success of this initiative, with representation from faculty, staff, and students in the School of Public Health Sciences. These experiences include community-oriented research with Indigenous populations, mental health, global health, and marginalized and vulnerable populations, as well as excellence in teaching, student experience, and advocacy.
