February is Black History Month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, who have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. Throughout February we will be highlighting and sharing the stories of Black staff, students, members of our Board of Governors as well as alumni. Stay tuned to the Diversity blog and RRC Polytech’s social media to learn more about members of our College community.

Raymond Ngarbou, 2008 graduate, Community Development/Community Economic Development, RRC Polytech

Reposted from December 13, 2021

Raymond Ngarboui has a good reason for being late to a scheduled appointment at the Rainbow Community Garden on a recent August afternoon.

Within sight of IG Field at the University of Manitoba, the Garden is a place where families new to Canada are able to plant, tend, and harvest their own crops.

Among those waiting for Ngarboui is a group of students from Gordon Bell High School who have summer jobs on the Green Team, an employment program he manages in his capacity as a Community Development Coordinator for the Community Education Development Association (CEDA).

Not surprisingly, all eyes are on Ngarboui as he pulls up. With his easygoing manner, he has the full attention of the students. After speaking with them, he has time to sit down and talk about his career in community development.

To read more, click here.

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, who have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. Throughout February we will be highlighting and sharing the stories of Black staff, students, members of our Board of Governors as well as alumni. Stay tuned to the Diversity blog and RRC Polytech’s social media to learn more about members of our College community.

Omolara Adewuyi, Project Manager, RRC Polytech

What is your current role/occupation and what path/journey did you take to get to where you are today?

I am currently a Project Manager at Red River College. I am an alumnus of Red River College. I worked at Loblaw for five years as a Financial Analyst. At Loblaw, I worked in various departments, handled accounts reconciliation and reporting, led various process automation and improvements, met firm deadlines, supported the team to develop strategies to resolve cases in the client’s best interest whilst adhering to the Company’s policies and procedures, and was an excellent team player. I love volunteering. I held various positions in different clubs & committees. Eg Toastmasters, Equity and diversity committee. Etc.

Have you had any struggles in your career, and if so, how did you transform them into growth or success?

Whenever I am faced with difficulty, I resolve to use one or the other approach such as: Taking a break, going on a walk, going around the city on the bus (if time permits), and closing my eyes for at least 5 minutes. Then I start by identifying the challenge, asking for assistance, and maintaining an optimistic attitude toward my performance at work. These essential steps have helped me to become a hardworking, positive-minded, and motivated person who is not afraid of challenges. Most importantly, I have a seek-to-understand mindset and not a judgmental one.

What, if any, are challenges that affected you as a Black person in your career?

Personally, I have not faced discrimination or racism in the workplace. It may simply be that I refuse to identify any challenge as racism. Diversity in the workplace is a welcome development that can be improved upon with time. Many employees feel hopeless because they are afraid to put their job on the line to speak out against discrimination, so I think it is crucial to have open conversations about racial and gender bias.

Why is representation important to you and what does it mean for you?

Representation is vital because it creates a space where everyone can be seen and heard. People from different backgrounds will have various viewpoints thereby creating multiple ideas. We will be able to identify problems/ challenges from various angles and have better results. Seeing a person of color as a CEO or a Manager or in a top management position gives me hope and motivates me to put in more effort knowing that everyone is fairly treated and recognized.

How does your lived experience shape what you bring to the table in your role/occupation?

I have acquired a wide range of skills and experience that have given me the ability to bring positivity, a creative approach to solving problems, and the determination to always add value in any position. I am always willing to learn from experienced members of the company and be a positive role model to all my colleagues.

Anything else you would like to say or add?

I am grateful for this opportunity to share my experience and the lessons I have learned throughout my career. I hope to impact everyone positively.

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, who have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. Throughout February we will be highlighting and sharing the stories of Black staff, students, members of our Board of Governors as well as alumni. Stay tuned to the Diversity blog and RRC Polytech’s social media to learn more about members of our College community.

Gbolahan Olutayo Oduntan, Board of Governors, RRC Polytech

Gbolahan Olutayo Oduntan is Nigerian-Canadian professional who is passionate about, and specializes in helping small and large companies optimize their processes with the aim of resolving business challenges. He works with one of the major insurance companies in Canada; Canada Life, where he deploys his expertise processing, analyzing and renewing policies in the same organization. He serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the Red River College, Manitoba Canada. 

Gbolahan is also the founder and C.E.O of a non-profit organization known as STO Global Concept Incorporated, in Manitoba. STO Global Concept Inc. and her partners reach out to the needy in the community, by supplying them food and clothing for free. They do this with funds raised through periodically-held charity concerts organized for this purpose. They also collaborate with other humanitarian organizations such as Siloam Mission, Harvest Manitoba and others, to alleviate the burden of hunger amongst the less-privileged living in Manitoba, Canada.

Born in Nigeria, Gbolahan had his basic education in the South-Western part of the country. He then proceeded to acquire a Higher National Diploma certification in Accountancy from Kwara State Polytechnic, Nigeria.  Thereafter, he enrolled for a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Plymouth University, United Kingdom, and concluded this in the year 2014.

Before relocating to Canada, Gbolahan had extensive exposure in both private and public service in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. In Nigeria, he worked in LASACO Assurance; a public-owned Insurance Company. While in the United Kingdom, he worked with TESCO PLC, one of the leading multinational retailer stores. In all these places, his business acumen and professionalism earned him laurels as a man who goes above and beyond the call of duty. He also had eight years of public service in Nigeria, serving as a legislator in Surulere Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Upon arrival in Canada in April 2016 with great hopes and expectations, he began his integration process by attending Manitoba Start and Success Skills New-comers program, after which he began his job search. Several efforts to get a job based on his skills and educational qualifications all proved abortive as most of the feedbacks he got from employers included: No Canadian work experience, he’s got an accent; you are over qualified, etc.

Determined Gbolahan did not allow the limitating and frustrating remarks discourage him, rather he took up a transition job, enrolled for a course at the Red River College and continued his job search and contributions to community development by volunteering with some Non-for-profit organizations.

Whilst combining his transition job with studies at the Red River College, he found an opportunity to volunteer as an Administrative Assistant with Canada Life thereby combining transition job with studies. This was very demanding and challenging as Gbolahan hardly has 5 hours sleep on daily basis.  

Due to his unrelenting efforts, dedication and commitment to work, he later got an offer for the position of Underwriting Assistant with Canada Life where he has continued to deploy his experiences and knowledge to the growth of the organization. 

As a person of color, Gbolahan has had a fair share of the stereotype that an average person of color goes through: for example getting comments such as “I never knew you could speak good English, You are too qualified for this position, Where are you from” etc.  However, in-spite of these stigmas and profiling, Gbolahan’s humanitarian nature continued to compel him to reach out to communities, the homeless, the depressed, and the broken-hearted, under the umbrella of STO Global Concept Inc. a Not-for-Profit initiative established by him.

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, who have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. Throughout February we will be highlighting and sharing the stories of Black staff, students, members of our Board of Governors as well as alumni. Stay tuned to the Diversity blog and RRC Polytech’s social media to learn more about members of our College community.

Tanya Hansen Pratt, CET, Instructor, Mechanical Engineering Technology at RRC Polytech

I began working as an instructor at RRC Polytech in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program in 2021, the same program I graduated from many years ago. I have worked in the HVAC industry for over 20 years, initially in technical sales, then I transitioned into application engineering, design engineering, technical writing and marketing. This industry experience eventually brought me full circle back to where my career as a technologist began.

As an engineering technologist, I’ve always worked in male-dominated spaces with very little diversity. I spent many years of my career before coming to RRC Polytech being the only woman and only person of colour in my department. My lived experience has always been vastly different from that of my coworkers. I am reminded daily of my female-blackness, whereas their male-whiteness rarely crosses their minds. Microagressions, sexism, and racism have been common occurrences in my life, so I’ve learned to navigate the world as a person who is constantly othered.

Representation makes all the difference to someone like me. It’s so much easier to walk in a space when I know I’m not going to be stared at or judged: I can just be myself. I once combed out my locs and straightened my hair for a job interview because I knew my natural hair might be frowned upon in a conservative engineering department. I did get the job and when I put my locs back in (when my probation period was over), another black woman who worked there told me she loved my hair and decided to stop straightening her hair and wear it naturally, too! Representation matters.

In some small ways, I think I’ve turned my life experience into an advantage. I can read a room instantly and I’m quick to read facial expressions and body language. I’m used to working hard because people often underestimate me. I recently attended an event and, as often happens during introductions and small talk, we began discussing what we did for a living. I was asked by a gentleman at the table how I managed to get a job as an instructor. He was absolutely convinced that I couldn’t have been qualified and must have been used to fill a quota. He repeated his beliefs to me in front of several others who remained silent throughout the conversation. He made assumptions about me based on the colour of my skin, and the people at the table remained silent – and complicit. Being underestimated makes me dig in my heels and work hard to prove them wrong.

As an instructor, I hope my presence as a woman of colour does two things: First, I hope I can add to the diversity of thought and experience among the staff at the college to provide the best possible education for our increasingly diverse student body. Secondly, I hope my presence gives our students permission to be their authentic selves. There is someone out there, maybe in my classroom or maybe someone thinking about attending RRC Polytech, that sees me and sees a little bit of themselves, and it helps them stand taller and stronger knowing that someone else has walked the path in front of them and made it a little safer to follow along exactly as they are.

February is Black History Month, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities, who have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity. You can learn more about Black history in Canada on the Government of Canada website.

Black History Month at RRC Polytech

Throughout the month, the College will be highlighting and sharing some personal stories from Black staff, students, alumni and members of our Board of Governors. Stay tuned to the Diversity blog and RRC Polytech’s social media!

Library & Academic Services has created the Anti-Black Racism Learning Toolkit to help everyone better understand racism and how to take action against it.

The Anti-Racism Committee is partnering with Library and Academic Services to host a “Book Tasting” event.

• Exchange District Campus: Library; February 27, 11 am – 1 pm
• Notre Dame Campus: Active Learning Classroom (CM27) in the Library; February 28, 11 am – 1 pm

What is a book tasting? Just as you might try little bites or samples of food, a book tasting provides an opportunity to sample books that have been selected in spirit of celebrating Black History Month. Select a menu item that interests you in our faux restaurant setting, read the summary on the back, the first few pages, or even just the critical acclaim.

During the event, staff and students will have the opportunity to check out books written by Black Canadian authors. The Anti-Racism Committee will also be launching a Social Justice Book Club soon, more details about this event will be shared soon.

RRC Polytech staff and students are invited to join the Anti-Racism Committee for the final presentation of a four-part virtual speaker series featuring champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion accompanied by a moderated panel discussion designed to inspire change. This online event will be held on February 8, 12-1pm, over Zoom. The keynote speaker is Dr. Danièle Behn Smith. Read more and register here.

All students, faculty, and staff are also invited to attend a series of Anti-Racism educational workshops, either in person in the Connected Classroom (G139) at Notre Dame Campus or online. Through the workshops, critical concepts of race and racism will be unpacked for participants as contextualized in Canadian history and society. From this learning, participants will have a clear understanding of how racism operates and be provided with some initial strategies for taking an active role to eliminate barriers to access and equity.

Staff are encouraged to complete the Anti-Racism training on LEARN this month, if you haven’t already. The course speaks to unconscious bias, microaggressions, systemic racism, and privilege and purposefully challenges our staff to act when confronted with racism or discrimination, to create safe learning and working environments for all.

As we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, we also recognize the importance of equity and inclusion beyond the month of February. At RRC Polytech, we are committed to pursuing equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, year-round.

Additional Resources:

• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) Resources has created a commemoration guide for Black History Month that RRC Polytech employees can use to celebrate and recognize the diverse experiences of Black Canadians: Commemoration Guide (PDF).
• CCDI is also hosting a free, live webinar for its employee partners on February 9, Black History Month: Unlearning Anti-Black Racism (Staff only; login required)
• CCDI past recording (no login required) Addressing Anti-Black Racism in the Workplace
• CCDI past recording (no login required) History of race and racism in Canada
• CCDI Educational resources on racism and anti-Black racism
• Winnipeg Public Library: Black History Month
• Black History Manitoba
• CBC’s Black on the Prairies
• National Film Board of Canada: Journey to Justice
• Government of Canada: Noteworthy Historical Figures  
• CBC’s “The Secret Life of Canada” podcast: Crash Course on Black Nurses

If you have any questions, please contact us at diversity@rrc.ca.

You’re Invited – Addressing Structural Racism in Canada’s Healthcare System – Featured Expert and Virtual Panel Discussion

Health and healing, both mental and physical can present major challenges for Indigenous people and others in marginalized groups to work, learn and thrive. One of the areas that Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified to address in its 94 Calls to Action is Health. The effects of generations of trauma continue to be passed down in these communities and barriers caused by systemic or structural racism is resulting in a significant gap in health outcomes for Indigenous people across Canada.

Join RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee for the final presentation of a four-part virtual speaker series featuring champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion accompanied by a moderated panel discussion designed to inspire change.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Danièle Behn Smith. As B.C.’s Deputy Provincial Health Officer – Indigenous Health, she works alongside Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry to provide independent advice and support to the Ministry of Health to advance the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and truth and reconciliation. 

Dr. Behn Smith is Eh Cho Dene (Big Animal People) of the Fort Nelson First Nation in B.C. with French Canadian/Métis roots in the Red River Valley. As both a physician and health leader, her work recognizes self-determination as the foundation of health and wellness among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and the importance of Indigenous approaches and healing systems.

She advocates for upholding the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples by illuminating and arresting the ways in which inherited ideologies of white supremacy and racism insidiously show up in everyday public health practices, policies, and approaches.  

Following her 20–25-minute presentation addressing structural racism in Canada’s healthcare system – Titi Tijani, President of African Communities of Manitoba Incorporated will join the discussion to add her perspective, further the conversation, and respond to questions from the audience.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 

Time: Noon – 1pm

Host: RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee via ZOOM

Moderator: Ginger Arnold, Instructor, Social Innovation and Community Development

Click to Register

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. If you require any accommodations, please contact kmichie@rrc.ca. For all other questions, please contact diversity@rrc.ca.

If you have technical difficulties when logging on to this Zoom event, please contact kmichie@rrc.ca or text 204-299-8000. 

Full Bios:

As a leader, internationally educated teacher, and activist, with over 25 years of experience in community development, Titi Tijani is a pillar in the African Community. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Ecology from University of Manitoba; and Certificates in Education, Community Leadership, NVCI Trainer and Conflict Resolution.  She has worked with Manitoba Housing, in Tenant Services since 1998 and currently as Director of Support Services.

Titi has volunteered in the African community for over 25 years, supporting the integration of newcomer women and their families.  As the President of African Communities of Manitoba Inc. (ACOMI) since 2017, Titi supports the African ethno cultural community organizations build and develop capacity to support their membership; preserve and promote African culture and heritage and promote cultural understanding in Manitoba. 

Her career in social services, education and her volunteer work with organizations like the Okin International Club of Canada (OICC), African Communities of Manitoba Inc., Manitoba Lung Association, Central Youth Justice Committee, Nigerian Association of Manitoba, the Black Community Collective and the Police Accountability Coalition have allowed her to advocate and support thousands of community members and organizations in their pursuit of building a more diverse, sustainable, and equitable Manitoba. 

It is for these reasons that Titi has been recognized by the Spirit of a Community Builder Award, the Premier’s Volunteer Service Award Certificate of Recognition, one of 100 most fascinating Manitobans in 2020, Manitoba Honour 150, Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award.in 2021 and most recently as a recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Community Leadership Award in 2022.

Effective October 13, 2015, Dr. Danièle Behn Smith has been appointed as the province’s aboriginal health physician advisor.

Dr. Behn Smith works alongside, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. Dr. Behn Smith provides independent advice and support to the Ministry of Health on First Nations and Aboriginal health issues. In support of the Ministry’s strategic agenda, Dr. Behn Smith focuses on closing the gap in health outcomes between First Nations and other British Columbians.

Dr. Behn Smith is Eh Cho Dene (Big Animal People) of the Fort Nelson First Nation in B.C. with French Canadian/Métis roots in the Red River Valley. Since getting her Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University and completing residencies at the universities of Ottawa and Manitoba, Dr. Behn Smith’s career has spanned the country and the globe.

She has practiced rural medicine in remote communities across Canada and is currently a family physician at Tse’wulhtun Health Center in the Cowichan Valley. She was a board director for the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the director of education for the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Health Initiatives Program and the site director of the University of British Columbia’s Aboriginal Family practice residency.

Dr. Behn-Smith was also the host of “Medicine Woman”, a 13-episode television series which explored traditional healing practices in ten countries on six continents.

Addressing the Combination of Systemic Racism and Ableism – Featured Expert and Virtual Panel Discussion

The first step in removing barriers to access and participation for all people is to identify and address the obstacles they are facing. Systemic racism exists in entrenched practices, beliefs, laws, and policies that produce, condone, and perpetuate widespread unfair treatment and oppression related to race. Ableism, or discriminating against people with learning and living challenges, is a deep-rooted construct that often unintentionally makes it more difficult for individuals with physical and neurological differences to succeed. 

Join RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee for the third in a four-part virtual speaker series featuring champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in a post-secondary setting, accompanied by a moderated panel discussion designed to inspire change.

Keynote speaker, Laurelle Harris is the Founder, CEO and Principal Consultant at Equitable Solutions; an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution; an educator; and a caregiver to racialized individuals with disabilities. Ms. Harris will focus her discussion on ways in which systemic racism and ableism in combination can present in workplaces and educational settings and offer advice on how to address it.

An RRC Polytech student and Executive Director will then join the discussion to share their experiences and suggestions and respond to questions from the audience.

Event Details

• Date: November 4, 2022 
• Time: Noon – 1pm
• Host: RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee via ZOOM

Keynote

Laurelle Harris, Principal Consultant at Equitable Solutions

Laurelle Harris has undertaken graduate studies in Women’s Studies and Black Studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio as well as pursuing Women’s Studies at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. Ms. Harris earned her law degree in 2001 from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba and is an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution undertaken locally and at York University in Toronto, Ontario.

She founded Equitable Solutions Consulting in 2020 offering services which help organizations meet their goals to be more equitable and inclusive, including:

• Organizational assessments and equity action plan development
• Dedicated organizational support and strategic advice relating to equity, anti-racism, and leadership development
• People, culture, and wellness support, including workplace investigations, policy and process development, and equitable recruitment support
• Anti-racism and equity education

Coming from a family of educators, Ms. Harris finds teaching to be a rewarding way to contribute to effecting change in our communities. Ms. Harris teaches and practices using an anti-racist, intersectional feminist analysis to better understand, dismantle, and counter structural oppressions. She has taught Women’s Studies at the undergraduate level and has also taught at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law.

Ms. Harris has served on local and national boards and committees and has volunteered extensively in the area of community health. Within the legal community, Ms. Harris also serves as a director with the Manitoba Law Foundation and as a member of the Legal Aid Manitoba Advisory Committee. She also chairs the Manitoba Bar Association’s Equality Issues Section.

Panel

BJ Canard, RRC Polytech Student, Social Innovation and Community Development program

William Canard is better known to his friends and family as Billy Joe or BJ. He’s currently enrolled in the Social Innovation and Community Development program through the School of Indigenous Education at RRC Polytech. BJ is a 46-year-old Indigenous male who is visually impaired. Before his vision loss he worked as a cook and a chef for nearly 20 years so with his background in hospitality and the new skills he’s developing at the College he’s hoping to get into event planning. BJ enjoys a wide variety of interests from playing guitar and music, to audiobooks and is considering getting into the golf program at Blind Sports Manitoba

Arnold Boldt, RRC Polytech Executive Director, Policy and Projects

Arnold Boldt O.C., M.Ed. has contributed extensively to variety of post-secondary teaching and leadership roles over the past 35 years. Beginning his career as an Instructor at Keewatin Community College (now UCN), he also served as a Chair, Principal and Executive Director of Inter-Universities North’s First-Year Distance Education program at KCC before moving on to create and administer an adult learning centre for the Nisichawayasihk Education Authority (in Nelson House).

He then spent 18 years with Saskatchewan Polytech serving as a Dean (technology), Associate Vice-President (learning & teaching) and Provost & VPA (interim). Since 2016 Arnold has been with RRC Polytechnic serving as Executive Director, Academic, Special Advisor to the VPA and now as ED, Policy & Projects. Arnold’s involvement in elite-level athletics and para-cycling includes participation in six Paralympics and numerous national and world championships. His Paralympic high jump record of 1.96m in 1980 (Arnhem, Netherlands) still stands, as do his world championship mark of 2.04m (Rome 1981) and indoor mark of 2.08m (Herald Tribune Games, Winnipeg, 1981). He has been inducted into four sports halls of fame, including the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. For his life-long contributions to the Paralympic movement and advocacy for disabled people in Canada and other parts of the world, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by the Governor General in 2012 and received both the Queen’s Golden (2002) and Diamond (2012) Jubilee Medals.

Moderator

Joshua Malam, RRC Polytech Student, Business Administration (Marketing)

Joshua Malam is a Marketing Major in the Business Administration Program at RRC Polytech. He believes strongly in community engagement and advocacy for students. A mature accessibility student, Joshua is familiar with some hoops and hurdles that persons with disabilities must navigate for equal opportunity and success. Both thankful for the opportunities afforded by Student Accessibility Services and the great love for RRC Polytech, Joshua volunteers time back to his college community. He Has sat on the Board of Directors for The Red River College Polytechnic Students’ Association and, in May, fulfilled a term as the interim VP of Academic. A fundamental principle guides Joshua to repair the world; cultural teaching passed down from his mother and the Jewish community. Joshua fights hard to give back to his community and help to break down barriers and help others navigate a path to success.

Register today for the Intercultural Workshop for RRC Polytech Students & Faculty

Classrooms, workplaces, and communities comprise people with diverse and complex cultural backgrounds. To navigate these intercultural environments, Intercultural Competence is the ability that helps us to interact effectively and appropriately with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. By developing our intercultural competence, we foster our ability to recognize, acknowledge, respect, and incorporate an understanding of worldviews and their impact on relationships.

The 1st workshop in the Intercultural Competence series will introduce the key concepts relating to your cultural lens, sociocultural identities, and diversity and inclusion. This on-campus workshop is offered in the Connected Classroom at the Notre Dame Campus. Students and faculty can register in advance for a seat in the Connected Classroom, but space is limited to 50 participants. To increase access to these workshops, Emerging Media and Production is live-streaming each workshop through Webex for any registered online participants. A content recording will also be available after the event for students and instructors to access, and audience discussions will be edited out of the recording to respect the brave conversations of participants.

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Central Time – US & Canada
Location: Connected Classroom, G139, NDC, 2055 Notre Dame Ave.
Campus: Notre Dame Campus + Online access

Click here to register for the workshop

RRC Polytech is hosting its first-ever Inclusion Week! Learn how to embody equity, diversity, and inclusion – at work, in class, and in our personal lives – through a combination of in-person and virtual events.

Diversity counts on our campuses. At RRC Polytech, we are committed to pursuing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in everything we do – and to do this, we need to know who’s here at the College. By completing the Student and Employee Diversity Self-Identification Survey, you will help us assess our current EDI initiatives, programs and policies and help us make meaningful progress in our shared priorities

Monday, October 31

Welcome to Inclusion Week! Keynote Luncheon with Uzoma Asagwara

12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
In Person and Online Synchronous

Inclusion Week is an opportunity to celebrate and promote everyday inclusion in all its forms at RRC Polytech and to support our commitment to pursue Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in everything that we do.

This opening event will kick off with a with a greeting and welcome message from RRC Polytech Senior Leadership, followed by a keynote presentation from Uzoma Asagwara. Uzoma will share their experiences as one of the first Black and openly queer MLAs to ever win a seat as an elected representative in Manitoba, as well as being Manitoba’s first gender non-conforming MLA.

Uzoma will offer insights about the importance of representation, and the challenges that come with a lack of representation, and ways in which we as a college community can help create environments and experiences that foster Inclusion.

Lunch will be provided to participants. Space in this keynote luncheon is limited so be sure to register early.

The in-person luncheon is at capacity. Please register to join us virtually!

register here

About Uzoma

Uzoma Asagwara is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Addictions Specialist and former member of the Canadian National basketball team and in 2019 made history as the first Black, Queer, Gender Non-Conforming person elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly and across Canada. Most recently Uzoma became the first Black person to make a law in Manitoba when their Bill “The Somali Heritage Week Act” was passed in December of 2020 with the unanimous support in the Manitoba Legislature. Uzoma has been a long-time advocate alongside newcomer and refugee communities, two spirit and LGBTQ+ folks, youth and grassroots organizations.

Tuesday, November 1

The Inclusive Library: From Searches to Collections with Fatima DeMelo

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.
Online Synchronous via MS Teams

While the library as an inclusive, physical space dominates discussions relating to inclusion and libraries, factors like resource collection and changing keywords also play a role in silently fostering or limiting inclusion. In this session, participants will learn about inclusive searching of library resources and how access to information, in order to counter ignorance and foster allyship.

Outcomes/Key Takeaways

1. Recognize libraries are part of a larger discussion of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
2. Describe Red River College Polytechnic library’s evolution as a more inclusive library to include staff development, curated collections through our LibGuides, and indigenous subject headings.

register here

About Fatima

Fatima DeMelo has worked for the RRC Polytech library for 12 years and currently works as a Reference Technician doing everything from troubleshooting printers to answering student questions on chat or in person. When not on campus, she enjoys reading and goes from yoga namaste to boxing knock-out at the gym when not taking walks. 

Métis History and Beading Workshop
Guided by Teresa Byrne, Education Coordinator at Manitoba Métis Federation

4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Indigenous Student Support Centre, Room F209
In Person

Flower beadwork is a living tradition for the Métis people. This cherished art form has become so well known as a skill of the Métis Nation. A skill that was highlighted in the book The Flower Beadwork People by Sherry Farrell Racette.
In this fun, interactive, in-person workshop, participants will be guided through a traditional Métis beading project while simultaneously being enriched with knowledge about Metis history and culture.

Workshop supplies will be provided for participants. Registration is limited to 30 individuals.

register here

About the Facilitators

Teresa Byrne is the Métis History and Culture Coordinator at Louis Riel Institute, which is an affiliate of the Manitoba Métis Federation. As the Louis Riel Institute Métis History and Culture Coordinator, she facilitates many Red River Métis history presentations, workshops, and tours. Teresa is a proud Red River Métis citizen and is very passionate about her heritage. She celebrates her culture through Métis sash weaving, Métis beadwork, and creating Métis traditional art projects. She is focused on passing these traditions to the citizens of the Red River Métis Nation. Teresa works with corporations and educators through workshops, tours, and presentations.

Teresa is a single mother to three amazing boys and a proud resident of the North End in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her motivation is her desire to make Red River Métis history, education, and culture more accessible to everyone who wants to learn it.

Wednesday, November 2

Immersive Stories: Truth and Reconciliation
Storyteller: Joanna White

12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the EMP Immersion Room, GM-33, Main Floor at the Notre Dame Campus
In-person and Online Synchronous

Join storyteller, Joanna White in the Immersion Room, as she shares her lived experience in an environment of rich and colorful illustrations, with immersive video and audio to motivate and inspire participants.

The Immersive Stories Program is designed to give students, faculty, and staff a first-hand opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about multi-layered socio-cultural identities and lived experiences. As outlined in our new Strategic Plan, this program is part of the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.

Participants will develop skills that will allow them to regularly check their personal, social, and cultural assumptions so that they can avoid making quick conclusions and judgments. This in turn will help to foster a diverse and inclusive College environment for students and faculty. 

Each session in the Immersive Stories Program will involve a discussion with a member of our RRC Polytech community, during which they will share their unique lived experiences, and invite participant questions and dialogue. These conversations will provide participants an opportunity to gain insights into the lived experiences of our diverse community and will assist in becoming aware of our own biases.

register here

About Joanna

As the Indigenous Curriculum and Cultural Advisor for the Department of Community Services, Joanna White works with faculty to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and ways of teaching, learning, and helping into curriculum. She also facilitates learning and sharing circles for faculty, staff and students rooted in Anishinaabe culture. 

Indigenous Language and Bannock Making
Presented by RRC Polytech School of Indigenous Education, guided by Corey Whitford

3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Indigenous Cultural Centre, F205, Notre Dame Campus
In Person

Have you ever heard the term “Miigwech” being used by our Anishinaabe friends and wondered what it meant? Or maybe you would like to learn how to say a simple greeting in Anishinaabemowin?

Learn to make bannock, a type of bread that is a staple and sometimes a treat with jams, butter or honey for Indigenous people.

Register for this fun, interactive workshop in which RRC Polytech’s Cory Whitford shares his very own bannock recipe while simultaneously immersing participants in the basics of indigenous language.

Take home bannock making supplies will be provided for participants. Space is limited so register early!

This workshop is at capacity.

register here

About Corey

Corey Ralph Whitford has been teaching at RRC Polytech in the Indigenous Languages Program for five years, teaching through activities that shape a better understanding of Anishinaabemowin. Corey is eager to share his knowledge and provide guidance in all class activities to his students. 

Corey was born in Portage la Prairie and raised in Sandy Bay. His parents are from Long Plain and Sandy Bay, and both were fluent Anishinaabeg. Corey’s family spoke/speaks Anishinaabemowin, so he naturally picked it up along the way. 

Corey is passionate about what he does, continuing to serve his community and fill the vacuum for Anishinaabemowin knowledge at the College level. 

Thursday, November 3

Our Voices, Our Truth: Student Panel on Diversity and Inclusion
Presented by Lauren Dominici

12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the EMP Connected Classroom, G139, Second Floor, Notre Dame Campus
In-person and Online Synchronous

This panel provides a platform to center the voices and stories of those who represent a variety of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Understanding how to value and cultivate differences is a way to ensure that each member of our community can bring their whole being into the spaces that we share. This is no easy task, as there are many barriers in place that prevent everyone from feeling valued, respected, and involved in our community. Panelists will share the challenges they have experienced in their lives as well as suggestions for how to create more inclusive spaces within the community.

register here

About Lauren

Lauren Dominici, M.Ed, is the Academic Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Centre for International Education and Global Partnerships at RRC Polytech.

Lauren works with students and staff at the College to gain knowledge and competencies related to achieving inclusion and equity within our communities. Before immigrating to Canada, Lauren spent nearly a decade as a public school educator in a community outside Chicago, Illinois.

Her experience working alongside the linguistically and culturally diverse youth provided the opportunity to learn the barriers that many students face and then worked toward solutions that created a more welcoming and inclusive school environment for all students.

About Erika Montenegro

Erika Montenegro studies International Business at RRC Polytech to get career growth in Canada. She immigrated to Canada with her family, her husband, and three children in August 2021. Like every immigrant, one of the reasons to have made this decision is to have a safe and quality life, and future opportunities for her three children. She learned to be a mother in her adolescence and faced the challenges that it entails at an economic and social level. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2018 in Ecuador.

About Genelyn Navarro

Genelyn Navarro is an international Student from the Philippines, a wife, a mother, the youngest daughter and a friend who has many flaws but always thinks of a brighter side of the coin. Her positive outlook in life makes her resilient to adversities, and her way of embracing these challenges in this diverse environment is fantastic. Having a lot on her plate, she is ensuring to prioritize and meet all the required needs, including her volunteer activities inside and outside the campus. Aside from trying to stay on the honour roll, she is also the Vice President of the newly created Mabuhay Club and tries to reach out to international or local student needs.

About Tamara Correa

Tamara Correa is an enthusiastic woman, a student in the International Business program at Red River College. She was born in Quito, Ecuador. Her professional training is in Commercial and Financial Business, she knows that the diversity of thoughts and ideologies is very important in any business, and for that reason, she focuses on improving her active listening and communication skills day by day. In addition, she encourages people to work on their mental and emotional well-being, mainly on their self-esteem because it helps us to get the best out of ourselves in all of our life roles.

Drag Queen Story Hour with Miss Gender

2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the EMP Immersion Room, GM-33, Main Floor, Notre Dame Campus
In Person

Join us for a dynamic reading of a storybook by local Drag Queen, Miss Gender. Modeled after similar events, the aim is to inspire a love of reading in children, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others. Following the reading, participants will have an opportunity for a Q&A with Miss Gender.

register here

About Miss Gender

Miss Assuma Gender (she/her) is a funky, crafty, and weird little drag queen from Treaty 1. She’s the current reigning Mx. Queer Winnipeg, a member of the Sunshine Bunch, and has performed all across Manitoba with her friends. Assuma has been performing in drag for the last four years, bringing theatre, camp, and stories about her queer journey to every event. She’s always excited to talk, to sing, to listen, and to learn.

Friday, November 4

Gender and Sexual Diversity for Students
Presenters: Lauren Dominici and Stephen Sawchyn

12:00 to 12:50 p.m.
Online Synchronous via MS Teams

The Gender and Sexual Diversity Training aims to increase students’ awareness about gender and sexual diversity, and support participants in understanding the complexity of the gender and sexual diversity spectrum. Additionally, participants will learn inclusive strategies for respectful, affirming, and gender-inclusive communication. 

register here

About the Presenters

Lauren Dominici, M.Ed, is the Academic Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Centre for International Education and Global Partnerships at RRC Polytech.

Lauren works with students and staff at the College to gain knowledge and competencies related to achieving inclusion and equity within our communities. Before immigrating to Canada, Lauren spent nearly a decade as a public school educator in a community outside Chicago, Illinois.

Her experience working alongside the linguistically and culturally diverse youth provided the opportunity to learn the barriers that many students face and then worked toward solutions that created a more welcoming and inclusive school environment for all students.

Stephen Sawchyn works as an English as an Additional Language Specialist with the Academic Success Centre where he helps students develop the language skills they need for success in their programs and industry.   Stephen is also on the ASC Diversity Team and delivers student workshops on a variety of topics including intercultural competence, gender and sexual diversity and anti-racism.

Anti-Racism Speaker Series
Hosted by the RRC Polytech Anti-Racism Committee

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Online Synchronous

Join RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee for the third in a four-part virtual speaker series featuring champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in a post-secondary setting, accompanied by a moderated panel discussion designed to inspire change.

The keynote speaker is Founder, CEO and Principal Consultant at Equitable Solutions, Laurelle Harris who will focus her discussion on ways in which systemic racism and ableism in combination can present in workplaces and educational settings and offer advice on how to address it.

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About the Presenter

Laurelle Harris has academic training in Women’s Studies from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba and has undertaken graduate studies in Women’s Studies and Black Studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Harris earned her law degree in 2001 from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba and is an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution undertaken locally and at York University in Toronto, Ontario.  

For most of her career, Ms. Harris practiced law with a mid-sized firm in Winnipeg. Ms. Harris founded Equitable Solutions Consulting in 2020; Equitable Solutions (EQ, for short) offers services which help organizations meet their goals to be more equitable and inclusive, including: 

• Organizational assessments and equity action plan development;  
• Dedicated organizational support and strategic advice relating to equity, anti-racism, and leadership development; 
• People, culture, and wellness support, including workplace investigations, policy and process development, and equitable recruitment support;  
• Anti-racism and equity education. 

Coming from a family of educators, Ms. Harris finds teaching to be a rewarding way to contribute to effecting change in our communities. Ms. Harris teaches and practices using an anti-racist, intersectional feminist analysis to better understand, dismantle, and counter structural oppressions. She has taught Women’s Studies at the undergraduate level and has also taught at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law.  

Ms. Harris has served on local and national boards and committees and has volunteered extensively in the area of community health. Within the legal community, Ms. Harris also serves as a director with the Manitoba Law Foundation and as a member of the Legal Aid Manitoba Advisory Committee.  She also chairs the Manitoba Bar Association’s Equality Issues Section.  

Moderator:
Joshua Malam is a Marketing Major in the Business Administration Program at RRC Polytech. He believes strongly in community engagement and advocacy for students. A mature accessibility student, Joshua is familiar with some hoops and hurdles that persons with disabilities must navigate for equal opportunity and success. Both thankful for the opportunities afforded by Student Accessibility Services and the great love for RRC Polytech, Joshua volunteers time back to his college community. He Has sat on the Board of Directors for The Red River College Polytechnic Students’ Association and, in May, fulfilled a term as the interim VP of Academic. A fundamental principle guides Joshua to repair the world; cultural teaching passed down from his mother and the Jewish community. Joshua fights hard to give back to his community and help to break down barriers and help others navigate a path to success.

Panelists:

William Canard is better known to his friends and family as Billy Joe or BJ. He’s currently enrolled in the Social Innovation and Community Development program through the School of Indigenous Education at RRC Polytech. BJ is a 46-year-old Indigenous male who is visually impaired. Before his vision loss he worked as a cook and a chef for nearly 20 years so with his background in hospitality and the new skills he’s developing at the College he’s hoping to get into event planning. BJ enjoys a wide variety of interests from playing guitar and music, to audiobooks and is considering getting into the golf program at Blind Sports Manitoba.

Arnold Boldt O.C., M.Ed. has contributed extensively to variety of post-secondary teaching and leadership roles over the past 35 years. Beginning his career as an Instructor at Keewatin Community College (now UCN), he also served as a Chair, Principal and Executive Director of Inter-Universities North’s First-Year Distance Education program at KCC before moving on to create and administer an adult learning centre for the Nisichawayasihk Education Authority (in Nelson House).

He then spent 18 years with Saskatchewan Polytech serving as a Dean (technology), Associate Vice-President (learning & teaching) and Provost & VPA (interim). Since 2016 Arnold has been with RRC Polytechnic serving as Executive Director, Academic, Special Advisor to the VPA and now as ED, Policy & Projects.

Arnold’s involvement in elite-level athletics and para-cycling includes participation in six Paralympics and numerous national and world championships. His Paralympic high jump record of 1.96m in 1980 (Arnhem, Netherlands) still stands, as do his world championship mark of 2.04m (Rome 1981) and indoor mark of 2.08m (Herald Tribune Games, Winnipeg, 1981). He has been inducted into four sports halls of fame, including the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. For his life-long contributions to the Paralympic movement and advocacy for disabled people in Canada and other parts of the world, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by the Governor General in 2012 and received both the Queen’s Golden (2002) and Diamond (2012) Jubilee Medals.

You’re Invited – A History of Pride in Winnipeg: The Struggles, The Victories, The Challenges Ahead – Featured Expert and Q&A Discussion

Pride, like the many people the movement represents, comes in endless forms, colours, shapes, sizes, and identities. The 2SLGTBQIA+ community still seeks understanding and acceptance but is more mobilized than ever before to elevate and embolden members and allies, on a mission for meaningful change.    

Join RRC Polytech’s Anti-Racism Committee for the second in a four-part virtual speaker series featuring champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in a post-secondary setting. Keynote speaker, Jonathan Niemczak is the Chair and CEO of the Canadian Pride Historical Society, Past President of Pride Winnipeg, and a gender, sexuality, and relationship (GSRD) advocate with over fifteen years of community leadership experience.

After a personal introduction by friend, ally, and committee member Vassan Aruljothi, our passionate expert will address Pride in Winnipeg today, by examining the long and often difficult path travelled so far, by advocates and activists like himself. Jonathan will share his experiences in a post-secondary setting, respond to your questions, and lead a discussion about meaningful change. 

See additional resources available at RRC Polytech ›

Event Details

• Date: June 16, 2022 
• Time: Noon – 1pm
• Host: RRC Polytech Anti-Racism Committee via ZOOM
• Registration Deadline: June 16, 11:30am

Speaker

Jonathan Niemczak, Canadian Pride Historical Society

Moderator

Vassan Aruljothi, WIL Coordinator, Electrical Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering, School of Skilled Trades and Technologies