In recognition of Asian Heritage Month, join the Social Justice Engagement Club for a film screening and guided conversation for faculty, staff, and students.

We will be screening the National Film Board documentary, “In the Shadow of Gold Mountain”.

Filmmaker Karen Cho travels from Montreal to Vancouver to uncover stories from the last survivors of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act, a set of laws imposed to single out the Chinese as unwanted immigrants to Canada from 1885 to 1947. Through a combination of history, poetry and raw emotion, this documentary sheds light on an era that shaped the identity of generations.

The Social Justice Engagement Club is an initiative put on by the Anti-Racism Action Committee to create a space for students, faculty and staff to foster a learning community that advances Truth & Reconciliation, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Event Details:

Day: Tues. May 23, 2023

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00pm

Location: Active Learning Classroom (CM27, Notre Dame Campus)

Registration: Click on this link and submit the form to register for the event.

May 1 marks the beginning of Asian Heritage Month, a time to reflect on and recognize the many contributions that Canadians of Asian heritage have made and continue to make to Canada.

RRC Polytech is proud to have a diverse community of staff and students from different backgrounds and cultures. One way to create a more inclusive culture on campus is by learning the stories of the people we work and learn with every day.

To begin the month, Creative Communications student Paolo Gonzales shares his creative non-fiction story Canada Is In The Heart, a reflection of what it means to be Filipino as a first-generation immigrant to Canada.

Read the full story here

Share your story

This month we invite RRC Polytech community members of Asian heritage to keep the conversation going – share your story today.

Fill out the Asian Heritage Month form here

International Day of Pink, also known as Day of Pink, is celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of April. It’s when we wear pink to celebrate diversity, acceptance, courage, and inclusivity within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and beyond.

You may be thinking, didn’t we just do this in February? Not quite, February is when we celebrate Pink Shirt Day.

Pink Shirt Day was created when two students attending high school in Halifax were upset about the bullying that took place when one of their peers wore a pink shirt to school on the first day. Together, those two students started an international movement that takes a stand against bullying.

While similar, Day of Pink was created to specifically take a stance on bullying and discrimination faced by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The day, inspired by Pink Shirt Day, was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD), previously known as Jer’s Vision. The purpose was to stand up against homophobia, transphobia, bullying, and to promote allyship as we move towards a future free of discrimination.

Day of Pink is for people who have previously, or recently, experienced discrimination because of their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. It’s for people to stand up and say, “this is not okay!” when these kinds of things happen in schools, workplaces, or anywhere. It’s for creating allyship. It’s for people to band together and be responsible for a future of kindness and inclusivity. We are strongest when we are together.

So, how can you take part in this global event? It’s simple, on April 12^th show your support by wearing something pink (get your shirt in our Campus Stores). It can even be your favourite cardigan, newest shoes, or a bracelet. Just a little something to show you care and stand by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community members at RRC Polytech, Winnipeg, and all over the world.

Take Pledge Against Hate!

Where:

• The Spectrum (Notre Dame Campus FM66)
• P407 (Exchange District Campus)

When: April 12 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

What:

• Sign the pledge against hate, intolerance, and oppression, and
• share a photo with the Pledge Poster with #DayOfPink.

We look forward to standing together for a brighter community.

Written By: Justine Hawley, Resource Management Technician, Library and Academic Success Centre, Gender and Sexual Working Group Member

On November 20, 2022, RRC Polytech recognized Transgender Day of Remembrance and highlighted some Canadian icons who have inspired future generations of transgendered individuals to be who they are, and stand up for themselves and their community. We remembered the leaders, the trailblazers and the loved ones we have lost.

Even in the darkest times it is important that we still celebrate the light around us. Did you know that Canada is the first country to collect and publish data on gender diversity from a national census? Or that younger Canadian generations were three-to-seven times more comfortable expressing their identities? Change still needs to continue to happen until equity can be reached. However, the fact that the average life span of someone identifying under this umbrella has risen nearly ten years, is telling us we are marching in the right direction.

Manitoba is a great place to live. Rich in cultural diversity, we have fantastic artists, amazing restaurants, and we didn’t get the title of ‘Friendly Manitoba’ for no reason. Our beautiful province is also home to some amazing Two Spirited, transgender, and non-binary heroes that are continuing to advocate and stand up for trans* rights.

Shandi Strong (she/her/hers)

What can be said about Shandi Strong that hasn’t been said before? She is a pillar for the transgender community in western Canada. In 2016, she was the first openly transgendered person to run for provincial office. She’s been on the board for Winnipeg Pride, Manitobans for Human Rights and Our Own Health Centre. She even led the very first Trans March in Manitoba. It is evident by all the amazing work she’s done and all of her accomplishments that she is a shining star of Manitoba’s trans community. When asked why she loves her trans identity, she said:

“Before transition, I spent most of my life scared and trying to fit in. Finding connections and chosen family within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community finally helped me see myself and my potential. The journey wasn’t easy but because I endured it, I emerged stronger and more confident today than I ever thought possible.”

Feather Talia (he/she/they)

Art comes in many forms and Winnipeg is not lacking in that department. Feather Talia is an example of the drag queen scene in Manitoba. She not only performs fantastic, lively shows but also represents the Two-Spirit (2S) community. Originally, she started her drag career in Regina, SK, before making a home in Winnipeg. She’s works with the Sunshine Bunch through the Sunshine House, a community drop-in and resource centre that focuses on inclusion and harm-reduction. She’s also a member of the very talented group The Bannock Babes. When asked about why she loves her 2S identity and how it’s positively impacted her life, she said:

“I love my 2S identity because it just makes sense. For all my teen years, and some of my early 20s [sic], I was confused about my own personal identity (like most people are) and when I stumbled on the term Two Spirit and doing my own research, something in me just clicked. I do believe I carry Two Spirits within me. One masculine and one feminine. This also helps make me a good storyteller. Being 2S also helps me with my drag persona! It truly makes me the best version of me!”

Kael McKenzie (he/him/his)

Did you know that Manitoba is the home to the very first transgendered judge in Canada? The Honourable Judge Kael McKenzie made his way to the history books in 2015. Not only does he represent the vibrant Métis community, he’s also showing the world that you can be successful and live life as your authentic self. He has a long list of accomplishments such as serving as the Manitoba Chair for the Canadian Bar Association, acting president of the Rainbow Resource Centre and he is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. He’s a husband and a father of two and when asked why he loves his trans* identity he said:

“When I transitioned, I found myself. For the first time in my life, I felt comfortable in my own skin. I cannot imagine being anyone other than I am now. I have immense gratitude that I live in a time in history where I can be who I am and still be able to work in the profession that I love.”

As you can see, there are amazing Manitobans who are the warriors of change, inclusivity and diversity. Their contributions to the transgender community, which they are a part of, are shaping history and shaking up the Cis-tym. We appreciate and applaud them, and all the other people, paving the way to an even more inclusive future in Canada.

Sign a Heart in Support of Trans Rights

On Friday, March 31, 2023, you’re invited to join us in The Spectrum (Located on the Mall Level of the Notre Dame Campus) to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. by signing a heart to show your support, and enjoy some tasty treats.

If you or anyone you know is in crisis, contact one of these supports for transgender-specific guidance:

• Trans Health Klinic
• Trans Lifeline

Resources:

• Gender and Sexual Diversity Guide
• Gender Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub (Statistics Canada)
• Honoring Trans Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Awareness (Human Rights Campaign)
• Egale: Preparing Students for the Transition of a Trans or Gender Diverse Person
• Egale: Draw The Line – Against Transphobic Violence in Schools and Supplement Resources
• Gender and Sexual Diversity Working Group: join the group

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at diversity@rrc.ca.

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day 2023, RRC Polytech is pleased to share two short films worked on by Creative Communications (2013) graduate Monique Pantel.

Growing up in Winnipeg, Monique and her parents lived in the same duplex as L’Arche Winnipeg, an organization which creates homes, social opportunities and jobs for people with intellectual disabilities. The connections Monique has made through L’Arche have lasted a lifetime. In her 20s, she worked part-time at the L’Arche Tova café, and took on additional roles within the organization to help promote and uplift the community. One of the ways she’s been able to do that is through her work on two short films, Linda’s Wish and Freebird. Both films were inspired by the lives of people with Down syndrome who are part of the L’Arche community.

Monique currently lives in Cambutal, Panama with her family and is a successful international photographer specializing in wedding and lifestyle.

Linda’s Wish

Created by Monique Pantel and her father, Hubert Pantel

The 6 minute short film, a creative collaboration between father and daughter Hubert Pantel and Monique Pantel, celebrates Linda’s life-long dream of becoming a bride. On her special day, Linda was surrounded and supported by her friends and family, complete with cake, dancing and a bouquet toss.

“I’ve known Linda my entire life. She spent Christmases with my family. And she’s had a lifetime love for white dresses, fancy rings and everything wedding related. Last summer (2018), her community of friends and family came together to celebrate her and she finally got to experience what it felt like to be a bride. A true lifelong wish for her. To say that capturing this day was special- is an understatement. This short film was created in collaboration with my hero, my dad, whose older footage of Linda really helped shape this film.” – Monique Pantel.

Freebird

Created by Nicholas Herd and directed by Michael McDonald & Joe Bluhm

Freebird is the coming-of-age story of a boy with Down Syndrome who learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush. In just five minutes, we watch 45 years of his life flash by. Freebird Creative Director, Nicholas Herd, is the first film maker with Down syndrome in history whose film has been long-listed for an Academy Award.

#LotsOfSocks

March 21 marks World Down Syndrome Day, and this year you’re invited to wear “lots of socks.” Lots of socks acknowledges what makes us all different, and yet the same.

Wear your most fun, colourful, eye-catching socks as a conversation starter. The idea is to get your socks spotted, so when people notice you can let them know you’re wearing them to raise awareness about Down syndrome. And then you can share everything you want them to know about Down syndrome.

Join us on March 31 in the NDC Spectrum (FM66) to show your support for human rights for Transgender individuals. International Trans Day of Visibility is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Trans people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by Transgender people worldwide. One in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older are transgender or non-binary.

Let’s showcase positive messages of support to show RRC Polytech is a safe and inclusive space for those identifying on the Trans spectrum. Please take a few minutes of your day to join us and sign your support.

• March 31st in the Spectrum (FM66)
• 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Sign a heart in support of Trans Rights
• Enjoy a sweet snack

Let’s use this day to rally support, build awareness and commit to an equitable future for those who identify on the Trans Spectrum at RRC Polytech and beyond.

RRC Polytech is committed to creating a respectful community that is diverse, inclusive and equitable — a place where we can come together to better understand, embrace and uplift each other’s culture and experiences, and a place where all are welcomed for who we are, and for what we can build together.

Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims around the world, marked by obligatory fasting and a spiritual cleanse.

To members of the faith, the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar is considered the holiest and healthy adults who are able, are required to fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion and special prayers.

In 2024, the month-long fast of Ramadan begins around March 10 and ends around April 8. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate one of their major holidays called Eid ul-Fitr or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” In 2024 the holiday will be celebrated around April 10, and features prayer ceremony, food, games and presents for children as friends and family spend time together.

While the personal commitment to these sacred rituals may go unnoticed by some and spark curiosity in others, please be mindful that this observance may result in altered sleep patterns, changes in energy levels, increased anxiety around meeting deadlines, and requires a commitment to prayer timings.

Here are a few simple ways for non-Muslims to be supportive of students, staff and members of the College community who are fasting for Ramadan.

Be flexible, adaptable, and respectful.

Be conscientious of how much physical energy is required for an activity or outing you may propose, the time of day in which meetings or events may fall, and the settings in which you are doing them.

There are also various reasons Muslims may not be fasting, premised in the faith tradition or entirely personal, so you shouldn’t assume or ask someone if they’re observing. Please respect their privacy unless they choose to share and engage.

Be an ally in your department to those who are observing Ramadan and seek out more information to better understand and support your colleagues.

Click here to learn more about Ramadan

To close out Black History Month, RRC Polytech in partnership with Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce, hosted a living legend, the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae for a screening of Steadfast: The Messenger and the Message, the remarkable story of Dr. Jean Augustine who played a key role in the recognition of Black History Month in Canada, among many other notable and incredible achievements.

The Roundhouse Auditorium was full of students, staff, and faculty eager to celebrate the incredible life and career of Dr. Jean Augustine and hear her story from those she met along the way. Guests were lucky enough to hear Dr. Augustine share more of her story and answer questions from the crowd after the screening had concluded.

Dr. Augustine is known as a social activist, educator and trailblazing politician where she made history as the first African-Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons and was responsible for championing unanimous legislation to designate the month of February as Black History Month in Canada and helping to raise the only statue featuring women on Parliament Hill, the Famous Five Monument.

After the event, Dr.  Jean Augustine presented Kirk Johnson, Dean, School of Business, IT & Creative Arts and School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, with a signed copy of “In Her Words,” a collection of convocation addresses she has delivered at various universities over the years. We hope to find a space at the EDC campus where we can display this gift prominently and proudly.

Thank you to Dr. Zita Somakoko, the Founder and President of Black Manitobans Chamber of Commerce, for reaching out and helping to put together this amazing event and to Dr. Jean Augustine for sharing your story. 

RRC Polytech encourages all staff, students and community members to take a stand against bullying.

Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 in Nova Scotia when a grade 9 boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.

Two of his classmates organized a schoolwide protest, asking all students, teachers and staff to wear pink in solidarity and to demonstrate there is no place for bullying.

Pink Shirt Day’s mission is to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, more than half of bullying incidents stop within 10 seconds when a bystander steps in. 

#LiftEachOtherUp and take a stand against bullying by submitting a photo of yourself wearing a pink shirt

Submit your 2023 Pink Shirt Day photo here

Anti-bullying messages

“As someone who experienced bullying, I recognize the importance of taking the path to #LiftEachOtherUp as opposed to tearing one another down. A little kindness goes a long way – you never know what others are going through.”

Breanne Lucky, Staff

“It’s crucial to make a firm stance against bullying because all of us have the right to live in a warm and peaceful community.”

Claire May Tuazon, Student

“Life is hard, but it’s up to all of us to make it better.”

Lauren Dominici, Staff

“Psychological safety will create a better world.”

Yuyan Tian, Student

“The World needs to be a safe and happy place for all”

Robin (Staff) and Oliver

Respectful College – Onling Training

RRC Polytech has developed a course called Respectful College to support our commitment to a safe and inclusive working and learning environment where everyone is entitled to be free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, and sexual violence.

The Respectful College course is available to all staff and students and takes about two hours to complete. Staff and students who complete the full training, including learning activities, will be eligible to print a Certificate of Completion.

Login to LEARN to complete the course.

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

Phyllis Reid-Jarvis, Board of Governors, RRC Polytech

The Journey

Phyllis Reid-Jarvis (she/her) MPH, PCC, CEO/Founder of Ultimate Potentials Corporation.

My work at Ultimate Potentials Corporation as a leadership and talent development consultant focuses on helping leaders see where change needs to occur. I work with leaders to support their organizations in achieving workplaces designed for all employees to thrive.  With over 25 years of combined experience in health, leadership, talent development, and social justice, I help leaders create transformative, diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.

My professional journey has been filled with varying experiences, and now, looking back, all have prepared me well for where I am today. The word circuitous best describes my career path. It began at Mico Teachers’ College in Kingston, Jamaica, where I started training preparations to be a science teacher. Alas, this was interrupted when I immigrated to Manitoba with my parents in 1985.

I continued with my education upon arriving in Manitoba. I decided to switch career paths to pursue becoming a Registered Dietitian, a career in which I worked for almost twenty years. Despite having significant success as a Registered Dietitian, it was fraught with many barriers of exclusion and a need for more available and culturally-appropriate mentoring and support to help understand the Canadian culture and its practices of professionalism.  Highlights of my career as a Registered Dietitian include publishing two books on Solutions for health, working with CBC Radio as a health columnist on a weekly show, Food for Thought, representing Dietitians of Canada in Granada, Spain as a speaker at the annual International Congress of Dietetics and member of Breakfast for Learning Canada Board of Governors.

Importance of Representation

I arrived in Manitoba to discover that I was Black. Coming from a culture where one identifies with their country of origin, I was taken aback by ‘others’ need to reduce me to the superficiality of the colour of my skin! The silent racism below the surface of friendly Manitoba struck me. 

I am reminded of how the abuse of power and authority by one of my professors in my 4^th year at University was intended to deny me representation. I was getting A’s and high B+’s in most of my courses and was a recipient of the Alumni Association award for high-grade point average, but I  could only seem to get a low B at best from this professor.

I needed appropriate references to pursue my career as a Registered Dietitian, among other criteria for acceptance into the program. I booked an appointment to ask this professor if she would stand as a referee. Without skipping a beat, she said, “sure, but I don’t think you would like what I have to say.”I asked, “what do you mean?” She looked me in the eye and said, “We don’t want your kind in our program.” Again, I asked, “what do you mean?” She held her arm up and ran her fingers back and forth over it. It took me a few seconds to grasp the meaning of her gesture. I asked, “do you mean because my skin is black?” She folded her arms and leaned back in her chair. The meeting was over. This experience is one of many but is the most blatant form of denial of representation.

I am fortunate to belong to a family and community that taught me early in life to be proud of who I am and not to conform to society’s ideals of whom they think I should be. I use this to transform barriers into opportunities. This is a crucial mindset I continue to use today and teach, coach and mentor others to adopt as a transformative tool.

Contributions to the Board of Governors

My varied experience over the years helped shape what I bring to the table as a member of the Board of Governors at RRC Polytech. My lived experience and professional experience more than equip me to support RRC Polytech in achieving its strategic priorities. This is seen particularly around RRC Polytech’s commitments to talent development for the Province, the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s ( TRC) calls to action regarding Indigenous education and representation, and the pursuit to achieve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by removing barriers to access and representation for equity-seeking Manitobans (persons who self-identify as a Person of colour, Asian, African, Caribbean, or African/Caribbean or Black) and marginalized Manitobans (Persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+).

I believe deeply in RRC Polytech’s commitment to its strategic priorities. I am honoured to be among fellow volunteers, students and staff who are also deeply committed to realizing RRC Polytech’s strategic priorities. 

Aspirations

I do this work because I know it’s important for everyone to be included, supported and recognized. I want to normalize these actions and make this known to fellow Manitobans. I will know we are successful when as Manitobans, we no longer are governed by blatant or worse, silent racism in our communities, workplaces and learning institutions. Success is realized when the TRC’s calls to action are fully implemented. When marginalized Manitobans (Persons with disabilities, members of 2SLGBTQIA+) and equity-seeking Manitobans (persons who self-identify as persons of colour, Asian, African, Caribbean, or African/Caribbean or Black) share 100% freedom, just like their white Canadian brothers and sisters.

“ We do not need first to be perfect before we can do what is right and just.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Nigerian author and activist.