Inclusion Week 2025
RRC Polytech’s third annual Inclusion Week is March 3 to 7, 2025! The week-long event is filled with in-person and virtual opportunities for students, staff and faculty to learn how to embody equity, diversity, and inclusion at work, in class, and in our personal lives.
We strive to host accessible events. If you require an accommodation, please email diversity@rrc.ca.
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
Schedule of Events
Monday, March 3
Immersive Stories
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
Please stay tuned for more information.
Experiential Learning: Personal Land Acknowledgement Workshop
with Gerald Sereda
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. | Hybrid: in-person and online via MS Teams
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
This workshop is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful and respectful land acknowledgments. Participants will delve into the historical context of colonization and its impact on Indigenous peoples, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the adversities and challenges faced. Participants will explore various types of land acknowledgments and the essential components of crafting a personalized and authentic land acknowledgement.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have the knowledge and skills to create their own personalized land acknowledgments, fostering a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural contexts surrounding Indigenous lands. This workshop aims to inspire participants to further their commitment to ongoing learning and advocacy for Indigenous rights and reconciliation.
About the Presenter
Gerald works for Red River College Polytechnic as an Educational Developer with an Indigenous Focus to support the integration of Indigenous language tradition, and culture into course design.
Gerald is a member of the Red River Metis and was born in Treaty 1 Territory. After receiving his Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Education he enrolled in the Master of Education program with a focus on curriculum design and development with coursework in Educational/Assistive technology, and Indigenous education.
Gerald has over 20 years of experience in various capacities as an instructor, counsellor and an Assistive Technology Consultant from Alberta.
The Hidden Strength of Introverts (for Faculty and Staff)
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. | Virtual via MS Teams
While introverts make up approximately 50% of society, today’s world praises being social and outgoing above all else. This makes it difficult to feel valued when one is quiet or reserved. Introverts are often described with terms that have a negative connotation (think: shy, aloof, rude, boring, unfit to lead), and while introverts may not be the most outspoken people in the room and are often overlooked, the reality is that they have many strengths that are valuable and should be celebrated. During this one-hour session participants will learn about these hidden strengths and ways to harness those strengths for success in the workplace (and beyond).
Register in My Learning: HUB >HR Unlimited > My Portal> My Learning.
Please note that this session will not be recorded.
Metis Style Beading Class
with Lucy Lindell
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. | In-person
Please stay tuned for more information.
Tuesday, March 4
Dimensions of Diversity and Inclusion for Trans People in the World
with Shandi Strong, Featured Speaker
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Hybrid: in-person and virtual (through MS Teams)
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus
Trans People, despite gains, remain among the most marginalized in the world, including Canadian society. They continue to live their lives facing disadvantage, prejudice, stereotyping, and vulnerability. As a former victim of such treatment there is a story to be told of a path towards hope and understanding for all. Shandi will share her story and what we can do to support transgender inclusion. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session.
About the Presenter
Shandi Strong is a pillar for the transgender community in western Canada. In 2016, she was the first openly transgender 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.
Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusion Experiential Booth
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Atrium, Roblin Centre, Exchange District Campus (pre-event) Roundhouse, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus (post-event)
Visit members of the RRC Gender and Sexual Diversity Group to learn about community flags. Engage in a “Guess the Flag” game. The group will have information about the RRC Rainbow Walkways and RRC Polytech’s Personalized Pride Design. Visit the booth to pick up a pride button and enter our book draw.
About the Presenter
Acting as internal advocates for gender and sexual diversity (GSD) the GSD group works to support the priorities of RRC Polytech around equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) of Gender and Sexual Diversity. The group supports events and initiatives around GSD EDI at RRC Polytech.
Introduction to Basic American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture
with Cindy Koskie
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. | In-person
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
This workshop will offer an introduction to both basic ASL and Deaf Culture. Together we will learn basic greetings in ASL in conjunction with the ASL manual alphabet – utilizing fingerspelling as a communication tool and conveying cultural awareness and respect for the Deaf Community to widen awareness about Deaf Culture. This session will be interpreted.
About the Presenter
Cindy Koskie is an Educational Assistant in the AEIP Program at RRC Polytechnic. She has over 30 years of experience teaching American Sign Language (ASL) and is passionate about education. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active with long hikes, swimming, and running, as well as spending quality time with her family. Cindy looks forward to introducing participants to basic ASL signs.
Space is limited to the first 20 participants.
Film Screening – Between: Living in the Hyphen
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. | In-person
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus
Between: Living in the Hyphen offers a provocative glimpse of what the future holds: a departure from hyphenated names towards a celebration of fluidity and being mixed.
Anne Marie Nakagawa’s documentary examines what it means to have a background of mixed ancestries that cannot be easily categorized. By focusing on 7 Canadians who have one parent from a European background and one of a visible minority, she attempts to get at the root of what it means to be multi-ethnic in a world that wants each person to fit into a single category.
Wednesday, March 5
Disability Awareness Presentation by Manitoba Possible
with Darrin Luke
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Hybrid: in-person and virtual
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
The Disability Awareness Presentation focuses on how to interact with and serve people with disabilities, emphasizing respectful language and addressing attitudinal barriers.
About the Presenter:
Darrin Luke is the Training Coordinator at Manitoba Possible, where he educates the public about disability, accessibility, and inclusion. At the age of ten, Darrin sustained an injury from a cancerous spinal tumor, which led to him becoming a T7 paraplegic, meaning he is paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, he has earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and French from the University of Waterloo, an Education Degree from the University of Windsor, and a Human Resources Degree from the University of Manitoba. Outside of work, Darrin enjoys spending time with his spouse, Jenny, their dog, Harley, and their cats, Gretz and Clark. He is also passionate about sports and has completed four half marathons, played sledge hockey, wheelchair tennis, and waterskiing.
Accessible Sports with Manitoba Possible (Curling & Boccia)
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | In-person/drop-in
North Gym (Main Court), Notre Dame Campus
Join us for an engaging and hands-on event where you can learn about accessible sports in Manitoba. This interactive session will introduce you to wheelchair floor curling and boccia, two inclusive and exciting activities that everyone can enjoy. What to expect:
- Learn about the history and importance of accessible sports in the province.
- Participate in a hands-on demonstration of Boccia and Wheelchair Floor Curling.
- Enjoy guided practice with coaching and support from Manitoba Possible experts.
- Player Limits: Wheelchair Floor Curling: 16 players at a time; Boccia: 16 players at a time.
No prior experience is needed and just bring flexible clothing that allows you to participate comfortably. No registration needed, just drop in at the Main Court North Gym.
About the Presenter
With Jaylene Irwin, Manager, Recreation, Leisure & Accessible Sport, and McKenna Wild, Recreation Staff at Manitoba Possible.
Social Justice Coffee House
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. | In-person
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus
The Anti-Racism Action Committee is excited to host a Social Justice Coffee House during Inclusion Week, and we warmly welcome all staff, faculty and students to join us for this inspiring event! The Social Justice Coffee house will be a collaborative event where participants are welcome to attend as audience members and/or as performers.
Participants can sign up to share readings (poetry, fiction, non-fiction), sing songs, engage in discussions, or have cultural exchanges about social justice topics. The goal is to have a safe space to voice thoughts and feelings on social justice matters, connect with peers, and learn and grow.
Theme: Food Insecurity
Donation: Donate snacks, non-perishable food items, gently used winter clothing, travel-sized personal hygiene items, or socks. that will be shared with Community 204 to be distributed to people experiencing housing insecurity in Winnipeg
Cultural Inclusion Event: Sharing Our Heritage!
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Library Hallway, Notre Dame Campus
Step into a world of colors, sounds, and stories as students from the Global Access – Intensive English for International Students program bring their cultures to life. This is your chance to:
- Engage with diverse cultural concepts
- Interact with students from around the globe
- Participate in fun and educational activities
This student-led event is a celebration of the rich tapestry of cultures within our community. It’s designed to foster understanding and respect for different traditions and practices. Come with a curious mind and an appetite for knowledge. Sample a buffet of mini cultural lessons from 17 different countries. Everyone is welcome!
Drop in, no registration required.
Immersive Stories
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus
Please stay tuned for more information.
Neurodiversity Working Group
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | In-person
Roundhouse Auditorium, Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, Exchange District Campus
Please stay tuned for more information.
Cultural Karaoke
Hosted by the RRC Polytech Students’ Association
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | In-person
Room P107, Roblin Centre, Exchange District Campus
Join the Student Association for a fun Cultural Karaoke event! Come and sing along to songs from different cultures and countries. You can sing or just enjoy watching others. It’s a great way to have fun, meet new people, and learn about different cultures. Everyone is welcome!
Drop in, no registration required.
Thursday, March 6
Accessibility and Assistive Technology at Work
With Erica Ament, Assistive Technology at RRC Polytech
9:00 to 10:00 a.m. | Online via MS Teams
Do you want to learn more about Accessibility and Accessible Best Practices? About how to create and share content that is accessible to a wider range of individuals? Would you like to learn about accessibility features in specific programs or your devices? …Or how to possibly make your (work) life easier? Then virtually join Erica Ament, RRC’s Assistive Technologist, at “Accessibility and Assistive Technologies at Work.”
About the Presenter
Erica Ament has been with the College for six years in our Student Accessibility Services department. Erica has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 15 years in various settings including: coordinating multiple after school recreation programs and summer camps for youth; as an Educational Assistant in the K-12 school system; in group homes; in daycares/summer camps; and even spent time volunteering to support elementary school students with disabilities in Central America. Erica holds a BA in Sociology and Conflict Resolution Studies, and during her studies explored and wrote about the education of individuals with disabilities. Erica strongly believes in I/UDL and is passionate about sharing how technology can support all learners.
Film Screening – Between: Living in the Hyphen
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
Between: Living in the Hyphen offers a provocative glimpse of what the future holds: a departure from hyphenated names towards a celebration of fluidity and being mixed.
Anne Marie Nakagawa’s documentary examines what it means to have a background of mixed ancestries that cannot be easily categorized. By focusing on 7 Canadians who have one parent from a European background and one of a visible minority, she attempts to get at the root of what it means to be multi-ethnic in a world that wants each person to fit into a single category.
Immersive Story: Indigenous Filipino Psychology
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | In-person
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
Please stay tuned for more information.
Friday, March 7
Neuroinclusion at Work: Six Principles for Inclusion
With Sarah Darrell and Emma Duffy
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. | Virtual
Please stay tuned for more information.
Accessibility Information Session and Overview of Panorama for Faculty
With Natalija Aleko, Katherine Coley
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Online via MS Teams
RRC Polytech is committed to ensuring that all our programs’ course content meets the Accessibility for Manitobans Act’s (AMA) standards. To support this initiative, we are offering this virtual session specifically designed for Faculty. This session will include an overview of the Information and Communication Standard as well as a demonstration on using the Panorama software in LEARN to improve the accessibility of your course content.
Learn about alternative formats, accessibility scores and reports, ways to fix detected issues and monitor accessibility of your LEARN courses using the Panorama dashboard.
Games for All
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Library Hallway, Notre Dame Campus
Campus Well-being, in collaboration with Centre for International Education and Global Partnership, is hosting a pop-up game for Inclusion Week. Drop by any time to enjoy a variety of games and activities! Games include Jenga, Chess, Connect 4, Snakes & Ladders, Corn Hole, Table Tennis, Mini Basketball, Board Games, Playing Cards and more!
No registration required.
World Café
with Janice Bean and others
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. | In-person
Prairie Lights, Notre Dame Campus
A World Cafe discussion is an interactive and collaborative opportunity to discuss issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion at RRC Polytech as well as in a broader context. Through small group discussion, we will build on ideas and knowledge in the room to discuss how we can practically implement inclusion into our daily lives. The discussions generated during this invigorating session will be a catalyst to keep the conversations going beyond Inclusion Week.
Self-Guided Resources
Accessibility
- Students: https://www.rrc.ca/accessibility/
- Staff: https://www.rrc.ca/legal/accessibility/
- Autism and Neurodiversity Professional Development Courses: https://circa.educ.ubc.ca/professional-development/
Anti-Racism
Staff/Faculty Training:
eBooks:
Videos:
- What is Anti-Racism?
- The difference between being “not racist” and antiracist | Ibram X. Kendi
- Supporting Allyship and Anti-Racism at Work (LinkedIn Learning login required)
CCDI Resources:
- CCDI: Educational Guide: Racism and anti-Black racism (PDF)
- Black History Month: Commemorative Guide (Staff only; login required)
- Educational Guide: Racism and anti-Black racism (PDF)
- Educational resources on racism and anti-Black racism
- Navigating race in the workplace
- Sustaining the Black Lives Matter movement in the workplace
Campus Well-Being
RRC Polytech understands that personal and community well-being contributes to both student success and employee engagement. That’s why Campus Well-Being provides programs, services and resources to support the holistic health of students, staff and faculty.
Through sport, fitness, recreation and mental wellness initiatives, we create a greater sense of well-being, belonging and connectedness in our campus community. Health is not only about our bodies, but also about our minds, emotions, spirit and relationships.
Creating Inclusive Online Classrooms and Meetings
Watch the presentation from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Students Accessibility Services team members on how you can create more inclusive learning and collaboration in online spaces.
Spiritual Support
2SLGBTQIA+
Celebrating Pride: An evolving list of resources and self-directed learning helps to foster understanding and allyship, all year round.
Staff/Faculty Training: Gender and Sexual Identities: Advancing Understanding and Inclusion
More Resources
Eliminating Harmful Language: Content Warning: This website contains language that is offensive or harmful. Please engage with this website at your own pace.
Centennial College: Social Action Cards