Immersive Stories

Purpose

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 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.

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

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

If you would like to share your story through Immersive Stories, please send an email to immersivestories@rrc.ca.

Background and Organizers

Immersive Stories was created by the Library and Academic Services Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and is now hosted within the Anti-Racism Action Committee. The Anti-Racism Action Committee develops and supports initiatives that create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community at RRC Polytech. This includes projects, events, and resources to advance diversity and inclusion for students and employees. 

Learn about the Anti-Racism Action Committee ›

Immersive Stories Events

Running since March 2022, Immersive Stories sessions have been delivered online and in person during stand-alone sessions as well as embedded in special RRC Polytech events such as RED Forum, Inclusion week, and TRC week. Since 2022, thirteen storytellers with diverse backgrounds such as Indigenous, Métis, neurodiverse, gender diverse, sexually diverse, and culturally diverse, have told their stories during Immersive Stories events to increase audiences’ awareness and help break down biases.

Testimonials

The following testimonials share the positive impact that Immersive Stories Sessions have on participants.

“Hearing the various personal stories was very much appreciated. The courage and strength it must take to open up to others and be vulnerable with such personal stories, was amazing.”

“I have ADHD and found it very helpful to hear what other people go through and hear other people’s differences help me reflect that I can succe[ed] in my industry”

“I think these stories are such a strong reminder that while society has made a lot of progress, there is still so much work to do. These stories really emphasize for me how important it is to pay attention to our assumptions and consider why we make them (how/when were we taught these assumptions. I am so appreciative to the speakers for their strength in sharing their personal experiences – these stories really challenged me to look inward and consider the ways we must do better.”

“This was a very powerful and emotional presentation with an excellent format.”

“Immersive Stories were (are) a rich, dynamic and beautiful way to explore the complexity of individual identities, personal biases, and learn about concepts I knew nothing about. It was a beautiful way to meet fellow staff members.”

“It can be a challenge to bring humanity, connection, and understanding to an online event, but you would never know it based on the experience at Immersive Stories. While attending the sessions, you feel an intimate and meaningful connection to the folks sharing their experiences and identities in a way that forces you to reflect and examine yourself as a listener. It was a pleasure to learn and hear honest answers to hard questions. Thank you for bringing humanity to what can be a sterile online experience.”

“Immersive Stories honored and validated diverse experiences in a beautiful, honest way. I was blown away by the guests, their vulnerability and courage to share their stories and to help others learn more about various ways of ‘being.’ We do not listen enough to others – Immersive Stories created the space to do just that.”