Workshops, courses and training

Open to everyone.

This session guides participants through critical equity-seeking topics in-depth. Topics covered will include: accountability/accountable spaces, colonization, white supremacy, white privilege, white fragility, settler moves to innocence, (systemic) racism, (implicit) bias, implicit attitude tests, racialization, microaggressions, appreciation vs. appropriation, decolonization, land acknowledgements, intersectionality, equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenization, oppressive systemic structures, lateral violence, and reconciliation.

The session leader, Yahlnaaw, identifies as a Skidegate Haida, queer, transgender woman which often feels like limbs stretched into many intersecting worlds. Yahlnaaw aims to bridge these epistemologies (ways of knowing), ontologies (ways of being) and axiology (values) into her work to set the stage for the rest of our living and learning journeys.

Accessibility considerations: closed captioning, verbal and written slide/image descriptions, post-session resource document.

Sessions currently offered monthly through Learning Central. 

If you wish to organize a new session for your group/unit, please contact:

Yahlnaaw (she/her) - Indigenous Rights and Anti-Racism Officer at iraro@uvic.ca. 

Open to members of ARPT and senior search committees. 

This online and self-paced course helps participants embed equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and anti-racism within Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion, Tenure (ARPT) and other decision processes so they will be inclusive of diverse forms of excellence. 

Learners will:

• review how inequity manifests within individual, interpersonal, and structural and institutional systems and review current equity gaps. 
• explore factors that produce inequitable measures of fit, excellence, merit, and criteria, and skew applicant selection and other RPT processes. 
• gain practical strategies to promote more inclusive ARPT processes by redefining these standards to be inclusive of diverse forms of excellence and by using updated processes that encourage fair reviews. 
• engage in real-world practice scenarios to guide equitable practices.

Training is offered through Brightspace. 

For content questions or to provide feedback directly, please contact eqhrprojects@uvic.ca.

For logistical or technical questions regarding the course, please contact vpactraining@uvic.ca.

 Offered for anyone involved in hiring activities. 

For hiring committees relating to appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure (ARPT) and senior hiring committees, please take the Increasing Equity in Decision Making Processes course.

This workshop will present the key concepts related to equity, diversity and inclusion relevant to recruitment practices. The facilitator will help participants understand the complex mix of identities, invite you to explore your own set of identities, share how you can recognize marginalized identities, reflect on your personal cultural values, and identify intercultural values affecting group dynamics. Group discussions will focus on how best to facilitate recruitment activities in a consistent and equitable way, and brainstorm tangible actions you and your group can do. Take-aways from the workshop will also include identifying what you personally need to “unlearn” or “let go of” in order to value other members’ contributions.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact: 

Mami Schouten (she/her) - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Research Officer at ediresearch@uvic.ca. 

Offered for anyone who is seeking foundational knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion and wishes to embed the EDI values in their daily practice. 

The session will offer foundational definitions of EDI and outline what it means to embrace a complex mix of diverse identities of your own and others, reflecting on how identities trigger power and marginalization unconsciously and consciously. Participants will also reflect on their intercultural values and how differences in individual values impact their daily interactions with others. The session will offer opportunities to participants to explore ways to connect with others in a mindful way.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact: 

Mami Schouten (she/her) - Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Research Officer at ediresearch@uvic.ca. 

Open to all students.

In partnership, Equity and Human Rights (EQHR) and the Office of Student Life (OSL) offer an in person workshop to students that is interactive and skill-based. Both versions of the workshop provide useful and relevant information as well as practical skills for preventing and responding to sexualized violence. Tools for Change is great for anyone who wants to learn more and be part of the conversation on this topic at UVic.

For more information and registration visit the Tools for Change webpage.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit of 20 people or more, please contact: svptraining@uvic.ca.

Do you have questions? Contact:

Reem Girgrah (she/her) - Education Officer or Leah Shumka (she/her) - Associate Director of Equity and Human Rights through svpproject@uvic.ca. 

Offered for staff and faculty.

This workshop provides university staff with information about how to identify sexualized violence, how to respond to a disclosure, where to get support, and importantly, how to prevent sexualized violence. The workshop will be interactive, with a mix of images, video, and discussions aimed at gaining a deeper insight into this important workplace concern. Participants will leave with practical advice and sentence starters for what to do when confronted by sexual harassment or behaviour that appears to “cross the line”.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact:

Reem Girgrah (she/her) - Education Officer at svpproject@uvic.ca or Lane Foster (they/them) - Manager, Sexualized Violence Education, Prevention and Support at svpcoordinator@uvic.ca. 

Offered for graduate students.

This workshop provides graduate students an awareness and understanding of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and its significance for educational and professional success. This topic area provides an entry point for talking about discrimination, harassment, and sexualized violence prevention. The workshop is interactive with scenarios, discussion and links graduate students to resources and supports.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact:

Reem Girgrah (she/her) - Education Officer or Leah Shumka (she/her) - Associate Director of Equity and Human Rights through svpproject@uvic.ca. 

Offered for theatre production, cast and crew.

This workshop provides Theatre production cast and crew with information on how to create an inclusive and safer environment to eliminate experiences of discrimination, harassment and/or sexualized violence. This workshop is interactive with a mix of scenarios, opportunities for discussion, practical advice on what do when confronted or witnessing harmful behaviours.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact:

Reem Girgrah (she/her) - Education Officer or Leah Shumka (she/her) - Associate Director of Equity and Human Rights through svpproject@uvic.ca. 

This workshop is designed to cultivate a shared understanding among UVic leaders, supervisors, and administrators of the role power and privilege play in successfully navigating workplace conflict and leading individuals and teams. The workshop will help participants understand where they hold power-privilege, and how that power-privilege may be perceived by others. This will include a discussion of the different ways that we may unintentionally exercise power and our responsibility as leaders to acknowledge and productively harness our power and authority. This includes an exploration of accountability and what that looks like for leaders on campus. The workshop is designed to be interactive and includes a case study for reflection and skill-building.

If you wish to organize this workshop for your group/unit, please contact:

Leah Shumka (she/her) - Associate Director of Equity and Human Rights through eqhrad@uvic.ca.