Prepare for 5 Days of Action this November

Courageous conversations are never easy. That’s why they’re called courageous. The university’s 5 Days of Action is an annual event aimed at creating spaces for courageous conversations, dialogue, allyship and commitment to change. This year 5 Days of Action is taking place on campus Nov. 4 to 8 and is organized around calls to action to address discrimination, harassment and sexualized violence on campus.

As the new project manager for the 5 Days of Action, I sat down with my predecessor Mary McCue and had a courageous conversation about what these 5 Days are really all about. I learned that the week is more than a few days of free lectures, workshops, theatre performances and art.

Hi Mary. Why don’t you start by introducing yourself?

My name is Mary McCue. I arrived in Canada about two and a half years ago. We had been living in Istanbul for many years, but I have lived in many places. My father is from Newfoundland, my mother is from PEI, but they all came south to Boston so that’s where I grew up. I am grateful and honoured to be on this territory—literally everyday, even when it rains. I am currently the office administrator in the Office of Indigenous Academic and Community Engagement.

You were in my role last year coordinating the 5 Days of Action. What does 5 Days of Action mean to you?

That role was one of my first on campus, and one of my first in Victoria. To me it was confirmation that moving to Canada was the right decision because initiatives like this demonstrate to me that progress can be made. We can make the campus and the world a better and more inclusive place. The fact that there are people who are willing to do this kind of work, and that there are people who want to learn more and better themselves shows that progress can be made. However slowly it is sometimes, it is still progress.  

What surprised you when you attended the events last year?

I was most surprised that there were people there who wanted to grow, personally grow. A lot of people that I met were attending workshops on topics they didn’t know a lot about but wanted to understand and know more. There was a lot of positive potential, a lot of people learning about themselves, in so many ways. It was some folks’ first step out of ignorance and into change. It was wonderful to watch and take part in. I learned so much—not only about myself, but about this campus community. It was amazing to see the growth.

What can attendees at the 5 Days of Action expect?

You can expect that all of the facilitators will be generous, warm and open. They are there to assist you, and help you navigate your own feelings and learning. They will not challenge you in a way that will make you unsafe, but in ways that will help you grow. Your ideas and boundaries will be respected. I think the idea of these five days is to bring you to the table, and hopefully you will stay long enough to learn something and be able to take something positive and useful away to help make this campus a more welcoming and inclusive place.

What are the “actions” in the 5 Days of Action?

I think there are three ways everyone on campus can participate in actions during the 5 Days. First there are the Calls to Action, found on the EQHR website. These are actions to read, watch, do and commit to address discrimination, harassment and sexualized violence here at UVic. Second, anyone in the campus community can act by registering for workshops, lectures, art exhibits and performances that are free to attend during the 5 Days. And third, taking time to reflect on your actions, thoughts and commitments to make this place a more welcoming and inclusive space I think is the most important action you can take. Because this campus is for all of us, and we should all feel welcome. 

What are you most excited about this year during the 5 Days of Action?

There are so many exciting opportunities this year it’s really hard to pick, and more events are still to be confirmed. I think I’m most excited about The Transgender Archives: Past, Present & Future lecture and archives tour presented by Michael Radmacher and the Myths & Misconceptions: Religious Intolerance in Canada Today session, a panel presentation with UVic students. But there is so much this year—there are sessions on anti-racism, fairness, building inclusive spaces and a performance presented by the Immigrant Employee Support Network. I really encourage everyone to check out what is going on and attend, participate and commit to making positive change.  

Any final thoughts to share?

Just that this is an amazing 5 days. The ideas are huge. That’s the exciting part. The 5 Days of Action are trying to accomplish something bigger, and have the potential to be something bigger. I hope the event grows because we all have a lot to learn. As much as we think we know, there is always more. And I think that is one of the best ways to make this community more inclusive and welcoming.

You can register for the 5 Days of Action events, learn more about the Calls to Action and get more information on the EQHR website.