Part 3 in the Reconciliation Series. This week I’m thinking about cultural appropriation as I consider reconciliation. Obviously, these two don’t mix. First of all, what does it mean to appropriate a culture? It means we are taking something and using it as if it were ours. In so doing, we … [Continue reading] Cultural Appropriation…?
Blog
Awareness about Indigenous Realities
Reconciliation is a Verb Series – part 2 One of the foundational pieces to change is awareness. That’s not a new phenomenon; it just makes sense. So to kick start the series, here are a few important things to provide context for reconciliation work. Colonization is devastating. If you’re not … [Continue reading] Awareness about Indigenous Realities
Reconciliation is a Verb
This past weekend I was reflecting on Canada Day (you can read past blogs here), and how different the narrative is this year – specifically, how I haven’t heard the strong Indigenous voices and narrative that Canada’s 150 celebration brought up last year. I know that activism takes its toll. … [Continue reading] Reconciliation is a Verb
Right or Happy?
In April I attended The Mastery of Self Expression. One of the things I was challenged with there was to examine if I wanted to be right or happy. Both! I said, laughing. But it’s no joke. Which one? What I’m discovering is that the desire to be right keeps me in my pain, in the muck, in the … [Continue reading] Right or Happy?
The Gay Glass Ceiling
If you live in Toronto or another city celebrating this month, Happy Pride! It’s Pride week here and all month rainbow flags have been waving all over the city. In fact, Scotiabank has PROUD in large letters outside their plaza. I walked by it the other day, remembering a time not too long ago … [Continue reading] The Gay Glass Ceiling
The Systemic Nature of Bias
On Monday, Starbucks Canada closed their stores for Anti-Bias training, and I was on the radio again to speak about it; this time with Alan Neal at CBC Ottawa’s All in a Day. What strikes me the most about conversations regarding bias is that we tend to focus on behaviours and individuals. This … [Continue reading] The Systemic Nature of Bias
Leadership, Starbucks, and ABC
We have seen some big decisions in the last week related to anti-bias and Diversity & Inclusion. Last week I wrote (a spoke on CBC Radio) about Starbucks’ anti-bias training held across the USA on Tuesday. On that same day, ABC (the TV network) made a bold statement of its own by cancelling … [Continue reading] Leadership, Starbucks, and ABC
Starbucks and Anti-Bias Training
Yesterday Starbucks closed most of its stores in the USA to provide anti-bias training for their staff. This was part of their response to the incident at one of their locations in Philadelphia where the police were called and two Black men were arrested as they waited for their friend. Starbucks … [Continue reading] Starbucks and Anti-Bias Training
The Royal Wedding, Diversity, and Inclusion
Yes, I admit it! I watched parts of the Royal Wedding on the weekend. I wasn’t planning to, but then the thought of showing my 5-year-old a non-white princess got the better of me at 8pm. And I heard the commotion about the sermon by “the Black preacher”, so I had to watch. I was inspired by … [Continue reading] The Royal Wedding, Diversity, and Inclusion
“No Homo”…?!
I recently participated in a city tour of Toronto run by Peter Odle – a friend and colleague of mine (check out UrbanExpeditions.com). It was fabulous and I saw parts of the city I have never seen before, in addition to learning a lot about the city’s history. (By the way, Peter and I are running an … [Continue reading] “No Homo”…?!