If you've been following my posts for a while, you’ve surely read this is one before: words are powerful. We may use them carelessly, but the messages can stick and inform/lead to/strengthen biases, prejudices, and judgments that can ultimately undermine acceptance and inclusion. My mom is …
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Feeling the End of the Year
It’s been a looooong year. I have heard from many clients how staff are feeling the impact of the lengthening pandemic, and the additional stressors on life and work. These stressors may include: Fear and worry Health concerns Navigating (online) schooling for children Creating a …
What’s in a Word?
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about accessibility and language. It started with the word “blindspot”. I have continued to use it, despite recognizing that it’s ableist language - language that underscores that society determines ability (vs disability) as the norm and therefore as more …
The New Republic of Barbados
Yesterday - Tuesday November 30th, at midnight - Barbados became the world's newest Republic. Shaking off the Monarchy, becoming a Republic is symbolic of a new beginning; one with Barbadians as self-determined, and navigating their own path. Sounds amazing. Connecting the Dots - Republics …
New Glasses as a metaphor for EDI work
I recently purchased a new pair of glasses. My first pair of progressives. I was excited! New Perspectives When the glasses were ready, and I left the store… I felt like I was 20 feet tall. Everything looked bigger. Suddenly I saw more depth. Was this what the world …
Searching for Missing Indigenous Children at the Mohawk Institute
Yesterday, I was able to watch part of the live press conference that launched the search for missing Indigenous children at the Mohawk Institute in Ontario. The Mohawk Institute is the longest running Residential School in Canada. It was open for 136 years. Children from 20 Indigenous Nations …
[Continue reading] Searching for Missing Indigenous Children at the Mohawk Institute
Blackface, Anti-Black Racism and Change
Last week a TDSB teacher went to school in Blackface for Halloween. You can read about it here. Egregious enough on its own, it seems that complaints weren’t acted upon until the end of the day. Think about that.... This means students of colour (the school in question was in a culturally …
Truth, and what now?
Last week was our first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. And on the weekend, I heard a few things on the news that made me pause. I'm writing about one of them today. There is a new cutting-edge community in the making near the shores of Lake Simcoe. The Orbit. town of Innisfil in …
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Tomorrow - September 30 - marks the first National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in Canada. (If you’re not Canadian, take some time to consider what a day like this could mean in your country and look for resources to raise your awareness about Indigenous issues where you …
What a Difference a Year Makes…
Monday was our first full day of online school, and it was a completely different experience to our first day last year. The difference are notable: No frantic calls for help We both ate well And we both got our work done Why the difference? There are a few things I can think of, …