News, Articles and Information
The Power and Disempowering of Language in the Trump Era
James Baldwin viewed language as deeply tied to power, identity and historical reality, particularly for marginalized communities. Language, he wrote is “meant to define the other – and in this indispensable, cruelly dishonest role, it can be employed to obscure the truth.” Writers like Baldwin remind us that language is more than just a tool for communication—it shapes thought, reinforces power structures, and influences the way individuals perceive reality.
Faith on the Margins: Christianity’s Evolving Role in a Diverse and Inclusive Canada
Her name was Debbie. I cannot recall her last name, and I have only the vaguest recollection of what she looked like. But I still recall vividly how she was the one person who stepped out of the classroom every morning while the rest of us recited the Lord’s Prayer.
DEI Backlash and Canadian Organizations
How Canadian Organizations Should Respond to the Backlash Against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
For many years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a cornerstone of workplace culture in Canada. Many organizations recognize that these initiatives contribute to creativity, talent recruitment, and growth. But recent court decisions in the United States, actions taken by the Trump administration, and political misinformation about DEI in the US and Canada have all added to increasing resistance to diversity, equity and inclusion. Even some organizations that prioritized these initiatives a mere five years ago (after a White police officer killed Black American George Floyd, which led to widespread protests) have pulled back or softened their approach.
In Conversation With the Stratford Festival
“We’re getting to a place where we’re thinking across the whole experience: How do we welcome people in? And there’s something really joyful about that. So it’s not just the spreadsheet of it being a good business decision. It is the experience of the festival being enriched.”
– Anita Gaffney, Executive Director, The Stratford Festival
Is DEI on Its Way Out?
Over the past few weeks, I have felt the southerly cold wind creeping up on The Great White North, bringing doubt amongst equity-deserving groups and their allies. Even our pending elections seem to signal a seismic shift from the commitment to build representative organizations – none more so than within the Federal Public Service (FPS). It begs the question: Is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) on its way out?
Celebrating Black Excellence
Black History Month is a very significant time for my generation and for me personally. It is
important to highlight and truly recognize Black excellence.
Often when people bring up Black History, they only relate it back to slavery or a few
outstanding Black American figures in history. But as a Canadian Black female of Jamaican,
Trinidadian and Saint Lucian heritage, I know that Black history is so much more.
Recognizing Outstanding Canadians
Receiving the phone call from the Governor General’s office was a mind-blowing
experience. When it came two years ago, I was in disbelief and at a loss for words. I
was being appointed to the Order of Canada – our country’s highest civilian honour – for
my work in diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice.
The Minimisation Trap: Why "We're All the Same" is Hurting Your Business
Is the "melting pot" ideal actually harming our progress toward true inclusion? A
revealing statistic from Harvard Business Review highlights that fear of being different
can stifle talent:
Revenge of the Tipping Point
Article by Hamlin Grange C.M., DiversiPro‘s Founder & Principal Consultant,
Hamlin Grange is DiversiPro’s Founder and Principal Consultant. He is a diversity and inclusion strategist qualified to assess the level of intercultural competence of individuals and organizations. He works with leaders and their organizations to improve productivity through better navigation of cultural differences.
Shab-e Yalda: Celebrating the Winter Solstice
Shab-e Yalda, also known as Shab-e Chelleh, is an ancient celebration of the winter solstice, which is celebrated today in modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan amongst others. The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter, and the longest night of the year. On this day the sun is at the lowest point in the sky, so the day feels darker. From this point onwards, the length of daylight begins to increase each day, as the sun sets later. Shab-e Yalda translates to Night of Rebirth, referring to the “rebirth” of the sun, which will bring longer days after the winter solstice.
A Challenging Year for DEI, But a Hopeful One Ahead
The diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) sector had a challenging year, here in Canada but especially in the United States. It was a combination of social, economic, political, and organizational pressures.
Murray Sinclair – Canadian Leader
He was well-known as Justice Murray Sinclair, the first Indigenous judge appointed in Manitoba and only the second in all of Canada. He became a Canadian senator, then chancellor at Queen’s University.