Artemis II Reflects the True Spirit of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a space and science fiction nerd. I enjoy reading about space and an imagined future where humans discover ourselves by meeting other beings from other worlds. So it’s no surprise that I, along with millions of other television viewers, watched with amazement and nervous anticipation as the crew of Artemis II blasted off on a column of fire and smoke on its way to the moon.

Off the Bookshelf: Conflict is not Abuse

Sarah Schulman’s Conflict is not Abuse urges individuals and communities to distinguish between conflict and abuse, advocating for accountability, direct communication, and repair rather than punitive or avoidant responses. She critiques the overuse of victimhood narratives, warning against binary thinking that leads to unnecessary escalations in personal relationships, social dynamics, and state violence. 

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.

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.

Off the Bookshelf: Revenge of the Tipping Point

More than 25 years ago Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference had a profound societal impact, influencing a wide range of fields and sparking conversations about how ideas, trends, and behaviours spread. The book’s central thesis – that small, seemingly insignificant actions or events can trigger large-scale social change once they reach a “tipping point” – resonated across industries and cultural discussions. Gladwell became a celebrity…

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.

Off the Bookshelf: Under the White Gaze

The core tenets of journalism include fairness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, and representation. These guiding principles ensure journalists maintain ethical standards as they and the organizations they work for serve the public interest. Too often the profession falls short of these standards, especially in adequately reflecting the wide variety of diversity in the public, in the people it covers, and the reporters telling those stories. This has been an age-old criticism of Canadian media…

Inclusive City Planning: Q&A with Alexandra Lambropoulos

Inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism (IDEA) are foundational to my work in urban planning because cities thrive when they reflect and serve the diverse populations that inhabit them. IDEA informs my personal research interests in community economic development because it focuses on building strong, resilient local economies that benefit all residents.