Explore the Program
DAY 1 – May 14
| CARLETON UNIVERSITY Forum Emcee – Adrian Harewood | |
|---|---|
| Registration for Business Meeting | 8 a.m. |
| Business Meeting for Senior Leadership | 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. |
| Registration for All Attendees | 9:30 a.m. |
| Opening Musical Performance by the West African Rhythm Ensemble, Carleton Music Program Opening Remarks by President Wisdom Tettey, Carleton University | 10:30 – 11 a.m. |
| Keynote: Investing in Black Communities Presenter: Liban Abokor, Founder and CEO of Reimagine LABS Massive political, social and economic forces will continue to test our commitment to racial equity and countering systemic anti-Black racism, including initiatives like the Scarborough Charter. What this means and the choices in front of them are not obvious. Our resilience to these commitments now depends on how we adapt to the forces reshaping our landscape. This keynote takes those pressures seriously and names the adaptations institutions have already begun to consider. It will also ask what those adaptations would actually cost, and invites the room into a sober discussion of what adaptation should look like, what it should not look like, and whether adapting is the right answer at all. | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. |
| Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (BEKH) Announcement | 12 – 12:15 p.m. |
| LUNCH | 12:15 p.m. |
| Panel Discussion: Intentional Black Inclusion Part One Representation, Knowledge Production, Spatial Justice and Belonging Panelists: Nana aba Duncan, Associate Professor, Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies, Carleton University Menna Agha, Associate Professor, Design and Spatial Justice and the Director of the Architecture Action Lab, Carleton University Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba, Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator of the intercontinental research project on Indigenous Knowledge and Youth Empowerment in Africa, Carleton University This panel brings together scholars to explore the politics of knowledge production and belonging through the lenses of media representation, Indigenous knowledges, and spatial justice. Centering Black inclusion, panelists will discuss their research projects and engage in a dynamic, generative dialogue with one another. | 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. |
| COFFEE BREAK | 2:15 p.m. |
| Presidents’ Panel : Leading with Authenticity to Sustain Accountability for the Scarborough Charter in a Challenging Time Moderator: Gabriel Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer, Universities Canada Panelists: Gervan Fearon, President, George Brown Polytechnic J.J. McMurtry, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Windsor Jane Ngobia, Vice-President, People and Culture, University of Prince Edward Island Ana Serrano, President and Vice-Chancellor, OCAD (Ontario College of Art & Design) University Presidents and senior executive leaders in academia will share about perspectives on how bold and authentic leadership drives collective accountability in challenging times, especially in realizing the long-term vision and objectives of the Scarborough Charter and in creating and sustaining inclusive academia and communities. | 2:45 – 4 p.m. |
| Closing Remarks: Noël A. J. Badiou Associate Vice-President & University Advisor, Depart of Equity & Inclusive Communities, Carleton University | 4 – 4:30 p.m. |
| Informal Networking Opportunity | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. |
| END OF DAY 1 |
DAY 2: May 15
| UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA Forum Emcee – Adrian Harewood | |
|---|---|
| Registration | 8 a.m. |
| Opening Remarks by President Marie-Eve Sylvestre, University of Ottawa | 9 a.m. |
| Presidents’ Panel: The Francophonie and the Charter *Note: This session will be taking place in French Panelists: Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President, University of Ottawa Danai Bélanger, Vice-Principal, Student Affairs and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Bishop’s University Anne Levesque, Associate Professor, French Common Law Program in the Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa This panel explores the intersection between Francophonie and the Scarborough Charter. While the Charter reflects a strong commitment to advancing equity for Black communities, it also invites us to reflect on the place that linguistic diversity does—or does not—occupy within these efforts. As we know, Francophone and bilingual institutions play an essential role in ensuring that commitments to equity take into account the linguistic realities and the specific lived experiences of the communities they serve. | 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. |
| COFFEE BREAK | 10:30 a.m. |
| Keynote: From Data to Impact: Achieving Black Excellence Through Evidence-Based Action Presenter: Malinda Smith, Associate Vice-President Research (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), University of Calgary This keynote will demonstrate how disaggregated data and data justice principles can guide higher education institutions in identifying barriers, informing evidence-based actions and delivering measurable results that advance Black inclusion, flourishing and excellence under the Scarborough Charter. | 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| LUNCH | 12 p.m. |
| Spoken Word Artist: Aishah Salim | 1 p.m. |
| Panel Discussion: Intentional Black Inclusion: Part Two Black women, Black children, health and wellness Moderator: Philippe Douamba, Chief Administrative Officer, Telfer School of Management Panelists: Kafui Abra Sawyer: doctoral candidate (Clinical psychology), School of Psychology, University of Ottawa Josephine Etowa, Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa Ewurabena Simpson, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa This panel brings together perspectives from nursing, mental health, and child health to examine the inequities shaping Black health experiences in Canada. Centering Black women, children, and families, the discussion will explore how racism, systemic barriers, and gaps in representation continue to affect access to care, mental well-being, and health outcomes, while also reflecting on pathways toward more equitable and culturally responsive health systems. | 1:10 – 2:10 p.m. |
| COFFEE BREAK | 2:15 p.m. |
| Remarks by Ottawa City Councillor Rawlson King | 2:25 – 2:45 p.m. |
| Remarks: Awad Ibrahim, Vice-Provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Excellence, University of Ottawa Spoken Word Artist: Aishah Salim | 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. |
| 2028 Forum Announcement | 3:15-3:45 p.m. |
| Closing Remarks Marie-Eve Sylvestre President and Vice-Chancellor of University of Ottawa and Wisdom Tettey President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University | 3:45 – 4 p.m. |
| Closing Social and Steel Drum Performance | 4 – 6 p.m. |
| CONCLUSION OF FORUM |