News | Equity and Inclusive Communities

December 3, 2021

Carleton University renaming building that honoured famed civil servant to better reflect school’s diversity

Sometime in the coming year or two, Gordon Robertson’s name will be removed from the sign in front of the square, brick-and-glass building that houses Carleton University's admissions office.

July 10, 2021

Can racism cause schizophrenia?

Decades of research has found that racialized citizens are diagnosed with the disorder at far higher rates – and the single biggest risk factor is having darker skin than most... More

July 9, 2021

Mary Simon found the flaws in Canada’s sovereignty. Now, she’s going to become its very...

Mary Simon found the flaws in Canada’s sovereignty. Now, she’s going to become its very face

Canada has a sovereignty problem. Ottawa does not have a terribly strong claim to much of what appears as “Canada” on the top third of the map of the country.... More

June 9, 2021

Residential Schools Land Memory Atlas Uses Digital Mapping Tools to Build Understanding of Canada’s Indian...

Residential Schools Land Memory Atlas Uses Digital Mapping Tools to Build Understanding of Canada’s Indian Residential School System

Death cast a long shadow over Canada’s residential schools. These are the first nine words in the introduction to Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials. This 273-page volume... More

June 1, 2021

Celebrating Pride Month: ‘Being Different is Actually Quite Normal’

Philip Macho Commonda, a two-spirit Algonquin from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community, is in many ways a connector. Since August 2020, he has been the Algonquin Community Liaison Officer with... More

May 31, 2021

Carleton Stands in Solidarity with Indigenous Communities

Carleton University is profoundly saddened by the discovery of 215 Indigenous children’s remains at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc land.

May 29, 2021

Indigenous and Black communities have a shared past of injustice. They deserve a shared future...

Indigenous and Black communities have a shared past of injustice. They deserve a shared future of justice

Solidarity in the face of systemic racism and police violence is more than just symbolic; it’s the latest stage in a common struggle against colonialism. What will the next stages... More

May 24, 2021

Canada should support diversity in STEM to encourage innovative research

Attracting and retaining diverse students in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), especially those from Black, Indigenous and Latinx backgrounds, has been a long-standing issue in North America.

May 18, 2021

Six Carleton Students Win EDI Research Awards

Five undergraduates and one graduate student have won the inaugural Summer 2021 Carleton University Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Research Awards. Their EDI-related research projects will be conducted through... More

March 23, 2021

Carleton’s EDI Efforts Gain Momentum with New Student Support, Expertise, Courses

Increased student support, new expertise, new courses. These are among the advances Carleton University is making toward the goals of its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan, which was... More

March 18, 2021

From Outrage to Accountability and Action

March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme of this year's commemoration, "youth standing up against racism", could not be more apt following the summer... More

March 2, 2021

Carleton University Launches Industry and Government Supported Women in Engineering and IT Program

Carleton University has announced the launch of a new Women in Engineering and Information Technology (WiE&IT) Program – one of the first industry and government sponsored programs of its kind... More

February 16, 2021

Black History Month: Carleton Focuses on Anti-Racism Initiatives

Every February, Black History Month honours the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. The theme this year is “The Future Is Now” — an opportunity to celebrate the transformative... More

February 5, 2021

How can we keep algorithmic racism out of Canadian health care’s AI toolkit?

In health care, the promise of artificial intelligence is alluring: With the help of big data sets and algorithms, AI can aid difficult decisions, like triaging patients and determining diagnoses.... More

January 26, 2021

Racialized Canadians have some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country. Who...

Racialized Canadians have some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the country. Who can allay their doubts about taking the vaccine?

When Dana McIntosh knocked on 178 doors last summer and fall in an effort to convince her neighbours to attend community COVID-19 testing pop-ups, they always answered when they saw... More

January 25, 2021

Carleton’s Sexual Assault Awareness Week Highlights Support for Students

The Carleton University community will come together this week to mark Sexual Assault Awareness (SAA) week, running virtually from Jan. 25 to 29, 2021. The week of events will raise... More

January 21, 2021

This is the Power Gap: Explore the Investigative Series and Data

The first equal pay legislation in Canada passed in 1951, making it illegal to pay men and women in the same job different salaries. Women overtook men among university graduates... More

December 25, 2020

The reluctance of Canadian businesses to collect race-based data needs to end

One of the few bright spots of 2020 is that business leaders have awoken to the power of CEO activism. They have come together to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, while... More

December 8, 2020

All Together Now: Teaching Trailblazer Melanie Adrian Wants to Make Remote Learning a Social Experience

How much knowledge can students absorb in an online class with all the distractions of home life bubbling in the background? It’s difficult enough in a university setting to compete... More

December 2, 2020

Carleton Launches Action Plan to Accelerate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion on Campus

Not everyone feels fully welcome at university. It is within reach to change that, but it will take careful consideration of how inequities can permeate academic institutions

Photo for the news post: Etuaptmumk: Business Professor Rick Colbourne Investigates the Economic Impact of the Pandemic on Indigenous Communities

December 2, 2020

Etuaptmumk: Business Professor Rick Colbourne Investigates the Economic Impact of the Pandemic on Indigenous Communities

Before Rick Colbourne put a list of distinguished letters after his name from universities in Canada and abroad, and long before he joined Carleton’s Sprott School of Business as a... More

November 30, 2020

Carleton Offers Specialized Mental Health Counselling Services for Graduate, Indigenous and Racialized Students

Haji Egeh is one of three counsellors recently hired as permanent staff by Carleton’s Health and Counselling Services—bringing the total number of counsellors to 13. The new hires include Haji... More

November 26, 2020

Carleton University’s Final Shannon Lecture of 2020 to Focus on Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

The fifth and final session of this year’s Shannon Lecture Series from Carleton University’s Department of History features McMaster University Prof. Bonny Ibhawoh, who will address a major shift in... More

November 24, 2020

2020 Herzberg Lecture: Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Increasing diversity among genders, races and other metrics is very possible in post-secondary education, as long as everyone involved is committed to constant discussion about how to decrease barriers, according... More

November 17, 2020

New Course on Race and Diversity Connects Carleton J-School Students with Leading Journalists

Carleton University’s journalism program is offering a new course on journalism and race, taught by one of Ottawa’s leading voices on the subject, CBC Ottawa News anchor Adrian Harewood.

November 12, 2020

Carleton Science Launches New Initiatives to Advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Quick: Name a famous scientist. Who popped first into your mind? Was it Albert Einstein, Frederick Banting or Carl Sagan, perhaps? If so, you’re far from alone. Research has shown... More

October 28, 2020

New Blackness and Anti-Racism Course Examines the Institutions that Perpetuate Racism and Inequality

Cellphone cameras have helped cast light on the overt acts of racism that happen every day in our streets, but there are many forms of racism that are more subtle.... More

October 28, 2020

Racialized Canadian Neighbourhoods Suffer Highest Mortality from COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified pre-existing inequities in Canadian society and has highlighted the need for disaggregated data about the ways that population groups designated as visible minorities are being... More

Photo for the news post: Carleton’s Inclusion Week Attracts Large Audiences and Inspires Challenging Discussions on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

October 28, 2020

Carleton’s Inclusion Week Attracts Large Audiences and Inspires Challenging Discussions on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

During a time of worldwide calls for greater equity, diversity and inclusion in society—and in the midst of a global pandemic—Carleton’s second annual Inclusion Week played a significant role in... More

October 19, 2020

Carleton’s Inclusion Week: A Conversation with Michael Charles and Navdeep Bains

To kick off Carleton University’s Second Annual Inclusion Week, Michael Charles, Assistant Vice-President and University Advisor at Equity and Inclusive Communities spoke with Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science... More

October 15, 2020

Carleton University Hosts EDI Action Plan Town Hall for Students

On Oct. 14, 2020 Carleton University hosted a virtual town hall to gather feedback from students on recommendations that will inform an Institutional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan.

October 13, 2020

Carleton’s Inclusion Week Explores Solutions to Pandemic and Social Justice Challenges

In the wake of a public health crisis, worldwide protests against systemic racism and in recognition of the priorities of Carleton’s new Strategic Integrated Plan (SIP), the Carleton University community... More

October 7, 2020

Carleton Becomes First University to Adopt Rick Hansen Foundation’s Accessibility Certification

The adage remains true: accessible design benefits everyone, regardless of ability. And in a swiftly aging country where one in five people have a disability, the need for increased accessibility... More

October 5, 2020

Message from the President: Celebrate, Learn and Lead at Carleton’s Inclusion Week

Oct. 5, 2020 To All Members of the Carleton Community, It is our distinct pleasure to invite everyone to Carleton’s second annual Inclusion Week, which features a broad array of significant... More

September 29, 2020

Carleton Takes Part in Orange Shirt Day to Honour Residential School Survivors

Philip Macho Commanda understands what it means to live with the history of Canada’s residential schools. As a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg band, both his grandmother and mother... More

September 23, 2020

Carleton University Hosts EDI Action Plan Town Hall for Faculty and Staff

Carleton University hosted the first town hall event on Sept. 22, 2020 to gather feedback from the community on recommendations that will inform the development of an institutional Equity, Diversity... More

September 15, 2020

The Globe and Mail: How students at Canadian business schools are using Instagram to call...

The Globe and Mail: How students at Canadian business schools are using Instagram to call out racism

On Himanshu Dev's first day of class at Western University's Ivey School of Business, a professor insisted he either shorten or change his name so his classmates would have an... More

September 14, 2020

Carleton Moves on Ambitious Plan to Support Action on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Although more work remains to be done in the weeks and months ahead, Carleton University is a big step closer to an ambitious plan for institutional strategic action on equity,... More

September 7, 2020

The Globe and Mail: Lacking diversity can hurt a company’s credit ratings

Just call it corporate karma. Companies that turn a blind eye to systemic discrimination in their workplaces risk damaging their credit ratings and driving up their cost of borrowing.

August 24, 2020

Carleton Launches New Chapter for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with Summer Events

The summer of 2020 will be remembered as a turning point in Carleton University’s institutional commitment to anti-racism, Indigenous initiatives, equity, diversity and inclusivity. The Department of Equity and Inclusive... More

August 20, 2020

Carleton Professors Receive SSHRC Support for a Broad Range of Research Impacting Canadians

Eighteen Carleton University researchers will receive approximately $3.2 million from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to support vital research into understanding business cycles, integrating skilled immigrants into... More

July 28, 2020

Carleton’s Joy Mighty Receives Prestigious National Award

Carleton University Prof. Joy Mighty has won a prestigious national award for the significant contributions she has made to teaching, learning and educational development in higher education throughout her more... More

June 10, 2020

Message from the President: Our Shared Responsibility to Be Part of the Solution

It’s been two weeks since George Floyd was killed, and like millions of people worldwide I am still haunted by the horrible scene. In addition to our formal statement of... More

June 9, 2020

Carleton Enhances EDI and Indigenous Leadership

Carleton University President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Jerry Tomberlin are pleased to announce that three highly-respected Carleton leaders have accepted new roles and expanded responsibilities that will... More

June 8, 2020

Carleton Building More Pathways to Enhance Anti-Racism and Inclusion Efforts

As the continent struggles to come to terms with systemic racism, Carleton University has been accelerating its efforts to ensure that all members of the campus community feel welcome and... More

June 4, 2020

New Coordinated Accessibility Strategy Guides Carleton’s Commitment on Campus

More than a quarter of first-year students at Carleton self-identify as having a disability, and about 11 per cent have registered with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities.... More

May 7, 2020

How Racializing a Virus Affects Leadership

In the midst of a global crisis, it is easy to become overwhelmed by competing partisan narratives. One of the most feverishly contested is the narrative of Chinese and WHO... More

February 11, 2020

Kinàmàgawin Symposium Focuses on Indigenous Identity and Sovereignty

Carleton University’s first annual Kinàmàgawin Symposium focused on important issues rooted in Indigenous identity and sovereignty, many of which remain pressing concerns today, according to the event’s speakers and panelists.

August 12, 2019

Champions for Change Tackle Sexual Violence

Carleton University has launched a unique sexual consent training program for varsity athletes and coaches – Champions for Change – which considers them leaders and an important part of the... More

May 10, 2019

Climate Change Conversations Highlight African Scholars

African academics from Carleton University’s Queen Elizabeth Scholarship – Advanced Scholars Program highlighted the threats of climate change on their continent in a talk at Sunnyside Library on May 8,... More

January 6, 2019

The new war on gender studies

Recently, a bag thought to contain a bomb was left outside the National Secretariat for Gender Research in Gothenburg, Sweden. The dynamite-shaped device inside turned out to be a fake,... More