Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

At the Department of Law and Legal Studies, Equity Diversity, and Inclusion are not just words; they are actions.  We are committed to a fair, equitable and just environment where diverse thoughts and critical perspectives find expression and strengthen our academic community.  We strive to create an environment where students and faculty from all backgrounds feel genuinely empowered to share their unique insights and lived perspectives. This commitment is evident in our inclusive curriculum and diverse research initiatives. From undergraduate to graduate levels, the department consciously and thoughtfully integrates EDI-centered topics and ideas into its core addressing critical issues that affect the world around us. Our faculty actively conducts interdisciplinary research in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion across multiple fields of law and legal studies, significantly enriching both our academic programs and scholarly contributions to legal studies and the advancement of social justice.

Through Curriculum Innovation, Research Excellence and Community Building/Support Events, the department is strengthening its EDI resolve one-step at a time.

Curriculum Innovation

The department’s curriculum is purposefully EDI centred and incorporates diverse legal perspective across all levels of teaching addressing systemic inequalities, injustice and human rights within legal frameworks across Canada and around the world. By intentionally creating robust EDI centred curriculum, we are preparing future legal scholars to navigate a diverse world with empathy and intellectual rigor. This approach enriches the learning experience while pushing the boundary of traditional legal thought.

Here are a few of our EDI centered courses. More information can be found in the univversity’s Course Calendar.

Research Excellence

The department actively supports student and faculty research that advances equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice, and promotes scholarship that addresses the underrepresented while still facilitating research across diverse academic backgrounds.

For more details on some of the research being done by our department, please click on the profiles below.

Hébert , William

• Associate Professor

Moore, Dawn

• Professor

Moore, Hollis

• Assistant Professor

Kale, Diksha

• PhD Candidate (Legal Studies)

Towards Anti-Oppression Subcommittee

Over the past five years, the Towards Anti-Oppression Subcommittee has also commissioned research related to race, racism, racialization, as well as indigeneity, as it relates to course design and research. We were happy to hire our own graduate students to complete this work. This research offers individual faculty members and the department as a whole, an opportunity to reflect on past practices and future endeavours as it relates to anti-oppression. Of course, this is an ongoing project.

Community Building and Support

Positive community engagement is important, this is why we create opportunities for critical dialogue on issues surrounding equity and social justice through the following.

Awards

More information about awards in our department can be found here.

Events

“Growing beyond the Indian Act: How the Resurgence of Haudenosaunee Law is transforming Governance in Kahnawà:ke” featuring Brandon Montour

On February 6, 2025, Brandon Montour, a legal scholar and recently appointed Kahnawá:ke spoke about his work on Haudenosaunee law in his community and its interaction with settler law. The department in its effort to strengthen its is EDI resolve is taking active steps to educate both the faculty and students about indigenous law and and to to show case scholarly work in this field. More details can be found here.

Roundtable on Enhancing Equality and Non-discriminatory elements in Research: February 2025

This roundtable was organised to further the conversation on themes of justice, equality and non-discrimination, and to discuss the opportunities and challenges of incorporating these themes in designing research.

Departmental Kinamagawin Workshop: September 2024

This workshop was hosted by the department Towards Anti-Oppression committee and Lane Bourbonierre (Centre for Indigenous support and community engagement). It was well attended by faculty and staff focused on developing actions plans that can be gleaned form TRC Report and Kinimawagin Report. There was great enthusiasm amongst attendees on what steps can be taken based on findings from these reports and how they might be implemented in the department. More details can be found here.

EDI Resources and Policies

Carleton University’s EDI Action Plan

The Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities: provide the following services to student, staff and faculty:

• Harassment, Discrimination and Accommodations Response
• Equity and Inclusion Promotion
• Sexual Violence Prevention and Survivor Support

Carleton University Student Research EDI Award

Carleton Athletics adaptive and inclusive program

Carleton Athletics Women’s Only Fitness Centre and Trans & Allies Fitness Space

Carleton Disability Awareness Centre

UMOJA Black Community Engagement Program