Inclusive holiday celebrations
This winter at UBC, our community is celebrating events and holidays from around the world. Our students, staff and faculty come from many cultural backgrounds and faith identities, and at this time of year, we have an opportunity to celebrate the cultures that make up our UBC community.
Some celebratory events are coming up in the next few weeks, including Mawlid an Nabi (Islam), Hanukkah (Judaism), Yule (Paganism), and Christmas (Christianity). In February, we will see festivities for the Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist). See the Days of Significance list to see all the events and celebrations coming up soon.
Ways to Celebrate in the Workplace
We have a great opportunity to celebrate the season together, in a respectful and positive way that can help build intercultural understanding.
- Display a calendar in your workplace to raise awareness of important cultural/faith events and holidays throughout the entire year.
- Celebrate all faiths present in your workplace.
- Consider having a New Year’s celebration party instead of a holiday party in December.
- Be flexible with the needs of staff around faith and/or holiday celebrations.
- In your workplace or at celebration events, bring together decorations and food from the many cultures in your workplace, and encourage staff to share stories about their favourite traditions.
- Be respectful of religious holidays at this time of year when planning events and meetings. Check the Days of Significance calendar for details.
Office Decorations
Here are some tips to make your office decorations inclusive and respectful of all cultures and beliefs:
- Aim for neutral decor in the front-facing areas of your office
- Ensure your office is accessible and that decorations do not prevent or block access to public services.
- Consider how your office can celebrate dates significant to all members of your workplace. Invite staff from all faith identities to be involved in the office decorating discussion.
- Set an agreed upon limit to the number of days that your office will display decorations, and have a discussion about what other times of year you might want to decorate, in celebration of other events.
- Use the holidays as an opportunity to build community within your office, and with the people your office serves or supports.
If you are feeling excluded as a result of office celebrations, you are encouraged to reach out to a colleague or a supervisor and have a conversation about how you feel and how you would like your culture and beliefs to be included. At UBC we should all feel comfortable to share our culture and beliefs with others. You are welcome to contact the Equity and Inclusion Office or your HR Advisor to discuss.
We hope that this advice provides some suggestions on how to foster community and inclusion at this time of year through encouraging the celebration of our many cultures and faiths on campus.
Relevant links
Resources supporting transgender and gender-diverse faculty and staff
At UBC, diversity is welcomed and respected, and considered foundational to excellence in research, education and engagement. UBC recognizes that respect and support for transgender and gender-diverse faculty and staff are central to their success and wellbeing. It is our interactions at work that can help us to feel a valued member of society. The recognition of gender diversity, specifically for people who identify as transgender, two-spirit or non-binary, affirms and acknowledges that gender is highly personal and fluid, and is worthy of respect at UBC.
All human resources practitioners and managers/supervisors have the responsibility to provide a welcoming, inclusive and respectful work environment. By working proactively with an employee who wishes to transition and/or utilize gender-affirming procedures, you can help create a positive experience for the individual and all employees in your unit.
The information in the following resource documents can to help you to building a positive work environment and in modelling behaviour that shows respect for diversity and inclusion that you expect your staff to demonstrate in their relationships with each other and the people they work with across the campus.
Please familiarize yourself with these resources so you can best support transgender and gender-diverse staff, faculty and student employees in your department.
For managers/supervisors/HR practitioners: Supporting Transgender and Gender-Diverse Faculty and Staff at UBC
Information includes:
- Human rights and employer responsibilities
- Definitions to assist you in understanding gender diversity
- Transitioning in the workplace: planning a collaborative, supportive approach
- Guidelines for the manager/supervisor and support team
- UBC and other external resources
- Transition checklist (for working with the employee)
For employees: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Faculty and Staff at UBC
Information includes:
- Transitioning in the workplace: planning a collaborative, supportive approach
- Guidelines for the transitioning employee
- Transition checklist
- Information on health and benefits
- Information on counselling and support/social groups
If you have any questions, please contact your HR Advisor. For more information on campus-wide initiatives on gender diversity, please visit the Equity & Inclusion website.
PD workshop: Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity: Oct. 16, 2018
HR is hosting a one-day workshop focusing on Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity, on Oct. 16, 2018. This workshop is designed for managers and administrators who currently have responsibility for the hiring and selection of staff. The cost of this workshop is $25 (includes refreshments and a light lunch).
About the workshop
The interview is a vital step in the hiring process, so you want it to be as effective as possible. This workshop will focus on the essential skills of behavioural interviewing so that you can more effectively get to know your candidates and find the best fit for your team.
Through group exercises, discussions and role-play within this workshop, participants will:
- Develop questions and practice behavioural interviewing skills
- Develop tools to select the best candidate for the position
- Understand basic concepts of human rights, employment equity, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation
Participants will also review current Human Rights and Employment Equity legislation and discuss the objectives of UBC’s policy on employment equity.
Course information
Date: Oct. 16, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TEF III, Room 610
Cost: $25
Register online
Pride Week at UBC 2018
Each August, communities across Vancouver come together to kick off the annual Vancouver Pride Week. At UBC, you are invited to join in the celebrations, and show your support for creating positive space across UBC.
Two UBC events you can attend:
- UBC’s annual Pride Convergence: July 30, 4:00-6:30 p.m.
- UBC Pride: Aug. 1, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
Visit https://equity.ubc.ca/celebratepride/ to learn more and register.
Positive Space Workshop: Aug. 15, 2018
Explore how you can positively impact the climate for sexual and gender diversity at UBC and make our learning, working, and living communities more inclusive to all.
Positive Space workshops cover current language, issues, resources, and best practices in an interactive and experiential learning environment. Participants will gain relevant knowledge and skills to use in their academic, work, and campus life so that they can help make UBC more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni, and allies.
Upcoming session:
- Aug. 15, 2018, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sign up for free on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
Positive Space Workshops: July 19 & Aug. 15, 2018
Explore how you can positively impact the climate for sexual and gender diversity at UBC and make our learning, working, and living communities more inclusive to all.
Positive Space workshops cover current language, issues, resources, and best practices in an interactive and experiential learning environment. Participants will gain relevant knowledge and skills to use in their academic, work, and campus life so that they can help make UBC more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni, and allies.
Upcoming dates:
- July 19, 2018, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- Aug. 15, 2018, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Sign up for free on the UBC Equity & Inclusion Office website.
Expression of Interest in Advisory Committee to UBC’s Indigenous Research Support Initiative: Deadline June 1, 2018
UBC’s Indigenous Research Support Initiative (IRSI) invites individuals from Indigenous communities, UBC faculty and UBC staff to express their interest for an advisory role as part of IRSI’s Indigenous Advisory Committee.
The ISRI commits to enabling collaborative research, better practices of engagement, and supporting research excellence.
The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide culturally-relevant advice, leadership and guidance to the staff and leadership team of the IRSI on matters relating to but not limited to: strategic direction of the network, research and ethics protocols, community outreach, governance, procedures and processes of the network.
Expression of interest closing date: June 1, 2018
Full details: https://research.ubc.ca/about-vpri/indigenous-research-support-initiative#advisory
PD Opportunity: Selection Interviewing: May 11, 2018 – 4 Spaces Left
We have four spaces left in our May 11, 2018, session on Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity. Register ASAP to sharpen your interview and recruitment skills.
Note that this workshop is designed for UBC managers/administrators who have responsibility for the recruitment of staff.
About this workshop
The interview is a vital step in the hiring process, so you want it to be as effective as possible. This workshop will focus on the essential skills of behavioural interviewing so that you can more effectively get to know your candidates and find the best fit for your team.
Learning Outcomes
Through group exercises, discussions and role-play within this workshop, participants will:
- Develop questions and practice behavioural interviewing skills
- Develop tools to select the best candidate for the position
- Understand basic concepts of human rights, employment equity, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation
Participants will also review current Human Rights and Employment Equity legislation and discuss the objectives of UBC’s policy on employment equity.
Facilitation Team and Presenters
- Lani McGill, Human Resources Advisor
- Kathryn Stagg, Human Resources Advisor
- Lindi Frost, Director of Employee Relations
- Jude Tate, Director of Equity and Inclusion
Course information
Selection Interviewing: Ensuring Equity
May 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $25.00
Room 610, TEF III, 6190 Agronomy Road [map]
Register online until May 7; afterwards contact pd.workshops@ubc.ca
If you are interested in this course, you may be able to use your professional development funding. Please visit the page for your employee group to learn more.
UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2018
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2018. These awards recognize Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create inclusive and respectful workplaces. Learn more about this recognition and the reasons UBC was selected at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/blog/2018/03/ubc-named-one-of-canadas-best-diversity-employers-in-2018/.
Feb. 28 2018 is Pink Shirt Day
By working together, we can all help to end bullying in schools and in the workplace.
Please join us in supporting Pink Shirt Day on Feb. 28, 2018, and learn about how you can help to stop bullying in communities across the province at http://www.pinkshirtday.ca.
At UBC, we strive to provide a safe, respectful and productive environment for our faculty, staff and students. The UBC Respectful Environment Statement outlines our principles as we work to create a respectful environment for all.
The Respectful Environment statement of principle:
The best possible environment for working, learning and living is one in which respect, civility, diversity, opportunity and inclusion are valued. Everyone at the University of British Columbia is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds these principles in all communications and interactions with fellow UBC community members and the public in all University-related settings.
One of UBC’s initiatives to support a respectful environment is the Bullying and Harassment Prevention website. The website has information for UBC faculty, staff and student employees to support a respectful and positive work environment.
The UBC community works together every day to build a respectful environment for all. On Feb. 28, wear pink to show your support for an end to bullying and harassment.
Resources:
- Pink Shirt Day
- Bullying and Harassment Prevention at UBC
- Respectful Environment Statement
- Equity and Inclusion Office: Vancouver | Okanagan
- Contact your HR Advisor or Faculty Relations Manager
UBC Equity Enhancement Fund 2018: Call for Proposals
Have a bright idea to advance equity and inclusion at UBC? Apply to the Equity Enhancement Fund. The fund supports student, staff and faculty projects that enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion at UBC. Up to $25,000 is available. Apply by Feb. 28 at http://equity.ubc.ca/eef.
Join us for:
- Info Session + Showcase on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 12:30 p.m., CIRS building
- Proposal Writing Workshops on Thursday, Feb. 15, 12:30 p.m., CIRS Building
RSVP for the workshops/events at http://equity.ubc.ca/eef.
UBC Pride Week: Jan. 12-19, 2018
Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, marks the beginning of UBC Vancouver’s PRIDE Week 2018: Revelry and Resistance. You are invited to join the week of celebrating queer and trans identities. The opening ceremony, hosted by the Pride Collective and supported by the Equity and Inclusion Office, will see the pride flag raised at the student flagpole.
Date: Friday, Jan. 12, 2018
Time: 11:30 – 2:00pm
Location: The UBC student flagpole (located between the North entrance of the old SUB and the South entrance of Brock Hall at the end of Student Union Boulevard)
Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/138331156956380/ for a full listing of the week’s activities.
This Halloween, Take Care in What You Wear
If your unit/department will be hosting a Halloween party this year, please keep in mind some considerations about costumes. Be considerate of others by avoiding costumes that could be seen as culturally insensitive, sexist, or racist. We can all play a part in making our campus community a respectful environment.
Learn more at http://equity.ubc.ca/2017/10/23/this-halloween-take-care-in-what-you-wear/.
Orange Shirt Day: Recognizing the History and Legacy Left Behind by Residential Schools
Each year on Sept. 30, we recognize Orange Shirt Day as an acknowledgement of the harm that the residential school system did to thousands of indigenous children. At the same time, Orange Shirt Day has come to mean more – it is an opportunity to do anti-racism work and to reinforce anti-bullying policies; it is a time to come together in reconciliation and truth. Join us at UBC by wearing orange on Friday, Sept. 29.
On April 1, 2017, UBC raised a Reconciliation Pole at the Vancouver campus symbolizing the experiences of residential school students and the path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Likewise, at UBC Okanagan, the Story Poles by Les Louis represent the seven bands of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and uses ancestral pictographs to tell their stories.
As a teaching, learning, and research institution, UBC’s efforts are further focused on exploring and advancing knowledge in regards to our collective history and experiences, including through the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre scheduled to be open in 2017/2018 academic year.
Learn more at http://equity.ubc.ca/2017/09/26/orange-shirt-day-every-child-matters/.
Pride Convergence – Summer Edition, July 31
UBC Alumni and the Equity & Inclusion Office invite UBC LGBT2SQIA+ staff and faculty to the Summer Pride Convergence on July 31.
Meet other members of the UBC LGBT2SQIA+ community, enjoy complimentary food and drinks, and hear from UBC’s new Provost and VP Academic Professor Andrew Szeri.
RSVP to events@equity.ubc.ca
Date: July 31, 2017
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM
Location: Main Floor, Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre
UBC named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017
UBC has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017. These awards recognize Canadian companies that stand out through their efforts to create inclusive and respectful workplaces.
Why UBC was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers in 2017:
- UBC offers an Equity Enhancement Fund to support community-based initiatives that enhance equity, diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding at the university.
- UBC hosts an annual “Thrive” week to encourage dialogue and awareness on mental wellbeing and participates in the “Not Myself Today” campaign — additionally, the university offers meditative and mindfulness programs and provides mental health training to faculty representatives.
- In addition to maintaining an on-campus Positive Space campaign for LGBT communities, UBC’s Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice supports CampOUT, a community-based summer leadership camp to help queer, trans and allied youth develop leadership skills and build self-esteem.
Positive Space Training this Spring
The Positive Space Campaign is a campus-wide awareness and visibility initiative to make UBC more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni and allies in all our working, learning and living environments.
It aims to foster a welcoming atmosphere and inclusive, respectful dialogue on campus for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities by identifying spaces where sexual and gender diversity is supported and valued.
Staff, faculty and students in the UBC community can take part in our renewed Positive Space training this spring:
Vancouver campus
- April 21 – 10:00 to 12:00pm, Irving K Barber Learning Centre
- May 16 – 1:00 to 3:00pm, Irving K Barber Learning Centre
Register at http://positivespace.ubc.ca/workshops-vancouver/
Positive Space Workshops (Spring 2017)
The Equity and Inclusion Office is hosting three Positive Space workshops this spring at the Vancouver campus:
- Feb. 23: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- April 21: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- May 16: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Register online at http://positivespace.ubc.ca/workshops-vancouver/.
The Positive Space Campaign is a campus wide awareness and visibility initiative to make UBC more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni and allies in all our working, learning and living environments.
It aims to foster a welcoming atmosphere and inclusive, respectful dialogue on campus for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities by identifying spaces where sexual and gender diversity is supported and valued. Workshops are offered through the Equity and Inclusion Offices at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
UBC Equity Enhancement Fund 2017: Apply by Feb. 28, 2017
Do you have a bright idea to help make UBC even better, but are unsure how to fund it? The UBC Equity Enhancement Fund can assist.
The fund supports community-based initiatives that enhance equity, diversity, inclusion, and intercultural understanding at UBC.
Small and large project applications are welcome. All student groups, academic or administrative units are invited to apply by February 28, 2017.
Learn more at http://equity.ubc.ca/eef-fund/.
Update to Policy #3 (Discrimination and Harassment)
On Dec. 6, 2016, the Board of Governors approved the amendments to Policy #3 (Discrimination and Harassment).
The amendments to the Policy reflect the change in the BC Human Rights Code by adding “gender identity or expression” to the list of enumerated grounds covered by the Code in section 2.1, and removing “gender identity” and “gender expression” from the list of examples provided as interpreted grounds under the ground of “sex” in section 2.2.
Read more about this policy change at the UBC Equity & Inclusion site.