Programs and Services

In light of the recent rise in demands made from racialized, Indigenous, and Aboriginal students in North America, Laurier contributes to an annual summit that explores ways to hear, engage with, and address racialized students' concerns. Together, we work to develop intentional actions to stop racism on Canadian university campuses.

The 2017 E(Race)R Summit was held on March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

Mission

The mission of this annual summit is to initiate and engage with the national discourses on race and racism on Canadian university campuses. Using race as a starting point, we will collectively explore the nuances of our intersecting identities as campus leaders on Canadian university campuses with the aim of becoming intentional in our equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategies.

Vision

1. To initiate ongoing dialogue about racial justice that serves to legitimize the concerns of racialized and Indigenous students, faculty, and staff in Canadian universities.
2. To collaboratively formulate innovative and practical ways of addressing systemic racism and discrimination in higher education across the nation.
3. To engage sustainable solutions to address the experiences of both overt and covert racial and ethnic discrimination in higher education.
4. To demonstrate our care and compassion for those students, faculty and staff members whose experiences of racial inequities — whether micro or macro — continue to impact them and their communities.
5. To create opportunities for intentional actions that address systemic barriers to racial justice in Canadian universities.

More Information

• ConversAction: Race Matters (2019 article)
• E(Race)r post-summit report (2017 article)
• Ontario Human Rights Commission speech by Chief Commissioner Renu Mandhane at 2016 e(RACE)r conference (2016 article)

Beating the Odds is an all-day conference held on our Waterloo campus for high school students to boost their aspirations for achieving higher education. As a means of combating statistics suggesting that racialized students have a 70% drop-out rate in Waterloo Region, our members and community supporters bring professionals and other university students to Laurier to facilitate workshops and keynote presentations that create an atmosphere of empowerment and motivation. 

In past years we have had workshops on; identity, business, leadership, next steps after high school and more. Our keynote speakers are professionals in their field and have a passion and/or relevant experience for inspiring young people. Workshops offered by racialized professionals and Laurier students benefit high school students by offering them valuable information that will help to propel them into a successful future.

Our annual conference, held each February, continues to grow as we register hundreds of students each year to attend.

The 2020 Beating the Odds Conference was covered in the Waterloo Chronicle.

**Please note: The 2021 Beating the Odds Conference was online. 

Contact abs@wlu.ca for more information.

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CSEDI) hosted the inaugural Diversity Art Series at Laurier’s Yellow Brick Wall (Brantford) in March 2016. The series received an overwhelming response, indicating the series was here to stay.

The Diversity Art Series features art created by Laurier students, each of whom uses their creative pieces to investigate contemporary social justice issues and experiences of diverse students and allies. The exhibit is part of ongoing efforts to illuminate and archive the narratives of those impacted by systemic inequities.

The series offers five unique pieces each accompanied by educational opportunities that engage the Laurier community in a dialogue about diversity and equity in unique ways. The Yellow Brick Wall is the exhibition on Laurier's Brantford Campus. It is designed to provide appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian art to members of the Laurier community and beyond. The Yellow Brick Wall aims to contribute to the growth of students, encourage dialogue and reflect the diversity and culture in the Brantford community.

For more information about the series please email lburrows@wlu.ca.

The Diversity Certificate is a multi-module program that provides students an opportunity for creative engagement with challenging social justice topics. Topics change from year to year in order to ensure that the content speaks to current needs and interests. Six workshops are offered each year and participation in a minimum of four workshops allows for the certificate to be recognized on your Laurier Experience Record.

Please email diversity@wlu.ca for more information about the certificate.

Join the Diversity Certificate Program Waitlist. This certificate will be offered again in Winter of 2022.