What’s New for May 2016

Celebrating Asian Heritage Month!

“[Asian Heritage Month] acknowledges the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to Canada. It also provides an opportunity for Canadians across the country to reflect on and celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Asian heritage to the growth and prosperity of Canada.”
– Citizenship and Immigration Canada

The Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office invites you to share in this national opportunity to celebrate the historical and present day contributions of Asian Canadians by participating in some of the Asian Heritage Month events across the city. Asian Canadian communities help to form the fabric of this nation and work to challenge countless social and political barriers to equity in the pursuit of anti-racism.

Participants welcome to planning sessions for new affinity group for racialized staff

U of T’s newly-founded affinity group for racialized staff at U of T gets set to launch local chapters on each campus.

You’re invited to attend a planning session on May 18, 2016 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in order to discuss and provide your input on establishing local chapters of the newly-founded affinity group for racialized U of T staff, Connections and Conversations. The aim of the group is to provide support, resources, learning opportunities and networking to those staff members who identify as racialized. An inaugural conference is being planned for the end of June.

In the meantime, the Steering Committee of Connections and Conversations invites you to join the conversation that will take place on each of the University’s three campuses on May 18th at noon. The meeting will begin with the Steering Committee discussing the goals and mandate of the affinity group, with an introduction of the founding members. Next, the local groups will have an opportunity to discuss the approach to establishing the local affinity groups.

Meeting Details:

When:  May 18, 2016
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Location:

• Mississauga: UTM, Rm. 3214, William G. Davis Building
• St. George: Governing Council Chamber, Room 214, 2nd floor, Simcoe Hall
• Scarborough UTSC, Council Chamber, AA160

Bring your lunch and your ideas!
RSVP to: connectionsandconversations@utoronto.ca by May 13, indicating which campus you plan to participate from.

Call for Submissions to U of T’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Steering Committee

In January 2016, University of Toronto President Meric Gertler and Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr created a university-wide steering committee in response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The Steering Committee will make recommendations on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action that are applicable to the University.

The Steering Committee welcomes submissions from members of the University community – both individuals and groups – regarding implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action as they apply to the University. Written submissions should be submitted via email before October 1, 2016 to munkschool.director@utoronto.ca. All submissions will be reviewed by the Steering Committee.

BELOW IS A LIST OF SOME INTERESTING EVENTS HAPPENING IN HONOR OF ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH. CHECK THEM OUT AND ENJOY!

OPENING CEREMONY OF ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH FESTIVAL 2016 &
Asian Heritage Month Art and Photo Exhibitions
THEME: CANADA’S MULTICULTURALISM AND PEACE
FREE ADMISSION
Date: Friday May 13 – Thursday May 19, 2016
Venue: City Hall Rotunda
Opening Ceremony on Friday May 13 at 7pm
RECEPTION FOLLOWS

Asian Heritage Month Education Roundtable 
FREE ADMISSION
Please register by e-mail: asianheritagecanadian@yahoo.ca
Date: May 16, 2016
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Venue: Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, York University, 4700 Keele Street

Asian Heritage Month Gala Performance of Asian Canadian Artists:
FREE ADMISSION
Please register by e-mail: asianheritagecanadian@yahoo.ca
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Time: 7 pm (Please be seated by 6:45 pm)
Venue: Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto

Asian Heritage Month Film Festival
Date: Sunday, May 22, 2016 (tbc)
Time: 2 pm – 8 pm (tbc)
Venue: Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto
FREE ADMISSION: Please register at asianheritagecanadian@yahoo.ca
Programmed by ReelWorld Film Festival

More Events

(If you wish to request that your event be included in our monthly newsletter, please submit requests to antiracism@utoronto.ca at least one week prior to the beginning of the new month.)

May 4, 5 & 10, 2 pm to 3:30 pm, at each of the three U of T campuses, Pride Planning Meeting. Do you and your department want to be involved in planning the U of T contingents of the 2016 Trans March, Pride Run, Dyke March and Pride Parade? Come to the U of T Pride Planning Meeting @ UTSC, UTM and St. George Campuses. These meetings are open to all staff, students and faculty who would like to plan and attend Pride this year. All UTSC departments or groups that are interested in getting involved are encouraged to send one or two representatives to this meeting. Whether you are attending on your own or on behalf of a group, your input is important! Come on by to learn about what each of our departments and groups have planned for Pride, and together let’s brainstorm ideas on how to engage people on all three campuses.

Monday May 09, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, Knox College, 59 St. George Street, Crossing Cultures Together: cracking open power and privilege. Join facilitator Peter Noteboom (Senior Partner with Global Learning Partners, Deputy General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, and the Associate Secretary for the Council’s Commission on Justice and Peace) on May 9th to better understand, and identify ways to address, the negative effects of power and privilege in the church.

Thursday May 12, 1 pm – 2:30 pm, U of T Scarborough Campus, 1265 Military Trail, AA160, Developing Your Career While Raising a Family (Staff only). While the challenges of balancing a career while raising a family are many, the satisfaction can be great! Attend this workshop and you will: understand the options from a big picture perspective that are available in managing your career while raising a family; learn from a panel of colleagues about their pathway to successfully merging career and family and the lessons learned; discover simple strategies on how to manage your career at UofT, make progress on your career goals, while still spending time and energy on family; create a Simple Action Plan to keep yourself accountable as your attention is pulled between family and career. This session is jointly offered by the Family Care Office and the Organizational Development and Learning Centre. Registration required. University of Toronto staff are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Monday May 16, 3 pm – 5 pm, Koffler Student Services Centre, 214 College Street, Finding Full-time Work. A work search is a dynamic, often complex process. Equip yourself with resources, tools, and tricks that will assist in locating and pursuing a job. Discover places and people to help guide your search, and begin developing your personalized job search action plan. Through reflection on your experience, you’ll build the capacity to convey your strengths to potential employers. If you require disability-related accommodations for an event or workshop, please e-mail us at careercentre@mail.careers.utoronto.ca

Wednesday May 25, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, Centre for International Experience, 33 St. George St., Cumberland Room, Room 102, Let’s Talk About Gender: A Discussion Panel on Gender Independent Children. Join us for a conversation about some of the practical, emotional, and social issues involved with children who challenge gender norms. Hear first-hand how parents are supporting their own gender non-conforming children, learn about available resources, and how to work with your child’s school. Ilana David, Gender-Based Violence Prevention Social Worker with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). This event is sponsored by the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office and the Family Care Office. All community members, including University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners/spouses are welcome! Current students who wish to participate but are unable to due to child care costs, please inquire about our Child Care Reimbursement for Extra and Co-Curricular Activities.

Friday, May 27, 9 pm – 11 pm, Front lawn, William G. Davis Building, Mississauga Campus, Flicks on the Field. A warm spring evening under the stars with family, friends and a terrific flick. Enjoy our beautiful campus under the night sky on the front lawn of the William G. Davis Building where it will be transformed into an outdoor movie experience featuring the family-friendly Kung Fu Panda 3. You bring the lawn chairs and blankets and we’ll bring the popcorn and bug repellent!