The Equity and Inclusion Committee includes A&CE professionals from several member school boards. The committee is currently welcoming new members. For more information, email info@cesba.com
Some of our members have shared why they joined the committee and what it has meant to them below.
“As a person who identifies with a couple of marginalized groups, I was first drawn to the EDI committee during the pandemic. I was craving a reason to make collegial connections outside of school and was pleased to see that CESBA valued this topic enough to form a committee. Five years later, I can say, this committee means so much more. We give time and energy to talk about the important and relevant equity, diversity and inclusion topics that are happening in the world and how they impact Cont Ed staff and students in our boards. The committee creates a safe space and forum for its diverse members to have a voice, influence professional development, and take action in simple, yet meaningful ways. We look for how EDI can be infused in all sectors within adult and continuing education.”
Michele Breault, Waterloo Catholic District School Board
It started with Braveheart. Yes, the 1995 Mel Gibson film. After seeing the film, I was obsessed with Scottish history. This was my first exposure to the idea of oppression and inequality. I continued to be drawn to books with diverse voices. Books like Trinity, Roots and The Poisonwood Bible stand out in my memory. My studies in English Lit and History often focused on post-colonial narratives.
Later, I was part of the Social Justice Committee at my church in Toronto. One of my roles on that committee was to arrange guest speakers to engage the congregation on various EDI topics. The congregation was the second in Canada to become an LGBTQ+ Affirming church, yet many struggled with the idea of using different pronouns. This has served as a reminder for me of why EDI work needs to be evolving and ongoing.
When I joined the HWDSB and became a CESBA member, joining the EDI Committee seemed like the perfect fit. At first, I was intimidated, feeling like I didn’t have enough knowledge to be helping others learn about EDI. I hoped to do some of my own learning through working with the Committee. The Committee is anything but intimidating! I found a supportive group that knows they don’t have all the answers, but we have a shared passion and work to find guest speakers who do have knowledge and expertise, and to provide reliable resources so that we can all learn together. I’ve continued with the Committee for these past five years because, even when my regular work is hectic, I feel like the work we do in EDI is valuable to me personally and to my program, and I hope it’s valuable to others across A&CE as well.
Angela Parkin, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Bonjour! I joined CESBA’s Equity and Inclusion committee because I think it is so important for educators to have the tools and training to create a truly inclusive and understanding learning environment. The more we learn, the more we can better understand what barriers some of our students may be facing, and the more we can think of ways to minimize the impact of these barriers. By being a part of this committee, I also get to enjoy the insightful conversations and collaborative learning experiences we share. The discussions we have and the knowledge we gain together make our collective work even more rewarding. And, hopefully, the resources our committee shares are helpful to others.
Anne-Marie Pinel, Ottawa Catholic School Board
Joining this committee has been one of the best decisions I have made in my role as a Literacy and Basic Skills Lead. Seeing that recent years’ movement towards developing EDI policies in education was K-12 specific, I was curious about how to apply best practice and help educate my staff and the larger Con Ed department for adult learners. This committee has taken a collaborative approach to seeking out resources and providing education opportunities for the Adult & Continuing Education programs in the province. Listening to the voices of lived experience and having the opportunity to work with a discerning group of adult educators has been very fulfilling.
Lori Sheppard, Lambton-Kent District School Board