I have been organizing a symposium on education equity to take place at
the University of Saskatchewan that I hope will help to reach some of the
uninterested and apathetic. It is called "From Many Peoples, Strength:
Transforming Education through Equity."
Through the week of March 9 there will be sessions given in classes and on
a drop-in basis to outline the basic issues.
sessions designed with position papers followed by working groups so that
everyone who attends can have a say.
The whole symposium is designed to be as accessible as possible: there is
no registration fee, child care is provided, there will be signing for the
deaf and hearing impaired and the program will be available in Braille.
Refreshment breaks and lunch are provided. Everyone is invited, from
people directly connected with the academic community, to the corporate
community (especially employment equity people -- they have a tough time
meeting their goals, partly because of shortcomings in education
equity), members of community groups, etc.
Dr. Glenda Simms, past president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the
Status of Women and current Executive Director of the Jamaican Women's
Bureau is the keynote speaker. Other speakers include teachers from all
levels of the education system, students, administrators, politicians,
equity consultants. They will discuss equity issues from very diverse
perspectives.
The proceedings of the symposium, including input from the working groups,
will be published.
Here is the program:
FROM MANY PEOPLES, STRENGTH: TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH
EQUITY
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
THURS. MARCH 12, 8-10, PLACE RIEL THEATRE
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
DR. GLENDA SIMMS, Executive Director of the Jamaican Bureau of Women's Affa=
irs, former
President of the Canadian Advisory Council of the Status of Women
"The Rocky Road to Equity: The New Millenium Beckons"
FRI. MARCH 13, 9-12, PLACE RIEL THEATRE
PLENARY SESSION: "How far have we come?" =20
Dr. Vera Pezer Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs and Services, U=
niversity of
Saskatchewan
Hon. Keith Goulet Minister of Northern Affairs, Province of Saskatchewan
Hon. Joanne Crofford Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Skills T=
raining, Province of
Saskatchewan
Jim Miller Professor, History Department, University of Saskatchew=
an
Peter Flood Professor, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University=
of Saskatchewan
Pamela Smith Chair of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, Chair of=
Sample Survey
and Data Bank Unit, University of Regina
FRI. MARCH 13, 1:30-4:30, PLACE RIEL THEATRE
WORKING SESSION: "Is "Special" equitable?"
Heather Kuttai Director of Services for Students with Disabilities, Univers=
ity of
Saskatchewan
Sel Murray Manager of Student Affairs and International Student Se=
rvices, University
of Regina
Linda Sutherland, Professor of Indian Studies, Saskatchewan Indian
Federated College.
Karon Shmon Assistant Executive Director, Gabriel Dumont Institute
FRI. MAR. 13, 7:30-9:30, ARTS 143
DEBATE: BE IT RESOLVED THAT WITHOUT DIVERSITY THERE CAN BE NO
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE,
Moderator: Peter McKinnon, Dean, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan
For: Louise Forsyth, Professor, Department of Women's and Gender Studies, a=
nd Department of
Modern Languages and Linguistics, University of Saskatchewan
Against: M.G. Bickis, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and St=
atistics, University
of Saskatchewan
SAT. MARCH 14 9-12, ROOM 143 ARTS
WORKING SESSION: "How do we Teach for diversity?"
Wilf Dub=82 Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of Re=
gina
Vernon McCarthy Professor (retired), Department of English, Campion Col=
lege, University of
Regina
Wendy Schissel Co-President, St. Peter's College
Gwen Dueck Director, Saskatchewan Professional Development Unit, S=
askatchewan
Teachers' Federation
Keith Taylor Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Un=
iversity of
Saskatchewan
SAT. MARCH 14, 1:30-4:30, ROOM 143 ARTS
WORKING SESSION: "How does the Institution change for diversity?"
Kironmoy Datta President, Graduate Students' Associaton, University of Sask=
atchewan
Dierdre Desmarais Registrar, Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, Regin=
a
Della Anaquod Dean of Student Services
Diana Relke Professor, Department of Women's and Gender Studies, Un=
iversity of
Saskatchewan
Brenda Hackl Education Equity Coordinator, SIAST
Susan Vincent
<vincents@duke.usask.ca>