Upcoming Event - KPU's Fourth Annual Anti-Racism Symposium
Call for Proposals
The Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities is excited to announce that KPU’s Fourth Annual Anti-Racism Symposium will take place on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the KPU Surrey Conference Centre from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Registration details to come.
Held annually in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the symposium provides a dedicated space to confront racism and to showcase internal and external research, scholarship, and creative work related to racism and anti-racism. As in previous years, we look forward to a full day of learning, unlearning, collaborating, and listening.
Students, faculty, and staff across KPU are invited to submit proposals highlighting their work on anti-racism topics and initiatives. To learn how to submit a proposal to present at the symposium, click here.
- Proposals due: Monday, February 2, 2026
- Email proposals or questions to: oeic@kpu.ca
Upcoming Workshops
The Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities is hosting a series of online educational workshops to support ongoing employee learning around equity, diversity and inclusion. See below for our list of offerings.
Islamophobia Awareness
We are collaborating with the National Council of Canadian Muslims to provide workshops to deepen learning on Islam, Muslim identity and Islamophobia. This is a two-part training and all who register are encouraged to attend both sessions.
- Understanding and Challenging Islamophobia
This workshop explores how Islamophobia may be impacting our communities and public institutions. Participants will examine how negative public narratives about the Islamic faith affect Muslim learners or staff. Through case studies and practical recommendations, you will develop the capacity to identify and disrupt Islamophobic biases, helping to create a more equitable and inclusive environment for everyone. - Islamic Heritage Awareness
Building on the principles of equity and inclusion, this workshop focuses on expanding the capacity in affirming Muslim identities. Who are Muslims? What are the core values of the community? What is the history of Islamic heritage in Canada. We will focus on practical ways to champion belonging. You'll gain valuable insights and resources to help remove barriers to equitable education and create a welcoming space where all Muslim learners can thrive.
These workshops will be offered twice—once in Fall 2025 and again in Spring 2026. We encourage all participants to attend either the Fall or Spring trainings.
Fall 2025
- Islamic Heritage Awareness - Dec 11, 2025 - 10:00–11:30 am
- Understanding and Challenging Islamophobia - Dec 17, 2025 - 1:00–2:30 pm
Spring 2026
- Understanding and Challenging Islamophobia - Jan 23, 2026 - 10:00–11:30 am
- Islamic Heritage Awareness - Feb 18, 2026 - 01:00–2:30 pm
To register for these workshops, please email oeic.reg@kpu.ca and indicate the session(s) you wish to attend.
Antisemitism Awareness
We are collaborating with JQT Vancouver to provide an online workshop focused on understanding antisemitism, its historical and contemporary impacts, Jewish identity, and media representation.
This workshop will be offered twice, and employees are invited to attend one of the following sessions:
- Oct 10, 2025 - 10:00 am - 12:15 pm
- Oct 31, 2025 - 10:00 am - 12:15 pm
To register for this workshop, please email oeic.reg@kpu.ca and indicate the session you wish to attend.
Anti-Racism Trainings
We are collaborating with Hook or Crook Consulting to provide KPU employees with online workshops to deepen learning around Anti-Racism this fall into spring 2026.
Unpacking White Supremacy Culture - Sept 11, 2025 - 2:00-4:00 pm
This session offers an introductory understanding of the ways that white supremacy culture functions across in our day-to-day lives. Participants will learn about ways that we can take action to disrupt white supremacy culture within professional and personal relationships, at work and beyond.
Intersectional & Justice-Oriented Leadership - Oct 15, 2025 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
This session gives participants an opportunity to explore how to divest from common tactics, tools and practices that are rooted in white supremacy culture within our organizations. Together, we explore several foundational responsibilities of leaders through an intersectional, power-conscious and socially just lens.
Power Is Everywhere - Nov 27, 2025 - 1:00-3:00 pm
In this session, participants will explore how power impacts team dynamics, team functioning and collaboration. Together, we will consider and explore the ways that power intersects with communication, and how we can use our power in ethical dignifying and empowering ways. We’ll define power, locate where it comes from and how power affects us and others.
Transforming Harm & Skilling Up for Hard Conversations - Dec 10, 2025 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
This workshop is intended to support teams and groups in skilling-up for difficult conversations, conflict, and harm. Together, we’ll cultivate more life-affirming ways of addressing harm. Drawing on the lessons and teachings offered by transformative justice approaches, participants will be challenged to integrate anti-oppressive values into practice.
Heart-Centered Foundations to Change - Jan 14, 2026 - 1:00-3:00 pm
This workshop offers a space for individuals to develop, hone, and implement their own anti-oppressive practice. Through the exploration of themes like humility, reflection, vigilance, and nuance, you learn to establish the foundations of collective change--starting with yourself.
Beyond Buzz Words - Honouring Lived Experience - Feb 4, 2026 - 1:00-3:00 pm
This workshop will support hiring committees, HR professionals, recruitment and retention professionals in developing meaningful understandings of what lived experience is, its value and role in our professional spaces, the needs of those with lived experience, and how organizations can ensure lived experience holders thrive in our workplaces.
To register for these workshops, please email oeic.reg@kpu.ca and indicate the session(s) you wish to attend.
Launch of KPU's EDI Action Plan
Over the past few years, KPU has deepened its commitment to social justice making it one of the key pillars of Vision 2026. This includes a firm dedication to Indigenization and decolonization, anti-racism, accessibility, and equity, diversity and inclusion.
With the launch of our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan on July 22, 2025, we are further affirming our responsibility to advance equity and inclusion across the institution.
Recording of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan Launch:
Past Events
Pride 2025
The Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities is very excited to host and participate in a number of Pride events across the lower mainland over the summer. For more details or to get involved email oeic@kpu.ca. Below is the list of events.
- June 24 – Workshop: Out on Screen: Pride is Protest – Online
- June 28 – Surrey Pride Festival – Civic Plaza
- July 3 – Workshop: Two-Spirit History with Jessy Dame – Online
- July 18 – White Rock Pride Flag Raising and Pride Ride – White Rock
- August 3 – Vancouver Pride Parade – Downtown Vancouver
- August 9 – Langley Pride Day – Langley
AccessAbility Week 2025
AccessAbility Week took place at KPU from May 25 – May 31, 2025 to recognize and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities while promoting accessibility and inclusion across the campus community. This week highlighted the importance of removing barriers—physical, systemic, and attitudinal—to ensure equitable opportunities for all students and employees. By centering disability justice and fostering dialogue, AccessAbility Week encourages a more inclusive and equitable learning environment, aligning with KPU’s commitment to diversity and the principles of universal design.
The Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities, in collaboration with the Accessibility Committee, Lead Advisor on Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion, the Library, Teaching & Learning, Accessibility Services, and Rec Services hosted a number of events, resource fairs, and workshops for students and employees to attend.
The calendar of events for AccessAbility Week can be accessed here
Breaking Down Barriers in the Classroom: What is Academic Ableism? – April 23 and May 28, 2025
The following workshop was created and hosted in collaboration with Lisa Gedak from the Teaching & Learning Commons, Dr. Fiona Whittington-Walsh, the Lead Advisor for Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion, and Trina Prince from the Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities.
Academic ableism is a pervasive yet often unrecognized issue in educational contexts. In this two-hour online workshop, faculty gained an understanding of academic ableism, including its definitions, the ways it shows up in the classroom, and how it impacts students with disabilities negatively.
KPU’s Third Annual Anti-Racism Symposium - March 21, 2025
Recording of the Third Annual Anti-Racism Symposium:
Leading up to and during Black History Month, the OEIC collaborated with Dr. Nicole Kaniki of Senomi Solutions to host a series of online workshops designed to help employees deepen their understanding of anti-racism.
- January 24, 2025 - Foundations of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Academia
- February 5, 2025 - Black History and Culture
- February 18, 2025 - Anti-racism and Anti-oppression in Action
The OEIC collaborated with Invisible Condition to provide KPU employees with online workshops to deepen learning around disability inclusion.
- November 15, 2024 – Disability Inclusion: Advocacy in the Workplace
- December 11, 2024 – Talking about Unusually Normal Things: The Words We Use Have an Impact
- January 15, 2025 – Authentic Curiosity: Less Advice and More Curiosity, Please
February 13, 2025 – The Three R’s of Resilience: How to Bounce Back to a Pre-Crisis State
The OEIC worked with Hook or Crook Consulting to provide KPU employees with online workshops to deepen learning around Anti-Racism.
- September 19, 2024 – Transforming Harm
- October 7, 2024 – Heart-Centered Foundations to Change
KPU's Second Annual Anti-Racism Symposium - March 21, 2024
Recording of the Second Annual Anti-Racism Symposium:
KPU's Inaugural Anti-Racism Symposium - March 21, 2023
Recording of the Inaugural Anti-Racism Symposium:
KPU Task Force on Anti-Racism (TFA) - Launch of Final Report and Recommendations
Recording of TFA Launch of Final Report and Recommendations: