The 2025 conference theme
Across universities, companies, and organizations, we are witnessing a troubling shift鈥攁 retreat from commitments to Indigenization, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (IDEIA). Once heralded as essential frameworks for fostering equitable and just institutions, these commitments are now increasingly de-prioritized, defunded, and dismissed.
This conference will critically examine the structural, political, and economic forces driving this erasure. How have national and global trends鈥攕uch as political backlash, legal challenges, and austerity measures鈥攅nabled institutions to sideline IDEIA initiatives? How does this shift impact marginalized communities, particularly Indigenous peoples, Black people, racialized groups, trans and gender-non conforming individuals, people with disabilities, and equity-denied populations who have long fought for systemic change?
Through a keynote addresses, panel discussions, and film screening, we will explore:
- The rollback of institutional IDEIA commitments and its broader implications.
- The weaponization of "neutrality" and "meritocracy" in justifying the erasure of equity efforts.
- Strategies for resistance, coalition-building, and sustaining progress in an increasingly hostile climate.
- The role of grassroots activism, scholarly research, and policy advocacy in reclaiming and advancing IDEIA work.
As the landscape changes, we must ask: What is at stake? Who benefits from this erasure? And most importantly, how can we mobilize to resist and rebuild?
This conference is a call to action鈥攁n opportunity to critically reflect, strategize, and reaffirm our collective commitment to justice, accountability, and meaningful transformation.
Schedule
Thursday, March 20
The Honourable Wanda Thomas Bernard, PhD, C.M., O.N.S.
Senator - Nova Scotia (East Preston)
In November 2016, Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard became the first African Nova Scotian woman to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. She proudly holds her position in the Red Chamber representing the province of Nova Scotia, championing issues impacting African Canadians nationally in her work. Senator Bernard is a proud resident of East Preston, where she lives with her husband George, their daughter Candace, son-in-law David and grandsons Damon and Gavin.
Throughout her social work career, Senator Bernard has maintained a deep dedication to social justice and racial justice. Based on this work and perseverance she was awarded the Order of Canada in 2005, and the Order of Nova Scotia in 2014. After practicing frontline social work in Nova Scotia and founding the Association of Black Social Workers in 1979, Senator Bernard became a professor at the 麻豆传媒 School of Social Work in 1990 where she subsequently held the position of Director for 10 years. During her time at 麻豆传媒, Senator Bernard developed a curriculum for the 鈥楢fricentric Social Work鈥 course. In 2016, she was appointed Special Advisor on Diversity and Inclusiveness at 麻豆传媒 and is the first African Nova Scotian to hold a tenure track position. In 2017, Senator Bernard was the first African Canadian to be appointed Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work (SSW) at 麻豆传媒; the first woman within the SSW to achieve this appointment. In recognition of her work to advance diversity and inclusion through leadership, activism, research and community efforts, Senator Bernard was awarded the Frank McKenna Award for Leadership in Public Policy in 2021. She has also received the Order of Canada, the Order of Nova Scotia, and honorary Doctorate Degrees from Mount Saint Vincent, Carleton, McMaster and the University of Windsor.听
Senator Bernard has continued to enact social justice and fight for racial justice in the Senate. She is proud to be a member of the Progressive Senate Group, and a founding member of the African Canadian Senate Group.
Friday, March 21
Dr. K茅sa Munroe-Anderson is a zealous, community-oriented, change agent who practices an Africentric, Black feminist, anti-racist approach to leadership.听 She has attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Honours (1999) and a Master of Arts Degree in English (2000) from Acadia University, as well as a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning with a focus in Africentric Leadership at Mount Saint Vincent University, graduating in 2008 as valedictorian of her class. In 2013, Dr. Munroe-Anderson successfully attained a Doctorate Award from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She has been awarded numerous other honours including a Doctorate Award from Mount Vincent University鈥檚 Faculty of Education in 2013, and a Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute graduate research fellowship in 2014 and 2015. In May 2018, Dr. Munroe-Anderson was the first person of African descent to graduate from the Inter-university Doctor of Educational Studies program, with Mount Saint Vincent University being her degree granting institution. She was awarded the Harrison McCain Emerging Scholar research award in 2022 from Acadia University.听 Most recently, on May 6, 2024, Dr. Munroe-Anderson was awarded The King鈥檚 Coronation Medal for her contributions and service in the field of education.听 She was one of the first Canadians to be awarded this distinguished honour.听 听听
Dr. Munroe-Anderson has demonstrated strategic leadership in numerous employment capacities including African Nova Scotian Affairs Advisor and lead of the African Nova Scotian Affairs Integration Office within the Halifax Regional Municipality and Director of Race Relations, Equity and Inclusion with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Her expertise in adult education have led her to serve as sessional professor in the Faculty of Education at Mount Saint Vincent University, where she has taught at both the Bachelor of Education and Master of Education in Lifelong Learning levels. In 2021, Dr. Munroe-Anderson served the Province of Nova Scotia in the position of Deputy Minister for the Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage where her portfolio included the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, the Office of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, and the Office of Gaelic Affairs. She was the first person of African descent and the first Black woman to serve in this role.听
Currently, Dr. Munroe-Anderson is serving as Associate Professor in the School of Education at her alma mater, Acadia University where she is also Coordinator of the new 2025 Africentric Bachelor of Education Cohort, a partnership between the Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) and Acadia鈥檚 School of Education.听 This program responds to the need for equitable representation of Black teachers in Nova Scotia鈥檚 public school system. She is also Program Lead of the Master of Education in Inclusive Education鈥檚 Equity and Social Justice Cohorts designed to build and develop Nova Scotia鈥檚 capacity of Equity and Social Justice leaders in education.
Born and raised in The Bahamas, Dr. Munroe-Anderson embraces and has been embraced by the African Nova Scotian community of Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia for almost thirty years and she resides there with her husband, Rev. Dr. Lennett Anderson and their three children. A woman of faith, she is an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church 鈥 鈥淭he Meeting Place鈥, in Upper Hammonds Plains where her husband is senior pastor, and where she has served in numerous leadership capacities.听 Dr. Munroe-Anderson is passionate about work that fosters the creation of opportunities for people of African descent and their communities, and other marginalized and equity deserving groups to develop, prosper, and attain their full potential.听 听
Panelists
Shruti Gola Taraschi-Carr is the Director of Race Relations, Equity, and Inclusion for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.听 The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is committed to actively engaging and working with all Nova Scotians and our diverse communities to address issues of discrimination by effectively advancing equity and dignity, fostering positive and respectful relationships, and protecting human rights. Shruti, or Gola as she is more commonly known, has worked for a number of years to seed and cultivate restorative processes in criminal justice, community services, child welfare settings, schools, post-secondary and workplace settings.听
Colleen Belle is the Coordinator of the Welcoming Communities program at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), where she has worked since 2019. She has a Master of Arts (with merit) in Cross-Cultural Communication and International Relations from the UK. As a member of the Communities Integration Services (CIS) team at ISANS, her work relates to Intercultural-听Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (I-EDI) training.听Colleen designs, develops, and delivers a variety of I-EDI听workshops that empower various audiences.听She also participates in working groups and advises on Steering Committees and panels to dismantle systemic racism and provide equitable opportunities for immigrants and marginalized communities.听
Colleen utilizes her knowledge and expertise in 6 fields, her diverse background,听and her experiences from managing, marketing, consulting, and tutoring at a university, to provide practical and engaging learning opportunities for various audiences, and to strengthen community capacity and engagement. She is looking forward to engaging with you at the 5th annual Human Rights and Equity Conference.
Daisy Peter-Paul is a passionate and dedicated working professional who is committed to supporting and empowering Indigenous students in higher education. With deep roots in the Metepenagiag Mi鈥檏maq Nation, Daisy brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, enhancing the academic experience for students within the Faculty of Engineering at 麻豆传媒 through her role at the Ulnooweg Education Centre.
Currently pursuing a Master鈥檚 degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of New Brunswick, expected to be completed in Spring of 2026, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University, majoring in psychology and native studies. Daisy also holds a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Counselling and a Diploma in Cybersecurity. Her educational background, combined with her diverse skill set, equips her with a multifaceted approach to technology, mental health and wellbeing.
In her current role as the Indigenous Pathways Program Coordinator, Daisy excels in building and maintaining relationships with Indigenous students, promoting pathways to success, and providing both academic and cultural advising. Her previous experience as the Treaty Rights Education Coordinator for Mi鈥檊mawe鈥檒 Tplu鈥檛aqnn Inc. allowed her to facilitate educational sessions and advocate for the rights and traditions of the Mi鈥檊maq people, demonstrating her commitment to education and community engagement.
With a strong foundation in leadership, adaptability, communication, and problem-solving, Daisy is open to new opportunities that align with her dedication to helping others. She is passionate about educating those around her and is eager to contribute to the mental health field, leveraging her diverse experiences and deep cultural insights to make a meaningful impact.
DeRico Symonds is a 8th generation African Nova Scotian currently employed with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute as the Director of Engagement and Justice Initiatives.
DeRico Symonds is the founder and President of Ignite Consulting, as well as a founding member of two non-profit organizations, ACCE (Arts, Culture, Community, Economics) and GC902 (Game Changers 902), a social justice advocacy group based in Halifax.
DeRico has been awarded the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Century of Service Award, the Irving & Ruth Pink award for youth development and social justice, and the Dr Burnley 鈥淩ocky鈥 Jones Human Right award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
With an extensive career in community work in our racialized and marginalized communities, DeRico has a wealth of community engagement experience. DeRico provides counselling to marginalized youth and is called upon during incidences of gun violence in our Black communities. DeRico Symonds is also an Impact Race and Cultural Assessor (IRCA) with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute serving Atlantic Canada. DeRico has worked with Department of National Defense, Canada Border services Agency, United Way Halifax, Mount Saint Vincent University, Acadia University, among many others in delivering workshops and training on topics such systemic racism, white privilege, as well as African Nova Scotian history, leadership, and education.
DeRico was the co-chair of the National Black Canadian Summit held in Halifax (2022), Nova Scotia alongside Vanessa Fells (Director of Operations, DPAD), he is a member of the National Justice Action committee with the Black Opportunity Fund and a former commissioner with the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. He spearheaded the province-wide engagement with the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEA) to create Bill 96: The Dismantling Hate & Racism Act and supported the writing of the legislation. Additionally, DeRico led the engagement with the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Municipality of Edmonton, with the assistance of Dr. El Jones, to create their Anti-Black Racism Action Plans.
In 2019, DeRico was given the opportunity to represent Canada at a United Nations event in Senegal, West Africa. His accomplishments have been further recognized by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, who have selected him to attend the United Nations Global Forum on Persons of African Descent in New York City in May 2023.
DeRico has tirelessly advocated for communities across the Atlantic provinces and Canada wide on issues including but not limited to: Poverty, Unemployment, Affordable Housing, Marginalization and Community Violence. DeRico Symonds holds an undergraduate degree in Child & Youth Study (2012) and completed a MEd in Counselling through Acadia University (2018). DeRico also has his Canadian Counselling Certification through the Canadian Counselling & Psychotherapy Association of Canada.
Carmel Farahbakhsh (they/them) is a community educator, arts maker, and youth worker. They have collaborated on the Khyber Centre for the Arts board for six years, and hold a position as co-director of local music festival EVERYSEEKER. In 2020, they transitioned from a five-year term coordinating South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre to working as the Executive Director at the Youth Project, seeing a direct link between this community work and access to creative spaces and the arts community. As the Executive Director of the Youth Project, Carmel holds a youth-centric approach to organizational movement and support. Carmel builds their vision from their community education background and aims to apply an anti-racist and trauma-informed framework to their work. They also collaborate and organize with local initiatives, artist-run-centres, and community partners with an aim to create wider 2SQTBIPOC community and support systems within the province.
鈥淎s an agent for social change, I utilize education, music and artistic approaches to open minds and hearts, to unlearn oppressive practices, to transform daily intentions and actions into spiritual labor that yields a more just and harmonious world鈥 - Delvina E. Bernard
Delvina Bernard is a proud mother of two daughters and an 8th generation African Nova Scotian who traces her family roots to the Black Loyalists of 1783 (Yarmouth and Lequille) and the Black Refugees of 1812 (Lake Loon, Cherry Brook, Guysborough Rd). For more than 30 years, Delvina has dedicated her professional and personal life, as an educator, senior administrator, cultural analyst and musician, to developing strategic initiatives aimed at dismantling all forms of systemic discrimination. As an institutional change strategist and social justice advocate, Delvina has led the design and implementation of numerous educational, cultural, and economic development programs to advance and upskill historically marginalized, underrepresented, equity deserving groups. Delvina has traveled globally as an ambassador for anti-racism, anti-poverty and gender justice causes and has received regional and national awards for her leadership in the arts, education, and international development. Delvina is currently employed as the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Advisor at Mount Saint Vincent University. She holds degrees in Business, Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. She is currently a part time PhD student at Saint Mary鈥檚 University conducting qualitative research on economic models for Reparatory Justice.
Registration
Contact us
If you have questions about the conference, contact the organizers on hres@dal.ca
Previous conference themes
- Pulling the Red Card on Racism: Teaming Up to Transform Sport & Recreation (2024)
- The Role of Curriculum in Combating Racism (2023)听
- Learning from the Past to Build for the From Community to Campus: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Justice (2021)
- Future: Challenging Discrimination from the Global to Local (2020)
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