Students, staff and faculty are invited to apply from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1.

“Clearly, systemic oppression in all of its forms is still alive and well. We all have to do our part to keep working to change inequitable systems,” says Robin Attas, EDIA Specialist, Extended Education.

“The responsible thing to do is to step up and do our part. Do it for the people you love. Do it for your children, family, friends, and colleagues. If you want to help, learn more by taking this course.”

EDIA: Foundations provides a framework to make sense of the world and a place to learn with each other, she says. The course and three-course micro-certificate are offered to the UM community at no cost to learners.

“Our numbers are strong. We have participants from every faculty and many units on campus. It’s amazing how much it has grown, and it is amazing to see this continue.”

Attas invites UM community members including students, staff and faculty to join the UM’s growing EDIA learning community and apply for the course. And those who have already taken it can invite their peers.

EDIA learner, Jasmine Brar, recommends the program.

“We all need to understand our experiences and our barriers we face in our daily lives. If we move those barriers, there is so much we can achieve,” says Brar.

EDIA 0100: Foundations and the Micro-certificate in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) are offered by Extended Education in partnership with the Office of Equity Transformation and with the support of the UM President’s Office as part of UM’s efforts to improve equity and access across UM campuses by educating and empowering UM staff, students and faculty to contribute to individual and collective transformation.

“The University of Manitoba remains firmly committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA). It is in our Strategic Plan,” Attas says. “This is one way UM, and Extended Education, demonstrate that commitment.”

Apply now

EDIA 0100: Foundations course applications are open from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1.

Learn how to apply to the EDIA: Foundations course

In 2017, the Report of the United Nations Working Group for People of African Descent  pointed out, during its mission to Canada, that anti-Black racism in Canadian institutions and policies has become so entrenched that it is “functionally normalized or rendered invisible, especially to the dominant group”. Black communities in Canada today continue to endure injustices and inequalities. The UN Working Group Report recommended the development and implementation of a justice strategy to address the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system.

Canada’s Black Justice Strategy is the federal government’s response to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada that has led to this overrepresentation. The Strategy was developed in consultation with Black communities across Canada with an external Steering Group of experts and leaders. Faculty of Law alum Zilla Jones was appointed a member of this Steering Group and co-authored the resulting Steering Group Report titled A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.

The Report sets out 114 recommendations to address anti-Black racism including eight overarching accountability measures that would have significant impact across the criminal justice system. The Report was published in July, 2024, and on February 25, 2025, the Department of Justice Canada announced the release of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy’s Implementation Plan.

Join the Faculty of Law for this unique opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion on justice and equity. This event is free but seating is limited, so please let us know you are coming. Register here.

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Location: Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Rd, Winnipeg
Doors Open: 5:30 PM | Keynote & Panel: 6:00 PM
Free parking behind Robson Hall – check Google Maps: “University of Manitoba L Lot: https://maps.umanitoba.ca

Students, staff and faculty are invited to apply from Nov. 21 to 28.

The first offering of the course, offered at no cost to the UM community, wrapped up in June. “It was amazing,” says Robin Attas, Project Lead, University of Manitoba Equity Diversity Inclusion Accessibility credential.  “It was exciting watching people interact with each other across roles. Staff, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students were all having important conversations and helping each other to learn more. Everyone was teaching and learning from each other.”

Learners who complete the prerequisite can go on to the three-course micro-certificate, introduced in Fall 2024, to expand on their EDIA learning.

EDIA 0100: Foundations and the Micro-certificate in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) are offered in partnership with the Office of Equity Transformation and with the support of the UM President’s Office as part of UM’s efforts to improve equity and access across UM campuses by educating and empowering UM staff, students and faculty to contribute to individual and collective transformation.

“We can all do and learn more. Whether you are an expert or just beginning your journey with EDIA, you have a place here,” says Attas.

Apply for the prerequisite

EDIA 0100: Foundations course applications are open from Nov. 21 to Nov. 28 and learners are again invited to participate through a lottery process.

Learn how to apply to the EDIA: Foundations course

“No one will ever be too old to learn,” says the panelist at Extended Education’s recent Homecoming 2024 webinar.  

“Lifelong learning has become a way of life for me. There is a need for us to constantly improve ourselves. We need the education system to keep up. Extended Education has provided a flexible education system that was suitable for my stage and is suitable for all stages in life.”

The title of the webinar, Futures of education: equity, inclusion and lifelong learning, refers to the concept of the evolution of education created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), says moderator, Ute Kothe, Dean, Extended Education. “Yes. There are many futures. Education is key to addressing the needs of our changing society. Our education systems must be ready to tackle the challenges of the future. And, at Extended Education, we want to empower all learners, to break down barriers. We start with equity and create inclusive spaces.”

A warm smile

Onyike is an accomplished professional with credentials from Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She remembers attending the orientation for her UM studies and shares her experience.

The challenge for an international student is to adapt to the diversity of people from all around the world, she says. “It can be overwhelming, but when staff greet you with the greatest smile you have ever seen, you know it is going to be okay. Continue the warm smile. That first impression matters. I felt assurance we were in good hands. Later, I wanted to be the one offering that warm smile.”

A holistic approach

Education is about personal and professional growth, says panelist Carlos Miranda García- Personal Counsellor, Access and Aboriginal Focus Programs. “A holistic approach explores different parts of who we are- in heart, mind, body, and spirit.” The Access Program includes Indigenous and newcomer students. “They have different identities and stories, yet parallels can be drawn from those stories. Holistic principles encourage us to see interconnectedness in all things. “When students connect to themselves and their communities, they can also see this interconnectedness.”

Creating wrap-around supports and understanding there are different pathways to healing are essential, he says. “Supports like counselling provide a scaffolding for students as they come into their journey.”

For example, he remembers a student who was struggling with the possibility of becoming homeless, and wrap-around supports were able to quickly help them through. Also, many students have their doubts, struggling with imposter syndrome, but holistic support can help them to realize this is where they belong, he says.

EDIA

Panelist Robin Attas, Project Lead, UM Equity Diversity Inclusion Accessibility (EDIA) micro-certificate and Foundations course says, “Learners are human beings. Learning happens not just in the classroom. And you can’t learn if you are hungry, experiencing homelessness, or facing racism. EDIA reminds everyone we all have a role to play and more to learn.”

It’s important for educators to continually learn and adapt to the needs of their students, Attas says. “Each learner is unique. As educators, we should always strive to be better, more equitable, more fair, more inclusive in our teaching.”

She adds, “The UM EDIA program emphasizes competency development including not just content but skills and habits of mind. This empowers and motivate learners, whether UM staff, students, or faculty, to take action towards educational futures that better serve society, building capacity at the University of Manitoba for doing this important work.”

Community

Panelist Vicki Hatt, Instructor, Academic Language Support, shares highlights of some of the work she does. “We invite the elder to orientation and encourage students to bring their culture with them to their studies. We look at academic integrity and building a sense of community. Our setting up for success workshop includes experiential learning with meditation and a desk stretch to help relax students.”

Diversity

And we are learning in a diverse world, says Onyike.

“In Canada, all sorts of people are in our classrooms. I love how diverse we all are- in appearance, perspective, culture. We need to offer a variety of learning approaches to meet diverse needs, to prepare us for a complex multicultural workplace. When we learn that mindset, we ease effortlessly into the workplace.”

Watch the webinar.

Earlier in the summer of 2024, the Faculty of Law announced the development of a the program which would to enable Internationally Trained Lawyers to complete two micro-diplomas that would allow them to meet Law Society of Manitoba requirements to become licensed to practice law here. All the program needed was a Director. Harris will fill that role by administering and leading the beginning phases of this initiative for the next two years.

“Laurelle will also retain the equity and transformation portfolio that has been ably stewarded by our other Directors, notably Trina McFadyen and Dr. Laura Reimer,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. “This will be a seamless portfolio because the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program (ITLP) will attract a diverse array of students with multifaceted life experiences. In getting to this point in the ITLP’s development we should acknowledge the development work of Tamra Alexander, Dr. Reimer and Jenna Chemerika.”

“The ITL Program has the potential to make a significant impact on the careers of internationally-trained lawyers, the clients they will serve, and our ability to impact access to justice in Manitoba,” said Harris.

Harris (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Women’s Studies, History) and has undertaken graduate studies in Women’s Studies and Black Studies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She earned her law degree in 2001 from Robson Hall and is an experienced litigator with formal training in mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution undertaken locally and at York University in Toronto, Ontario. 

For most of her career, Harris practiced law with a mid-sized firm in Winnipeg. From 2018 to 2024, she continued to practice law through Harris Law Solutions, practicing primarily in the area of family law. In 2020 she founded Equitable Solutions Consulting to pursue her passion for helping organizations develop the skills and capacity to function equitably.

“Equity and transformation, to paraphrase Lily Zheng, are commitments to the practice of ensuring wellbeing, success, and the absence of mistreatment and discrimination for all,” said Harris. “It is my intention to lead the work in equity and transformation at Robson Hall with these commitments in mind.”

In 2023, she was appointed King’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of Manitoba for demonstrating outstanding practice, integrity, leadership, and excellence in the legal profession.

Harris has been a frequent guest lecturer in anti-racism and equity in various classes at the Faculty of Law, including advanced family law, negotiation, and access to justice courses. She had taught in the capacity of Practicing Professional Instructor, and previously co-taught Family, and taught Gender in the Law. In appreciation and recognition of her contributions to legal education, the Faculty of Law made Harris a “Jurist of Robson Hall” in 2023.

“I am thrilled to return to the Robson Hall community and am looking forward to connecting with students and collaborating with colleagues to bring our vision of a more equitable and accessible law school to life,” said Harris.

“Inequities cost us lost opportunities, and lost talent. Society loses out. We need everyone at the table, to solve the world’s challenges. We need a well-educated, diverse workforce, so businesses can get the best employees,” says Ute Kothe, Dean, Extended Education, moderator for University of Manitoba (UM) Extended Education’s UM Homecoming 2024 webinar, Futures of education: equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning. Registration is required to join the Sept. 16 event.

The webinar topic is inspired by a 2021 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report, Reimagining Our Futures Together: A new social contract for education. According to the report, “This new social contract is our chance to repair past injustices and transform the future. Above all, it is based on the right to quality education throughout life.”

Education is a human right, and everyone has a right to education, from children to older adults. “UNESCO proposes the right to education should include the right to lifelong education- the key mission of Extended Education,” says Kothe.

“The report looks at the evolution of education, and how education can help us to adjust to our rapidly changing world.”

Education for all

Everyone has the right to education, no matter who they are and where they come from. We must create inclusive education and learning where everybody feels welcome. Fully implementing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) principles is crucial to the futures of education, or we will miss people and possibilities.”

Education isn’t what it used to be, and it should continue to be transformed to engage humanity so we can create better futures together.

“We in Extended Education want to inspire people for lifelong learning, so they can relate education to their work and everyday lives. And importantly, we all have to contribute to inclusive workspaces that allow everybody to participate and strive. Through inclusive education, we can learn how to achieve this goal.”

The webinar will discuss what it means to provide inclusive education, and showcase Extended Education’s approaches to providing it. The panelists will share their perspectives, and share practical approaches to creating inclusive learning environments.

EDIA

Robin Attas, project lead, EDIA credential, will discuss how the University of Manitoba is working towards an inclusive culture with our new equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility (EDIA) micro-certificate and Foundations course for the UM community. It is focused on developing competencies (skills) rather than knowledge, and offered for students, staff and faculty. Perhaps there will be interest in developing an external version shortly.

Indigenous support

Carlos Miranda García, Personal Counsellor, Access and Aboriginal Focus Programs, will share how we engage the Indigenous community through our Access Program.  “We are mindful of past problems, of silenced voices and significant harm through residential schools. We have an obligation to make good. He will look beyond education to a holistic pedagogy of care, supporting mind, body and spirit, with Indigenous knowledge and support from our Grandfather (Unkan), Wanbdi Wakita.”

Intercultural teaching and learning

Vicki Hatt, instructor, Academic Language Support, and Applied Business Management graduate, Ogadimma Onyike will explore intercultural teaching and learning. “It’s important to embrace the value of diversity. Education had become more international through global challenges and immigration. Community and individual supports are key.”

Learn more about the Sept. 16 webinar and register now

“EDIA goes beyond your job or your studies at UM. It also applies to your place in the world as a parent, sibling, friend, child. How do we make our world a better place?” says Usick.

The EDIA: Foundations course is for the UM Community including UM students, staff, and faculty. Offered by Extended Education in partnership with the Office of Equity Transformation and with the support of the UM President’s Office, it is part of the University of Manitoba’s efforts to improve equity and access across UM campuses, by educating and empowering UM staff, students, and faculty to contribute to individual and collective transformation. The course is the prerequisite for the new EDIA micro-certificate.

Brandy Usick completed the EDIA: Foundations course.

“It’s really about being a better human,” says Usick. “A key activity was drafting my own equity action statement. Now I have that to guide me into the future.”

The course reminded her to respect and celebrate diversity and the inclusion of all. “That’s important for me in my leadership role at UM. I want to ensure I do what I can to create an environment for others to feel welcome, valued and supported.”

Hearing and learning from others with different learned experiences was helpful and she says she looks forward to taking the EDIA program.  “It’s always important to reflect on what we are doing in our work. I recommend the course and encourage others to take it.”

Ifra Shami

Ifra Shami learned about the EDIA: Foundations course through her involvement with the Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance student group at UM and knew she wanted to be a part of it.

 “It reflects core values I learned growing up, at home and in school. It’s important because this ties into every aspect of our personal, professional, and academic lives,” says the undergraduate Science student studying microbiology.

Shami describes the course as very fascinating. “We learned about the definitions of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and how they are all intertwined. The self-reflection activities showed us where we are confident and strong, and where we need to grow.”

One of the biggest things she learned was that there are many kinds of diversity. “Before the course, I understood diversity to mean diversity in visible characteristics. I learned I need to specify the type of diversity because there are also hidden identities.”

Knowing that people can be diverse in more than observable ways encourages her to dig deeper and seek to better understand people, she says. “I love to ask people about themselves. I prefer to listen rather than speak. I love to hear about people’s differences and experiences.”

Her goal is to be a part of making the UM campus a better place. “If we all have this kind of appreciation, it can be a collaborative effort.”

Shami is eager to apply for the new EDIA micro-certificate and deepen her knowledge. “I want to continue to learn. This is a wonderful opportunity.”

Stephanie Chesser completed the EDIA: Foundations course.

Stephanie Chesser

Stephanie Chesser also participated in the first offering of the EDIA: Foundations course.

Chesser, an assistant professor in Kinesiology and Recreation Management, says she learned things she had not expected including new and diverse ways to present ideas. She appreciated the opening exercise, where learners shared a poem created from their answers to questions about themselves in a creative personal introduction. “They shared memories and life moments, and it provided us with awesome snapshots to learn about people in a meaningful way.”

She also loved creating an identity map, presenting herself in a visual way that she could share with others. “I loved the creative opportunities in this course. Many default to the written word. This challenged us to be creative in diverse ways.”

Chesser recommends the experience. “There are always new things to learn, little gems to take with you.”

Most importantly, she says, she created her EDIA statement. She plans to add it to her tenure package, as she continues to move forward in her career.

“It’s beautiful that we live in such a diverse society. It is important to understand subjective experiences and barriers so we can all feel like we belong. We must use power and privilege to chip away at the barriers and create a more equitable campus,” says Chesser.

“As an educator and a parent, I remind others that not everyone experiences the world like you do. See what you can do to create change.”

Learn more about EDIA: Foundations

UM students, staff, and faculty who have completed the prerequisite course, EDIA: Foundations, will soon be able to apply to the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) micro-certificate program and register for its three courses. The first two courses will be offered in Fall 2024.

“There isn’t another program like this in Canada, with this scope, and offered at no cost to the learner,” says Robin Attas, an EDIA-focused educational developer seconded from the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning to develop and facilitate the first offering.

The prerequisite course – Foundations

The first offering of the prerequisite course wraps up in June. “It has been amazing,” says Attas. “It was exciting watching people interact with each other across roles. Staff, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students were all having important conversations and helping each other to learn more. Everyone was teaching and learning from each other.”

Learners who have completed it can now continue their EDIA learning journey with the EDIA micro-certificate.

The micro-certificate – Expansions, Actions, Reflections

The Micro-certificate in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility includes three courses: EDIA: Expansions, EDIA: Actions, and EDIA: Reflections. The first two can be taken together or one after the other. The third course allows learners to reflect on what they learned and what comes next, says Attas.

This Extended Education program is a great choice for personal and professional growth, for career advancement and lifelong learning. It is offered in partnership with the Office of Equity Transformation and with the support of the UM President’s Office as part of UM’s efforts to improve equity and access across UM campuses by educating and empowering UM staff, students and faculty to contribute to individual and collective transformation.

Help the university meet commitments

“This is a program for everyone, to bring us all together to grow and learn in topics and skills related to EDIA,” says Attas. “It is a way to help the university meet its institutional commitments to respond to many UM reports and task forces: President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Final Report, Responding to Sexual Violence, Harassment and Discrimination at the University of Manitoba: A Path Forward, Anti-Racism Task Force Interim Recommendations to Address Racism, University of Manitoba Indigenous Senior Leadership report.

“We can all do and learn more. Whether you are an expert or just beginning your journey with EDIA, you have a place in this program.”

Of the learners in the original cohort, she says, “I met people who are so passionate and engaged in EDIA. The program will continue the momentum.”

Apply for the prerequisite

Attas looks forward to facilitating the second session of the prerequisite course this fall.

EDIA: Foundations course applications are open from July 22 to August 8 and learners will again be invited to participate through a lottery process. Learn how to apply to the EDIA: Foundations course.

Learn more about the program

The EDIA micro-certificate program courses will be offered this fall. Those who have completed the prerequisite are invited to apply to the program and register for courses.

Learn more about the EDIA micro-certificate.

EDIA: Foundations is a new course for the UM Community including UM students, staff, and faculty. It brings everyone together to develop knowledge and skills around equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and work towards growth and transformation both personally and on UM campuses. 

About fairness

EDIA is about fairness, says Robin Attas, an EDIA-focused educational developer seconded from the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning to develop and facilitate the first offering of this course. People are different. They have different experiences and are affected by different historical systems and institutions. Some face more barriers than others. Removing barriers ensures opportunities and promotes fairness.

For example, not everyone has equal or equitable access to post-secondary education due to systemic barriers such as the cost, location of institutions, admission requirements, and teaching strategies used.

Discussing EDIA can be uncomfortable. The discomfort comes from facing what is not right or fair.

A person confronting their own participation in systems of oppression realizes their own privilege and power and that they benefitted while others were harmed. A person learning about what is not right or fair and discussing it with others is reminded of their lived experiences that could be reflective of exactly what they are studying in this course.

When people feel awful about something, they can either pretend it doesn’t exist or do something about it.

Do something about it

Attas encourages everyone to join her in doing something about it by taking this course.

“Our discomfort can lead us to personal growth and university-wide transformation,” Attas says.

Offered by the Division of Extended Education in partnership with the Office of Equity Transformation, and with the support of the UM President’s Office, this new course is part of a campus-wide strategy to enact necessary changes around EDIA across UM campuses by educating and empowering UM staff, students, and faculty, to contribute to collective transformation.

The course will be offered in a hybrid format, including a mix of asynchronous learning modules for self-study, and synchronous facilitated sessions offered either in person or online. It is designed for everyone, no matter their educational background or prior experience and will be offered at no cost to the learner. Learners will earn a digital badge.

Students, staff, and faculty will learn together with discussions and critical self-reflection on EDIA topics. This important content can be difficult to process, so learners are encouraged to be prepared with appropriate self-care strategies.

For all of us

The EDIA: Foundations course was created in response to many UM reports and taskforces: President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Final Report, Responding to Sexual Violence, Harassment and Discrimination at the University of Manitoba: A Path Forward, Anti-Racism Task Force Interim Recommendations to Address Racism, University of Manitoba Indigenous Senior Leadership report. All recommended education and training.

“At UM, there is excellent education and training on some topics for some groups. Now there is something for all of us. This brings students, faculty and staff together and allows for foundational conversations,” Attas says.

The educational components of this course were vetted through the Office of Equity Transformation and created in consultation with diverse campus groups informed by their communities. In ensuing conversations, learners will learn from each other.

Everyone enters the conversation around EDIA topics with different knowledge, skills, and lived experience, with our own identities and perspectives on the world. The course is an opportunity to reflect on strengths and areas for future growth in these topics, providing encouragement to move forward on a personal journey towards individual collective transformation at the University of Manitoba and beyond.

“We need more equity for more people. It’s hard to confront what we are not doing well. But by confronting it, we can deal with it and ensure it happens less often or not at all. It’s about how to live your life in a different way,” Attas says.

Start a lifelong learning process

The course is an excellent part of a lifelong learning process, Attas says. Learners can expect to spend one to three hours per week working on it.

“We’ve all had experiences where we’ve gained new insight or information that leads us to change our behaviours, or where a society’s norms have shifted and we need to change, too. Even for myself as an EDIA educator, I’m always humbled to learn from others about different experiences and ways of interacting respectfully.

“We will never meet every person in the world. There will always be something to learn.”

Learn more about how you can apply