The York School REDI Newsletter #7, Nov. 2021

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YPA SPEAKER SERIES WITH EQUITY CONNECTIONS On November 9th, Parents of The York School student body attended a workshop with our partners at Equity Connections. Topics ranged from allyship, bias to the shared language we use as a community. If you were unable to attend the Speaker Series, or you would like to review some key points, the video can be found on YorkNet on the DEI Resource Board. DIWALI Praveen Muruganandan Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the largest and most important events celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. The celebration usually lasts up to five days and marks the start of the Hindu New Year. Throughout the world, more than one billion people celebrate Diwali with one of the largest celebrations happening outside India in Leicester, located 40km north of London, England.. The common themes around Diwali include the lighting of a lamp in one’s home to dispel the darkness within or the triumph of good over evil. Most importantly, it is a time for families and friends to gather, exchange gifts and share a meal together. For many who celebrate Diwali, look outside their homes (or on a table) next year for patterned designs known as Rangoli. Rangoli is artwork made from rice or special powders that is designed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Resources to Check Out Watch this video from the Canadian Armed Forces on the contributions of Indigenous Veterans. Consider this equity-informed lens in commemorating Remembrance Day. The first week of November marked Treaty Recognition Week, to recognize the importance of treaties and increase awareness. Learn more about it here from Association of Municipalities.

Important Dates: Nov. 2021 November 1st: All Saints’ Day November 1st: End of Samhain November 1st-5th: Treaty Week November 2nd: All Souls’ Day November 2nd: Crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie November 4th: Bandi-Chhor Diwas November 4th: Diwali November 5th-11th: Veterans' Week November 6th: Stress Awareness Day November 6th: Birth of the Bab November 7th: Birth of Baha’U’llah November 7th: Inuit Day November 8th: Indigenous Veterans Day November 9th: Gyana Panchami November 9th: Kristallnacht Commemoration November 11th: Remembrance Day November 11th: World Usability Day November 14th: World Diabetes Day November 15th - 19th: Anti-Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week November 16th: Louis Riel Day November 16th: International Day for Tolerance November 17th: International Students Day November 19th: Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib November 20th: Transgender Day of Remembrance November 20th: National Child Day November 21st: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary November 20th - 26th: Canada History Week November 24th: Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur November 25th: American Thanksgiving November 25th: Day of the Covenant November 25th: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women November 25th - Dec. 10th: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence November 27th: Holodomor Memorial Day November 28th: First Sunday of Advent November 28th - Dec. 24th: Advent November 29th: First Day of Chanukah November 29th - Dec. 6th: Chanukah YorkTalks Podcast Profiling the integration of Indigenous Education The York School’s Indigenous Education Committee is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action # 62 through 65 that have to do with Education for Reconciliation. Listen to YorkTalks latest podcast where Natasha Estey speaks with Indigenous Education Committee leaders, Sean Rand and Sara Akbari, about what they are doing to advance Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work at The York School to integrate indigenous education.

IN THE CLASSROOM Mary Wood REDI culture outings! DP and MYP Theatre Teacher Mary pick * Until Sunday November 30th: with cold weather coming, cozy up next to a fire with a warm cup of cocoa and stream this audio drama of CAST IRON co-produced by Toronto’s Factory and Obsidian Theatre companies and written by GG nominee & Toronto playwright Lisa Codrington. Not only is this drama an audibly rich experience, but it also supports local BIPOC artists. For ticket info visit. CAST IRON synopsis: From the sun drenched cane fields of Barbados to the sub-zero temperatures of Winnipeg, Cast Iron follows Libya Atwell, a Bajan immigrant, as she wields acerbic wit and humour in an attempt to appease the ghosts of her past. Alone in her Winnipeg nursing home, Libya receives an unexpected visitor from Barbados. Past repression resurfaces, until the tragedy that shaped her life spills from her soul. Reimagined as a live audio drama, “Cast Iron is a rich story so vivid with the island, you’ll practically be able to see Libya’s legs flying through the cane fields, taste the bakes she’s cooked up in her grandmother’s cast iron, and feel the swell of the ripe and sticky breadfruit.’’

ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY FOR ALL Camille Maraj Under the TTC umbrella is Toronto's Accessible Transit Service known as Wheel-Trans, a service that is integral to people with mobility limitations. The ability to move freely can play a huge role in living full, independent lives, and early in November, that ability was severely compromised for a large number of Toronto’s residents. After a ransomware attack was directed at the TTC, access to many of their systems were entirely shut down- including all of Wheel-Trans’ ride booking services. For several days, those who rely on accessible transit could not dependably get around the city, and at the height of the interruption, Wheel-Trans clients were asked to only attempt to use the service if obtaining life saving medical care. With little to no ability to move about the city, many found themselves unable to attend appointments, work, school, or tend to their daily needs. This was especially stressful for those with trips essential to their wellness, who could not reach anyone on overwhelmed phone lines. Thankfully, the TTC has been able to get their systems running again, but this circumstance highlights that the right to move freely needs to apply to everyone equally. In order to truly practice equity, all people, able bodied or otherwise, need to have dependable access to the same provisions.


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