Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Implementation Report for September to December 2022
UTS acknowledges that this school is situated on the traditional territory of many Indigenous nations including the Anishnabeg peoples of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Chippewa, as well as the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
We also acknowledge that the land is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Our work to integrate more honest representations of Indigenous history into our curriculum and to study and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Indigenous individuals and communities is ongoing.
We pledge to leverage the many privileges that have brought us to this school in order to make our society a more affirming, equitable place for Indigenous peoples.
We strive daily to be a school community where we all feel welcome, where racism is dismantled and there is no discrimination of any kind; one where everyone is treated equitably, with respect and kindness. The journey comes with brave conversations and constant reckoning. Anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion are interwoven into all that we do.
Equity is neither optional nor negotiable. This is who we are as a school; these are the values to which we will be held accountable. We are vested with a deep determination. We have a vision, and a plan, and the will of our community behind us. We can do better, and we will, together.
UTS has evolved throughout its history to meet the changing needs of graduates and the world in which they will make an impact. Through introspection and dialogue with our community, it became clear that we needed to engage in a mission towards truly inclusive excellence, for the good of our students and the greater world.
Dr. Tavares has galvanized every member of UTS to enhance our personal and school commitment to anti-racism and equity with courageous curiosity. We are taking on the most challenging questions, exploring under the surface, unlearning and relearning. With humility and gratitude, we are holding ourselves accountable to bold improvement to be an anti-racist, more equitable and welcoming school.
Dr. Kimberley Tavares Coordinating Vice Principal, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access
Rosemary Evans Principal
In 2021, UTS commissioned Dr. Avis Glaze O Ont to initiate a review of UTS policies and practices and engage in focus groups with UTS stakeholders, namely students, staff, parents and alumni, and to provide a set of recommendations regarding areas of improvement when addressing anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion at UTS.
In 2022, Dr. Glaze delivered her report: “Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Our Shared Responsibility” (“Glaze Report”), which outlined 59 recommendations to drive positive change and take practical steps to address racism, improve diversity and engender a sense of inclusion and meaningful belonging for students and staff from under-represented groups.
The UTS Leadership Team has assessed the recommendations in the Glaze Repot and has mapped out an implementation plan that is being integrated into the school’s planning for those recommendations which are considered operational. The UTS Board is engaging in discussions with aspects of the Glaze Report considered strategic. They will be adding clarity regarding strategic aspects of the report. These include, for example, clarifying our definition of merit and how it relates to assessing potential.
The drive towards greater inclusion and equity runs deep. The work will be interwoven into every facet of school culture, our programs and policies,
practices and procedures, who we are and who we will become. Our focus on building an equitable and inclusive community begins long before students arrive at UTS. It takes root in our outreach process.
It continues when students first step foot in our school and resonates throughout the curriculum in what we teach and how we teach it. It permeates our walls and dismantles our barriers, bringing our community closer together for the good of all.
Focus on reaffirming our commitment to developing a school community and student body that are committed to anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion as a part of their academic and co-curricular endeavours.
To begin the year and make clear our commitment to student understanding, all students received learning on the revised Anti-Racism and Equity Policy, including strategies to interrupt safely and disrupt if they see racism, harassment or discrimination.
UTS Administration and co-curricular advisors have been working closely with student clubs and committees on student-related issues related to equity and inclusion, such as ensuring inclusive recruitment and diverse student representation across clubs and activities as well as how to respond when we witness acts of harassment or discrimination in cocurricular spaces.
The Student Council has been working with the Social Justice Coalition to create and institutionalize opportunities in their mandate to ensure that the Student Council
remains truly representative and reflective of the student body and provide advice on student issues related to anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion.
UTS is proud to support a number of student clubs and initiatives related to learning about and addressing issues related to anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion including:
• the Indigenous Solidarity Committee
• the Black Equity Committee
• Advancing Equity for Asians
• the Gender Equity Committee
• the Gender-Sexuality Alliance.
On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which took place September 30, UTS centered the entire day around truth-telling, to learn about discrimination experienced by Indigenous peoples, to honour our commitments to antiracism learning and to begin addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action No. 62. Afternoon collaborations with Indigenous educators helped students develop understandings of Indigenous ways of knowing in topics ranging from treaties to Kanyen’keha (the Mohawk language) to Indigenous ecological relationships with the land and more.
As part of our commitment to increasing diversity and representation at UTS, our outreach initiatives further developed “Community Connections,” a version of which has existed for more than five years,
and focuses on offering a welcoming affinity space for prospective students and families from historically underrepresented communities to connect with current students, families and staff. In October, Community Connections hosted an open house, bringing Black-identifying prospective, current, and alumni families together to build community and share information and provide learning about all UTS has to offer.
Focus on developing and supporting UTS staff who stand firmly together in upholding human rights and supporting the school’s commitment to anti-racism, equity, inclusion and diversity in all aspects of their work.
All UTS employee groups have engaged in learning about anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as practices to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace and school community. Learning topics included:
• Updated Anti-Racism and Equity Policy
• What is Anti-racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
• Culturally Reflective and Responsive Approaches
• Strategies and Approaches to Address Inequity and Discrimination at UTS
• Human Rights 101
To showcase and honour the work of racialized and Indigenous scholars, community members, and alumni, the Communications team has been highlighting public stories (blog, social media posts, annual reports) which celebrate some of the various identities that make up the UTS community through the hashtag #utsbelonging. Since initiating this process over the summer, 27 such stories have been shared. There is an opportunity to strenghten the messaging around these stories and intentionally solicit more stories to increase their volume.
Focus on supporting UTSPA in developing their understanding of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion to facilitate intergroup understanding and positive relationship building.
To begin the work of supporting positive relationships and developing intergroup understanding, UTSPA’s November 2022 General Meeting focused on “Engaging in Courageous Conversations.” The session featured a parent panel exploring current issues of inequity as presented by a student
“How do we take real action toward Reconciliation? Today, UTS was entirely devoted to learning ...
panel. Learning and understanding was supported by UTS social workers to offer resources.
This session was an initial step in a larger plan to discuss specific conversations about equity issues at UTS, including anti-Asian racism, transphobia and anti-Semitism.
Focus on listening to and learning from alumni on topics important to the UTS school community, including career development and discussion around what makes a good school, as well as anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion implementation supports.
The UTSAA Board is fully invested in finding ways to work with students, staff, parents and community to embed their expectations into the fabric of the school and build upon work underway. Events to increase diversity and connect alumni to current and prospective students is a continued aim of UTSAA. These include:
• On November 15, the Black Equity Committee hosted their first Community Connections event. There was a strong turnout and great feedback from families about how open UTS is to welcome and engage with families, recognizing who they are and their identities, and speaking honestly,
not only about what UTS has to offer, but also the journey and transition. Leslie Allen ’78, the first Black woman to graduate from UTS, joined virtually to share her experience at UTS with the prospective families.
• Fourteen UTS alumni have stepped forward as Timeraiser StartUp Accelerator Mentors. To produce mentorship opportunities, the Innovation team runs the UTS Timeraiser StartUp Accelerator that gives M3 to S6 students a structure to test out new ideas for social or technological innovation, and potentially start a real for-profit or notfor-profit venture.
To focus on ensuring that diverse and inclusive perspectives and pedagogy are reflected in the curriculum and are taught to raise consciousness of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion issues and strategies.
Actions to support teacher growth and development related to anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion that are underway include:
• Professional Development sessions tied to culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy (CRRP), which emphasizes creating learning opportunities that centre student
voice and choice as well as creating opportunities for students to see themselves reflected in learning while also learning about and from others.
• Every department is working on an Equity Goal and Implementation Plan tied to curricular and learning objectives for their courses and department areas.
To focus on policies, programs and procedures to ensure that the school is upholding Human Rights and creates a culture that is brave and open to learning and change.
Working with students, UTS is revamping the “Report It” tool to provide a way for students to get help when they witness situations of harassment and/or discrimination, focused not to get someone in trouble, but out of trouble.
The Anti-Racism and Equity Policy was updated by the Human Resources department, with input from the school lawyer to ensure a streamlined process for reporting infractions, with clear consequences and learning.
Although it has only been a few months since we began our journey of implementation, we are proud of the progress made so far.
Of the 59 recommendations, the school leadership is proceeding with 43 recommendations. Two are already complete and 15 are substantively underway.
Thank you to the UTS student, alumni, parent and guardian and staff communities for their willingness to dig in and engage in the work to make UTS an even more inclusive space where everyone knows and feels they belong.
26 Total approved recommendations
No matter your race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or any of the other ways that make you who you are, you belong here. You have the right to be at school free of discrimination, harassment or exclusion. If you are not feeling safe, reach out.
