Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Transformative inclusion is by and for everyone.
49ͼ¿â is for everyone
At 49ͼ¿â, we are working toward transformative inclusion: ensuring that everyone is included in all aspects of the college community and embracing how the journey to full inclusion will transform us as a post-secondary institution.
We use the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice (EDISJ) to help us identify and remove barriers, support learners and staff, and work together to build an institution where everyone belongs, and everyone is empowered to succeed.
Transformative Inclusion is by and for everyone
We all have a role to play in our journey to transformative inclusion. As a member of the 49ͼ¿â community, your experiences as a student, alumni, community partner, or staff member are important. As we strive to a future where everyone feels that they belong and are valued, we want and need everyone to participate and contribute along the way. The process is the transformation.
49ͼ¿â's Board of Governors recognizes that a strategic focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice is essential to the well-being of the College and all its members.
Our mission is to transform lives and communities. We are committed to imbuing the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice into every corner of the College and thus into every possible aspect of how we can fulfill that mission.
We are committed to educating ourselves on what and how we can do better by being vulnerable and through our continuous commitment to learn, unlearn, and re-learn. We are persistent in planning how we can build upon the steps taken in the past and present. The Board commits to embrace the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in its deliberations and decisions and through the process of appointing members to the Board.
The values of transformative inclusion can be found in many activities at 49ͼ¿â over the past few years, including: in the classroom, through teaching and learning; applied research initiatives; lived personal and professional standards; and through activities such as work with the Sexual Violence Committee, the Indigenization Task Force, the Mental Health and Wellness Committee, Enactus 49ͼ¿â, and many other initiatives.
Since 2021, 49ͼ¿â’s EDISJ steering committee has gathered data around the experiences of students and employees; identified initial areas for change; and started to set baselines against which we can evaluate our progress.
As an institution, we are learning how to:
- Commit to grow our understanding of EDISJ and demonstrate how we value diversity in our personal and professional lives as members of the 49ͼ¿â learning community;
- Dedicate focus to ensuring all feel welcomed, included and have a sense of belonging;
- Recognize and mitigate our bias;
- Embrace diversity and adopt inclusive hiring practices;
- Facilitate inclusive environments;
- Identify barriers to access and inclusion and find ways to eliminate them;
- Understand the role of disability and sustainability in the work of EDISJ;
- Challenge ourselves and each other to be the stewards of global citizenship.
Explore EDISJ foundations
Understand concepts and 49ͼ¿â's dedicated initiatives.
Get involved
Do you have ideas about learning opportunities or events that support a culture of transformative inclusion? We want to hear from you.
Need resources and support?
Discover comprehensive EDISJ resources and access mental health support.
What is EDISJ?
Equity is the concept of fairness, acceptance and belonging.
In defining equity, the difference between "equality" and "equity" must be emphasized. Although both promote fairness, equality achieves this through treating everyone the same regardless of circumstances. Equity acknowledges systemic power and privilege, and redistributes resources to identify and address the obstacles, barriers and biases that limit access and opportunities. 49ͼ¿â seeks to create conditions that allow everyone to reach their full potential through building confidence and celebrating accomplishments.
Inclusion is an organizational effort and practice ensuring different groups and/or individuals having different backgrounds are culturally and socially accepted and welcomed.
Inclusion is the full and authentic membership in the 49ͼ¿â community for all people. It is a continuous and ongoing process that requires active participation. This requires the intentional creation of environments where systematically disadvantaged individuals or groups feel welcome, safe, respected and valued in any of their activities and as a part of the community.
Diversity acknowledges that each person is unique and their individual differences are respected.
To embrace diversity means we must recognize that personal, cultural and institutionalized discrimination shapes and provides privileges for some while creating and perpetuating disadvantages for others.
Diversity includes different ways of being, ways of knowing and embracing intersecting identities. 49ͼ¿â understands and respects different qualities of lived experiences and cultural expression, as part of our commitment to accessibility.
Social justice is the recognition that systems were built to perpetuate the power and influence of select groups or individuals and will continue to do so without conscious effort to actively break down these systems.
At 49ͼ¿â, all community members are responsible for creating a just organization, where people looking to learn, share and work at the institution can all benefit equitably from these social systems and power structures. Social justice also recognizes that the responsibility for creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world goes beyond 49ͼ¿â and extends to the community. The call for social justice is answered when 49ͼ¿â's role as a place of learning and innovation expands to improve the lives of people who face systemic obstacles to full and equal participation in the College and community.
News
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49ͼ¿â is committed to embedding the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ) in everything we do. Through…
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Mental health supports
We recognize that engaging with EDISJ topics and activities may be challenging for members of the 49ͼ¿â Community. If you need support, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Employees
Employees can access support through the College’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (·¡¹ó´¡±Ê).&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Students
Students can access support through the following:
- Visit the Counseling Services page to book an appointment with a Counselor at 49ͼ¿â.
- 24/7 mental health support is available via Province's  .
- The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia: 1-800-588-8717, .