The doctor and the sociologist
Join Dr. Marcia Anderson and Dr. Delia Douglas for a discussion of racism-related issues that impact us all.
Office of Anti-Racism
Racism is a key determinant of health, undermining physical and mental health and wellbeing. Racism in health care breeds distrust, it also results in unequal access and treatment, leading to fatal consequences for Indigenous, Black and racialized minority peoples. If we want equality, we have to address racism, in all its forms. The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences recognizes the pervasive impact of the history of racial discrimination and systemic racism in the present and is committed to addressing the racial inequities that exist within our learning and work environments to close the profound gaps in professional education and health service delivery.
On this page:
- Disruption of all forms of racism
- Learning module
- Anti-Racism and social justice syllabus statement and implementation guide
- Glossary
- Days of significance
- Blog: Race matters
- Anti-racism resources
- Rady Faculty Reconciliation Action Plan
- Black health and wellness
- Parallel pandemics
- Meeting grounds: Collaborating for change
- Events
- Contact us
The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.
Steve Biko, South African anti-Apartheid activist, founder of the Black Consciousness Movement
policy Disruption of all forms of racism
In 2020, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Faculty Executive Council approved the Disruption of all forms of racism policy, the first anti-racism policy to be passed by any faculty or post-secondary institution in Canada.
Why an anti-racism policy specifically? Well, if a policy does not take race into account in a meaningful way, then racism can remain “invisible” or can be deemed to be nonexistent and therefore allowed to persist and potentially increase. We must be proactive not reactive.
This policy constitutes a formal recognition of racial harassment, discrimination, vilification, and racism.
It is an affirmation of:
- The histories of dispossession, enslavement, genocide and their legacies
- Ongoing settler colonial projects
- The humanity, rights, dignity and safety of BIPOC students, staff and faculty
Visit the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences policy page to read the full text.
Learning module
Learning module 1: Disruption of all forms of racism policy
This is a slide show intended for students, staff, faculty and external parties to provide an introductory understanding of the concepts related to racism and the issues the policy was created to address as well as providing a historical context.
Anti-racism learning module (.pptx)
Note: to open the downloaded file, select "read only". No password is required.
Anti-Racism and social justice syllabus statement and implementation guide
Course syllabi are living documents that communicate the expectations, learning goals, and the path to achieving the stated objectives of the course, or the overall program. In many ways course syllabi represent contracts between learners and the instructors since they represent an agreement regarding shared expectations. This anti-racism and social justice statement for course syllabi in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is part of the implementation plan for the Disruption of All Forms of Racism Policy, is part of our commitment to ensuring that learners, staff, and faculty receive ongoing education in understanding and addressing racism.
We all have a role to play in disrupting and dismantling racism, and this anti-racism statement speaks to the urgency and necessity of working together to create learning environments and enrich programs in which we are all provided opportunities to meaningfully contribute and participate so that we can all flourish and reach our potential.
We ask that the anti-racism and social justice statement be included in course syllabi, curriculum units, or as guides for facilitators, academic one day programs and professional development sessions. Given the range of department/units/programs in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, the accompanying document offers some guidance regarding possible ways to incorporate this statement into the learning environment.
Glossary
To create a shared understanding, we have posted a selection of terms taken from the Rady Faculty of Health Science's Disruption of all forms of racism policy. This is not an exhaustive list.
Days of significance
To enhance our knowledge and create a shared understanding of our community the following calendar contains cultural, religious, national, and international Days of Significance. This is a living calendar; some dates will change from year to year according to various religious and/or cultural calendars. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.
January to April
Jump to:
January 2023
January 1
- Gantan-sai (Shinto New Year)
- New Year’s Day (Christian-Gregorian Calendar)
January 4
- National Ribbon Skirt Day (Canada)
- World Braille Day (United Nations)
January 6
- Epiphany (Christian-Julian Calendar)
January 7
- Christmas (Christian-Julian Calendar)
January 13
- Lohri (Hindu, Sikh)
January 14
- Makar Sankranti (Hindu)
- New Year’s Day (Christian-Julian Calendar)
January 15
- World Religion Day (Baha’i)
January 16
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (United States)
January 22
- Lunar New Year (Buddhist-Lunar Calendar)
January 24
- Sadeh (Zoroastrian)
- World Day for African and Afro-descendant Culture (UNESCO)
January 26
- Vasanta Pachami (Hindu)
January 27
- International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (United Nations)
January 29
- National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia (Canada)
February 2023
Black History Month
Fist Full Week in February
- White Cane Week
February 1
- World Hijab Day
February 15
- Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 18
- Mahashivaratri (Hindu)
February 20
- Louis Riel Day (Manitoba)
- World Day of Social Justice (United Nations)
February 21
- Losar/ Tibetan New Year (Buddhist)
- Shrove Tuesday (Christian)
February 22
- Anti-Bullying Day/ Pink Shirt Day (Canada)
- Ash Wednesday (Christian)
February 26
- Intercalary/ Ayyam-i-ha (Baha’i)
February 25-March 3
- Black Women’s History Week (United States)
February 27
- Clean Monday/ Lent Begins (Christian-Julian Calendar)
March 2023
Women’s History Month (United States)
March 1
- International Wheelchair Day
March 1-19
- Ala - Baha'i Fast (Baha’i)
March 7
- Purim (Judaism)
March 8
- Holi (Hindu)
- International Women’s Day (United Nations)
March 8-10
- Holla Mohalla (Sikh)
March 14
- Sikh New Year
March 15
- International Day to Combat Islamophobia (United Nations)
March 20
- Spring Equinox
March 20-24
- Anti-Racism Week (City of Winnipeg)
March 21
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (United Nations)
- Naw Ruz/ Baha’i New Year (Baha’i)
- Nowruz (Islam, Zoroastrian)
- World Down Syndrome Day (United Nations)
March 22
- Ramadan begins (Islam)
- World Water Day (United Nations)
March 25
- International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (United Nations)
March 31
- International Trans Day of Visibility
- National Indigenous Languages Day (Canada)
April 2023
Sikh Heritage Month
April 2
- Palm Sunday (Christian)
- World Autism Awareness Day (United Nations)
April 4
- Mahavira-Jayanti (Jain)
April 6
- International Asexuality Day
April 5-12
- Pesach/Passover (Judaism)
April 6-8
- Theravada New Year (Buddhist)
April 7
- Good Friday (Christian)
- World Health Day (United Nations)
April 10
- Easter Monday (Christian)
April 12
- International Day of Pink (Anti-Bullying and Anti-Homophobia/Transphobia)
April 14
- Vaisakhi (Sikh)
April 15
- Birth Day of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh)
April 17
- Yom HaShoah/ Holocaust Memorial Day (Judaism)
April 21
- Eid al-Fitr (Islam)
- First day of Ridvan (Baha’i)
April 22
- Earth Day
April 30
- Journey to Freedom Day (Canada)
May to August
Jump to:
May 2023
Asian Heritage Month/ Jewish Heritage Month
May 5
- National MMIWG2S+ Awareness Day/ Red Dress Day (Canada)
- Wesak - Buddha Day (Buddhist)
May 10
- Bear Witness Day/ Spirit Bear Day (Canada)
May 17
- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 18
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day
May 20
- Asian Gold Ribbon Day (Stand in Solidarity against Anti-Asian Racism)
May 21
- World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (United Nations)
May 24
- Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
- Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day
May 29
- Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
May 28-June 3
- National AccessAbility Week (Canada)
June 2023
National Indigenous History Month/ Filipino Heritage Month/ Pride Month
June 5
- World Environment Day (United Nations)
June 18
- International Day for Countering Hate Speech (United Nations)
June 19
- Juneteenth (United States)
June 20
- World Refugee Day (United Nations)
June 21
- National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
- Summer Solstice
June 23
- National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)
June 29
- Eid al-Adha (Islam)
July 2023
Disability Pride Month
July 3
- Guru Purnima (Hindu, Buddhist)
July 10
- Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
July 14
- International Non-Binary People’s Day
July 18
- Nelson Mandela Day (United Nations)
July 19
- Al-Hijra/Islamic New Year (Islam)
August 2023
August 1
- Emancipation Day (Canada)
August 9
- International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (United Nations)
August 13-15
- Obon Festival (Buddhist)
August 19
- World Humanitarian Day (United Nations)
August 23
- International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (UNESCO)
September to December
Jump to:
September 2023
September 6
- Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September 10
- World Suicide Prevention Day
September 15-17
- Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
September 19
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
September 23
- Autumnal Equinox
- Bi Visibility Day
- International Day of Sign Languages (United Nations)
September 25
- Yom Kippur (Judaism)
September 30
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/ Orange Shirt Day (Canada)
October 2023
Women’s History Month (Canada)/ Islamic History Month
October 4
- MMIWG2S+ Day of Awareness (Manitoba)
October 10
- Indigenous Peoples Day (United States)
- World Mental Health Day (World Health Organization)
October 11
- National Coming Out Day (International)
October 17
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (United Nations)
October 18
- International Pronouns Day
October 19
- Spirit Day (2SLGBTQQIA+ youth awareness)
October 20
- Installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh)
October 26
- Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
- International Intersex Awareness Day
October 27
- Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
November 2023
Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
November 1
- All Saints Day (Christian)
November 7
- International Inuit Day (Inuit Circumpolar Council)
November 8
- National Indigenous Veterans Day (Canada)
November 11
- Remembrance Day (Canada)
November 12
- Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh)
- Diwali/ Festival of Lights (Hindu)
November 12-18
- Rock Your Mocs Week (International)
November 20
- Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 24
- Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Ji (Sikh)
November 25
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (United Nations)
November 27
- Birth Date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh)
December 2023
December 1
- World AIDS Day (United Nations)
December 3
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations)
December 6
- National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women (Canada)
December 7-15
- Hanukkah (Judaism)
December 8
- Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
December 10
- Human Rights Day (United Nations)
December 18
- International Migrants Day (United Nations)
December 21
- Winter Solstice
December 25
- Christmas Day (Christian-Gregorian Calendar)
December 26
- Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian)
December 26, 2023-January 1, 2024
- Kwanzaa (United States)
References
BRAID Network for Health Education. (n.d.). Days of Indigenous significance. (Internal UM intranet link.)
Deer, K. (2019, November 13). Indigenous people across Canada are rocking their mocs this week. CBC News.
Health Sciences Association. (n.d.). Days of Significance 2023.
PennState. (n.d.). Diversity calendar.
United Nations. List of international days and weeks.
University of Calgary. (n.d.). Religious observance dates.
If you find any errors or wish to provide updates, please email radyantiracism@umanitoba.ca.
Blog: Race matters
Anti-racism resources
Materials to support, educate and inform our community.
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Books
Ibrahim A, Kitossa T, Smith, MS, Wright HK (Eds.) 2022. Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian Academy: Teaching, learning, and researching while Black. University of Toronto Press.
Layla F. Saad. (2020). White supremacy and me: Combat racism, change the world, and become a good ancestor. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks.
Maynard R, Simpson LB. 2022. Rehearsals for living. Haymarket Books. n/a
Sunera Thobani (Ed.) (2022). Coloniality and racial (in)justice in the University: Counting for nothing? University of Toronto Press. (Recognized by Canadian Association for Educational Foundations at the Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities 2023 meetings).
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UM Today
Embracing ‘the beauty of diversity’ on International Women’s Day
‘Breaking the bias’ goes beyond gender: Rady women reflect on International Women’s Day
Library guide
Race, racism, anti-racism resources
Data collection
Key considerations: Race, ethnicity and Indigenous identity data collection and use (PDF)
Rady Faculty Reconciliation Action Plan
Ongomiizwin leads the implementation of the Rady Faculty’s Reconciliation Action Plan, developed in response to the health-related calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
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The action plan addresses themes such as:
- Honouring traditional knowledge and healing practices
- Providing safe learning environments
- Improving support and retention of Indigenous students
- Educating all students and faculty in cultural safety and anti-racism
- Removing barriers to health professional education
The action plan was developed through a collaborative 18-month process involving University of Manitoba faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members, Elders and Knowledge Keepers. An Elders and Knowledge Keepers advisory circle retreat was held at Turtle Lodge.
Black health and wellness
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to addressing the varied health disparities and inequities that affect Black communities.
International Decade for People of African Descent
In December 2014, the UN General Assembly, passed Resolution 68/237, proclaiming the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). “The Decade is a unique platform that emphasizes the important contribution made by people of African descent to every society, and promotes concrete measures to stop discrimination and promote their full inclusion.”
Black health and wellness: Resources to support Rady’s response to the Scarborough Charter
In 2016, at the invitation of the Government of Canada, the Working Group of experts on People of African descent visited Canada. Their findings confirmed that across the country people of African descent live in poverty experience poor health and low rates of educational achievement and are over represented in the criminal justice system. These resources are part of the RFHS’s response to the UN Working Group’s Recommendations and the Scarborough Charter to improve Black health through education and research and to address anti-Black racism and the interconnected systems that impact the health and wellbeing of Black communities across Canada.
Parallel pandemics
The pandemics of racism and COVID-19 constitute a meeting-grounds of life and death for Indigenous, Black and racialized people. Racism is a public health crisis - the pandemic is a health crisis - racism is a pandemic.
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Meeting grounds: Collaborating for change
The Office of Anti-Racism will be hosting a range of activities over the course of the academic year to enhance our racial literacy.
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Some of the topics will include:
- Black health and wellness
- Integrative anti-racism and critical race theory
- Anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, and Black-Indigenous relations
- Intersections, coalitions and false equivalencies: the indivisible connections between racial, gender, and lgbtqia+ justice
- Disrupting whiteness: Continuing difficult conversations
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Contact us
Office of Anti-Racism
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
P304 B – 770 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0W3