The University’s first anti-racism conference will take place next Wednesday, with a panel of experts
examining the theme of race in Canada and discussing how issues of race inform the university experience. The conference is entitled “Breaking the Mould: The Pedagogy of Anti-racism,” and is
free to attend. The Committee Against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination (CAR ED) is organizing the
conference.
Panellists include sociology professor Cynthia Levine-Rasky, Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre manager Georgina Riel and former AMS president Greg Frankson. “The overarching theme is how
race is a fundamental part of the Canadian university experience and each panellist is going to look
at how that affects their area of expertise,” said CAR ED chair Tka Pinnock.
CAR ED has also tried to incorporate First Nations and aboriginal voices, which Pinnock, ArtSci ’07, said have largely been neglected as a segment of the Queen’s population when it comes to issues of race and diversity. Pinnock said diversity of perspective is important and the conference is a means to open
discussion on a topic that’s integral to everyone’s daily lives. “There’s a lot of talk about multiculturalism and diversity at Queen’s and in the Canadian society at large,” she said. “It’s a
fundamental part of the Canadian identity which disguises the fact that systemic racism is a daily part
of Canadians’ lives.” Pinnock added that the purpose of the conference isn’t to place blame, however.
“The intent of this conference is not to point the finger, or to blame or attack anybody. It’s really
to facilitate a salient discussion in a positive and safe environment.”
Pinnock said she encourages students to attend because racism is something that needs to be talked
about at Queen’s. “This is a university: four years where we are supposed to be as critical and open as we can be, so let’s be open. Let’s talk about what’s really happening.” Carol Tator, a professor at York University, willl be delivering the conference’s keynote address. She said she’ll discuss how
racism is more than individual acts of isolated and alienated bigots and will also share her research which demonstrates the extent to which racism is deeply embedded in all of the institutions and systems, particularly focusing on academic institutions.
Tator said she hopes all students, faculty and administrators will participate in the conference,
because these are critically important issues for the University and for Canadian society. “This conference is very important because it provides a vehicle for discussing systemic issues related to racism that have been largely denied, deflected and dismissed within university communities,” she said.
The conference will take place on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 202 of the Policy Studies
Building. For more information, contact cared@ams.queensu.ca.
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