H�� the Office for Equity and Inclusion

Kwe' (Greetings),

I am Theresa Ann Rajack-Talley, H��’s inaugural (2019) Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion. Welcome to the virtual window of the Office for Equity and Inclusion (OEI).

The OEI provides leadership, builds capacity, and encourages collaborative action to advance sustainable, systemic/structural change that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in all dimensions of the mission, culture, and operations of H�� University.

Theresa Rajack-Talley, H��’s vice-provost of equity and inclusion, sits smiling in a grey armchair.

The Office for Equity and Inclusion

The OEI was previously known as HRES but now consists of three separate but integrated units:

Human Rights and Equity Services (HRES)

Mi'kmaq and Indigenous Relations

Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility (EDIA)

We are a team of skilled, experienced, passionate, and committed individuals who come together to make a collective impact in educating, preventing, and addressing a wide variety of equity issues that includes racism, sexualized violence, homophobia, personal harassment, and discrimination of all kinds and at all levels in the institution. Although a small unit we work across the university and strive every day to create an environment where everyone can safely work, study, and socialize and are respected for being their authentic selves.

While the OEI is relatively new, this work for social justice started when H�� was first established a little over 200 years. Under the boot of colonialism and all that it represents, resistance and the struggles for equity and inclusion were ever-present and have persisted.

Work to address inequities in this institution is a result of many individuals, groups, councils, caucuses, and underserved/excluded communities who for decades have led us to where we are currently. This includes hiring the inaugural Vice Provost for Equity & Inclusion and the establishment of the OEI.

Three people affix notes to a large white board covered with multi-coloured sticky notes.

Caucuses & Councils

To date, there are two advisory councils:

and three caucuses:

Reports & Mandates

There are also nine internal reports that identify the ramifications of this history and recommendations informed by members of the communities on how we can address the inequities that have resulted and continue. Included among these are the [PDF- 578 KB] and the Indigenous Council Strategic Report [PDF - 3MB].

Additionally, there are two national mandates, the (TRC) and the on anti-Black racism and Black Flourishing at universities and colleges. These reports serve as guiding principles as well as offer specificities on how to become more inclusive.

As we build the structures for transformational change, the recommendations from these reports, as well as emergent ones, will be addressed through OEI-established Pan-University Committees for Equity & Inclusion.

News & Events

Dal signs charter to combat systemic racism in sports and recreation

H�� signalled its commitment to combatting racism in sport and recreation late last month when it signed an anti-racism charter, becoming the first university in Nova Scotia to do so.

Read the article

A group of Dal athletes and officials pose while signing the Dal charter to combat systemic racism in sports.

African Heritage Month Launch Event 2024

The H�� community packed the LeMarchant Place atrium on Studley Campus Thursday (Feb. 1) to launch a month-long celebration of African heritage.

This year, H��’s theme is Reflect, Rest, and Revive, to promote reflection, relaxation, and rejuvenation within the context of African heritage.

Read the article

African Heritage Month speaker addressing an audience

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