Breaking Bread: Anti-Blackness in Higher Education

On February 8, 2022, the Union hosted Dr. Funké Aladejebi, a faculty member from the University of Toronto, to lead a virtual session on Anti-Blackness in Higher Education as part of its Breaking Bread discussion series. Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest. 

Dr. Funké Aladejebi is a history professor whose work frequently explores how legacies of race, gender, and migration influence the contemporary educational encounters of Black Canadian communities. This work has a particular focus on oral history, the history of education in Canada, Black Canadian women’s history, and transnationalism.

Questions considered by the group included: 

  • How have post-secondary institutions been responding since the Black Lives Matter movement has come back into the forefront of popular culture?
  • What is the history of anti-blackness in higher education broadly and what has that looked like specifically in the Canadian context?
  • How can professors become adequate and resourceful allies during the current climate?
  • How have post-secondary institutions been incorporating black history into their curriculums?

Keep an eye on our upcoming posts to join our next Breaking Bread discussion.

International Students Share Experiences

On Jan 26, 2022, the Union hosted the TRU Dean of Science, Greg Anderson, and the Assistant Dean of Student Development, Sara Wolfe to lead a virtual session to hear from international students about their experiences as part of its Breaking Bread discussion series. 

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest. 

This discussion was different from the other events in this series. Rather than bringing an expert on this topic, we invited international students and alumni to come to share their experiences and have senior members of the TRU community, such as Deans, attend to listen and learn. The goal of this event was to create greater understanding and pathways for communication between international students and other members of the campus community. 

To learn more about upcoming discussions you can join, contact campaigns@trusu.ca for more details!

 

Students and Community Come Together to Talk about Mental Health

On Oct. 27, 2021, the Union hosted the TRU Dean of Students, Chris Adam, a TRU Counsellor, Ashley Broadfoot, and a TRU staff member focused on suicide prevention work, Pamela Fry, to lead a virtual session to hear from students, faculty, and alumni about student mental health as part of its Breaking Bread discussion series. 

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest. 

This discussion started with the discussion leaders providing some context on what TRU currently offers in terms of student mental health and what the challenges are. From here participants provided in-depth feedback on what they see as the issues students are facing and those that might be addressed by the university. 

Sign up for our last Breaking Bread discussion of the fall with Dr. Carol Fenton, a medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority, around the importance of vaccinations on our events page.

Breaking Bread: Is TRU Ready for a Mandatory Indigenization Course?

On Oct. 13, 2021, the Union hosted Dr. Lisa Cooke, a faculty member at TRU, to lead a virtual session on Indigenization as part of its Breaking Bread discussion series. Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest. 

Dr. Lisa Cooke does research and teaches at TRU in the department of Sociology and Anthropology as well as administers the Aboriginal Studies Certificate. Lisa’s research and teaching primarily revolves around Indigenous-Settler relations, contemporary colonial cultural forms, and the anthropology of space and place. 

Questions considered by the group included: 

  • What has been the history of indigenization work at TRU?
  • What do you believe is the best way to move forward indigenization?
  • Is TRU ready for mandatory indigenization content for students and staff/faculty? Why/why not?
  • As well as other topics 

Keep an eye on our upcoming posts to join our next Breaking Bread discussion.

Students Discuss Intersection Of Climate Change And Community Planning

On Oct. 6, 2021, the Union hosted Dr. Alison Shaw, the Executive Director of Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Action on Climate Team (ACT) to lead a virtual session as part of its Breaking Bread discussion series. Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest. 

Dr. Shaw has over two decades of experience leading cross-cutting climate change and sustainability science and policy research, and in mobilizing knowledge, developing tools, and creating partnerships. She has worked as a scholar, a science-policy strategist, and a sustainability consultant and organizational coach. As Founder of FlipSide Sustainability, a consulting and coaching company, Dr. Shaw applied her research background to co-create with clients’ leading-edge practices at international, national, regional, and local scales. Her efforts have focused on transformative change, encouraging policy-makers and decision-makers to understand climate change and sustainability as a profound and urgent socio-economic design challenge that requires engagement from all sectors and scales of governance. 

Questions considered by the group included: 

  • How can community planning and building design be part of climate mitigation?  
  • Are there things that municipalities can be doing to adapt to increasingly extreme weather such as the heat wave in June 2021?  
  • What can individuals do to make a positive difference where they live?  
  • As well as other topics 

Join an upcoming discussion this fall on a wide variety of topics including Indigenization, Mental Health, Vaccination, and other areas. Learn more and signup here.

Canada Bans Conversion Therapy!

Exciting news out of Ottawa where Parliament has just voted to ban “Conversion Therapy” across the country! This legislation amends the Criminal Code to criminalize: 

  • Forcing someone to undergo conversion therapy without their consent,
  • Causing a child to undergo conversion therapy or removing a child from Canada with the intention that the child be subjected to conversion therapy outside Canada,
  • Promoting or advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy; and
  • Receiving financial or other material benefits from the provision of conversion therapy. 

This fulfills a long-standing request by TRUSU, the B.C. government, and hundreds of other community organizations across the country to protect LGBTQ+ people, especially children, from psychological harm done to them under the auspices of “conversion therapy.” Discovering our own sexual orientation and gender identity is a deeply personal process that deserves support and understanding, not shame and psychological violence. Banning conversion therapy will help ensure that conversations about LGBTQ+ identities moving forward are based in science and respect. 

A big thank you to the over 1,300 students, faculty, staff, and community members who joined our campaign to pressure the government to make this change! Without people like you helping in Kamloops and across the country this step forward would not be possible. 

Background 

“Conversion therapy” is the pseudo-scientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions. The Canadian Psychological Association and most medical bodies condemn these practices, confirm they don’t work and are actually harmful to LGBTQ+ people to be subjected to, especially children. Conversion therapy is currently banned in Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, the city of Vancouver, and dozens of countries around the world. 

The TRUSU Equity Committee was proud to lead a local campaign to raise awareness about conversion therapy and was pleased to have had over 1,300 students, faculty, staff, and community members petition the Provincial government to ban this harmful practice in BC. We were pleased that the Provincial government agreed and intervened to ask the Federal government to amend the Criminal Code to ban the practice in August of 2019. 

For more information contact:    

Shantelle Bishop 

Vice President Equity   
250-828-5289 

s.bishop@trusu.ca   

Dylan Robinson   

Equity Coordinator   
250-828-5289 
equity@trusu.ca  

2021 Awards of Excellence Winners

Student Empowerment Award

The TRUSU Student Empowerment Award is given out each year to a TRU student and a TRU employee who demonstrate excellence in empowering students to participate as engaged citizens on campus or in the broader community.

[su_box title=” Jordon Haggerty – Student Award ” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Jordon’s work on the with the TRU Wellness Centre on mental health resources will directly impact and support our university community. Jordon helped develop a need’s assessment survey that will be sent out to TRU athletes regarding mental health and wellness. She also met with many local professionals who provided resources and education she can share with the TRU student athletes. Jordon’s passion regarding child health, wellness and mental health has been displayed in her involvement in projects and clubs on campus this year.”

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[su_box title=” Amy Tucker – Faculty / Staff Award ” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Once you have taken a few of her courses, you’ll know what I mean when I say she literally changes your life and enhances your overall post-secondary experience. Clearly from my description above, Amy is an inspiring faculty member with a clear passion for teaching and inspiring young minds.”

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Student Support Award

The TRUSU Student Support Award is given out each year to a TRU student and a TRU employee who demonstrate excellence in supporting students in pursuing their educational and/or professional aspirations.

[su_box title=”Kayla Sanford – Student Award” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Kayla is civically engaged. Working with the City of Kamloops, she tactfully interviewed people experiencing homelessness to gather information, which was used to better understand homelessness in Kamloops and help guide the development of social services. Similarly, during the winter and reading break of 2018 and 2019, Kayla visited science classes in Chetwynd, BC to promote the value of pursuing post-secondary education and to inspire students to continue with science-based programs. Today, these students contact her for help with their TRU applications, to get advice for which courses to take, and to say thank you. Last week Kayla finished her final exams for the semester and said she had so much time on her hands she volunteered her time at the COVID-19 vaccination center in Chetwynd, BC (her hometown). This is truly an outstanding student and an individual making a positive difference in the lives of those around her.”

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[su_box title=”Terry Kading– Faculty / Staff Award” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“I know many other students past and present, who have gotten their start in their career, or discovered their academic passion through work with Dr. Kading, and I know there will continue to be many in the future.”

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Club Leadership Award

The TRUSU Club Leaders Community Service Award is given out each year to a TRU student who demonstrates excellence in community service through club leadership.

[su_box title=”Foster Wynne – Student Award” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“In early 2021 Foster founded the TRU Run 4 Fun club as a way of keeping fellow students socially connected and physically healthy during time of the COVID-19 through the shared passion of running. The club held six in-person group runs as well as three virtual challenges. An end-of-semester prize draw was held and prizes were distributed to four females and four males who attempted the challenges. In the first semester the club welcomed over 30 members and club members were able to explore six different locations around town during the winter semester. ”

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Teaching Award

The TRUSU Teaching Award is given out each year to a TRU faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching.

[su_box title=”Ruby Dhand” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Professor Ruby Dhand has played an integral role in the lives of so many TRU Law Students. Her teaching style has resonated with all the upper-year students and each tru law student has to “unofficially” take one of her classes. This is a so-called right of passage for TRU Law Students. Each class no matter the challenges in the real world she will pour her heart and soul out in every lecture. As a result, Professor Dhand has won the last three (3) Upper Year Teacher of the Year award voted by the TRU Law students. She was also appointed on the student success committee and has been an integral member on that committee and is ensuring the voices of the students are heard at the highest level and students are placed in a certain way that they succeed.”

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Student Advocate Award

The TRUSU Student Advocate Award is given out each year to a TRU student and a TRU employee who demonstrate excellence in building political will and/or advancing policy in the interest of students.

[su_box title=” Cicyetkwu Bennett-Dunstan – Student Award” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Cicyetkwu has been instrumental in advocacy in advancing women in western martial arts, as seen in her work by addressing gender imbalances by education via online presentations. She is presenting again as part of a panel of experts to represent women here on May 23. She is also a strong advocate for the LGTBQ2S community. She has a strong Tic Tok & Facebook following.”

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[su_box title=” Craig Jones – Faculty/Staff Award” box_color=”#333333″ radius=”6″]

“Professor Craig Jones has achieved many successful advocacy projects in the last couple years or so. He has spoken up for students and has risked personal growth at TRU and has put students interests first.”

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Students Call for Meeting with Health Minister on Ending Canada’s Blood Donation Ban

Over the last two years, more than 800 people in Kamloops have come together to call on the Federal Health Minister, Patty Hajdu, for her government to fulfill their election promise to end the blood donation ban for men who have sex with men (MSM). Ending this discriminatory policy was part of the federal government’s election promises in both 2015 and 2019, but they have yet to follow.

In early 2020, the Union requested a meeting with Minister Hajdu to learn about the government’s plan for moving this issue forward and to provide an update to people in Kamloops. At that time the minister declined our request for a meeting and has not provided an update on this issue since that time.

“What we’ve heard from our community is surprise and confusion that this blood donation ban still exists,” said Kole Lawrence, Vice President External of TRUSU. “We think it’s time for the Ministry of Health to provide some answers to the Kamloops community about why they haven’t resolved this issue.”

In 2020/21 the Union focused on meeting with community leaders and organizations in Kamloops to share this ongoing issue. Many leaders in Kamloops have been supportive of the issue including ASK Wellness, Kamloops Immigrant Services, Kamloops United Church, Safe Spaces Kamloops from ICS,  the HEU, a majority of Kamloops City Councillors, and leaders at TRU such as deans, faculty, and staff.

“Having the support of leaders in Kamloops such as City Councillors is an exciting moment for this issue,” stated Lawrence. “We hope the minister takes seriously how big of an issue this is for our community.”

Currently, Canada has a blood deferral policy in place of three months for men who have sex with men. This means that, regardless of their relationship status, and regardless of their safe-sex practices, many gay and bisexual men will not be permitted to donate blood for most of their adult lives. An alternative policy that promotes fairness while still ensuring blood safety is one that refuses blood donations based on individual risky behaviors rather than one’s identity.

In spring 2021 we are once again requesting that the Health Minister meet with us to provide an update for the Kamloops community on this issue.

 


 

For more information contact:

Kole Lawrence
VP External
k.lawrence@trusu.ca
250-828-5289

Leif Douglass
Campaigns Coordinator
campaigns@trusu.ca
250-828-5289

 

 

 

 

 

2021 TRUSU Election Results

Election polling for the 2021/22 TRUSU Board of Directors was held online on March 24 and March 25, 2021. Members of the Students’ Union were sent an email with a link to their online ballot. You can find the election results below:

Campaigns Committee

Vice President External
Sachin Pathigoda Arachchige Yes 594
No 92
Abstentions 180
Campaigns Committee Representatives (2)
Rami Johal Yes 499
No 146
Abstentions 221
Rahin Talukder Yes 544
No 107 
Abstentions 215

Entertainment Committee

Vice President Internal
Filza Raza Yes 696
No 55
Abstentions 115
Entertainment Committee Representative (2)
Farzaan Ahmed 142
Kristen Jacobsen 191
Daljeet kaur 104 
Helen Pogoson 97
Harivansh Shah 158
Devansh Sharma 118
Ruchika Shetty 268 
Swagath Swamy 209 
Abstentions 90

Equity Committee

Vice President Equity
Shantelle Bishop Yes 608
No 82 
Abstentions 176
Indigenous Representative
Darien Kilbreath Yes 680 
No 54
Abstentions 134
LGBTQ+ Representative
Eliana Baboiu  351
Skyler Trotta 305
Abstentions 210
Racialized Students’ Representative
Amisha Patel Yes 667 
No 60
Abstentions 210
Women’s Representative
Shannon Lopes 405 
Rida Zainab 348
Abstentions 139

Services Committee

Vice President Services
Ali Mulji Yes 526 
No 132
Abstentions 208
Services Committee Representative (2)
Esssam Abdul Sattar Abdul Hannan 378
Jasjit (Jessy) Khind 281
Robert Lim 360
Abstentions 208

University Affairs Committee

President
Azul Hernandez-Billy Yes 576 
No 89
Abstentions 201
Graduate Representative
Gina Dillon Yes 570 
No  84
Abstentions 212
International Representative
Parth Bavishi 352 
Lakhwinder Singh Rehsi 337
Abstentions 177
University Affairs Committee Representatives (2)
Kushal Bhansali 317
Daniel Bleiwas 289
Karelle Nelly Irankunda 294
Kerri Schill 240
Abstentions 118

Len Marchand Jr: Alternative Solutions in the Justice System

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On March 10, 2021 the Union hosted BC Supreme Court Justice Len Marchand Jr. for a discussion on Alternative Solutions in the Justice System. Justice Len Marchand Jr. is a member of the Okanagan Indian Band and grew up here in Kamloops. Marchand has dedicated large parts of his career to achieving reconciliation for Indigenous peoples, including helping to negotiate the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, which was the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history. Marchand has also presided in First Nations Court in Kamloops, where, with input from Elders, healing plans are developed for offenders.

Questions considered by the group included:

  • What types of alternative models for justice are commonly used within the justice system?
  • How is the justice system changing?
  • How much flexibility do judges have within the system?
  • What do you see as the biggest challenges in the justice system today?
  • As well as other topics

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.

Dr. Leonie Sandercock: Indigenous Community Planning

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On February 25, 2021 the Union hosted Dr. Leonie Sandercock for a virtual discussion on Indigenous Planning. Dr. Sandercock is part of designing and delivering the Indigenous Community Planning (ICP) concentration within UBC’s Master of Community and Regional Planning. The curriculum for this program is delivered in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band and only admits approximately 10 students per year.

Questions considered by the group included:

  • Community planning as a tool for self-determination
  • Ways in which indigenous communities are expanding community planning
  • Challenges to successful community planning
  • The inclusion of indigenous voices in broader regional and urban planning processes
  • As well as other topic areas

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.

Dr. Funké Aladejebi: Anti-Blackness in Higher Education

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On February 9, 2021 the Union hosted Dr. Funké Aladejebi for a virtual discussion on Anti-Blackness in Higher Education. Dr. Aladejebi is a history professor from the University of Toronto whose work frequently explores how legacies of race, gender, and migration influence the contemporary educational encounters of Black Canadian communities. This work has a particular focus on oral history, the history of education in Canada, Black Canadian women’s history, and transnationalism.

Questions considered by the group included:

  • How have post-secondary institutions been responding since the Black Lives Matter movement has come back into the forefront of popular culture?
  • What is the history of anti-blackness in higher education broadly and what has that looked like specifically in the Canadian context?
  • How can professors become adequate and resourceful allies during the current climate?
  • How have post-secondary institutions been incorporating black history into their curriculums?
  • As well as other topics
     

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.

Dr. Jeffrey Meyers: Looking Back at the American Election

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On November 19, 2020 the Union hosted Dr. Jeffrey Meyers for a virtual discussion with students after the American Election. Dr. Meyers is part of the Faculty of Law at TRU as well as a member of the Bar of the State of New York and a frequent commentator on American politics.

Questions considered by the group included:

Will litigation impact vote counting?

Was voter suppression a significant issue in this election?

Is polling losing legitimacy for the public?

Does Trump need to concede and what will the impact be if he doesn’t?

As well as other issues!

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.

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Dr. Jeffrey Meyers: Understanding the American Election

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On October 29, 2020 the Union hosted Dr. Jeffrey Meyers for a virtual discussion with students before the American Election. Dr. Meyers is part of the Faculty of Law at TRU as well as a member of the Bar of the State of New York and a frequent commentator on American politics.

Questions considered by the group included:

  • The perceived validity of the election results
  • The role of populism in this election
  • What the impact may be on Canada
  • The ways in which COVID has led to changing campaign strategies
  • And other areas

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.

Tosh Southwick: Indigenizing Higher Education Discussion

Breaking Bread is a project from the TRU Students’ Union that connects students with community leaders through small group discussions around shared topics of interest.

On October 6, 2020 the Union hosted Tosh Southwick for a virtual discussion with students on Indigenization in Higher Education. Tosh is part of the Kluane First Nation and was the Associate Vice President of Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation at Yukon University.

Questions considered by the group included:

  • What is indigenization? What does this look like at a post-secondary institution?
  • What have you noticed about indigenization at TRU?
  • What would need to happen at the institution/provincial/federal level in order to have adequate indigenization at TRU or any other institutions?
  • Is a mandatory course in each degree program an appropriate way to indigenize curricula?
  • What role do various levels of legislation play in supporting or creating obstacles to indigenization in higher education?
  • What are ways that educators/admins can honestly demonstrate their allyship?

If you are interested in being a part of a future discussion, let us know at campaigns@trusu.ca. We’re also happy to hear from you if you have a great idea for a discussion topic or community leader to get in touch with.