Post-Symposium
The Enhancing Equity in Ontario Elementary Education Symposium was held virtually and in-person at Toronto Metropolitan University, on October 11th and 12th, 2023. Enhancing Equity in Ontario Education is a project led by Dr. Sejal Patel (Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University), in partnership with Dr. Alana Butler from Queen's University, Dr. Adam Davies from University of Guelph, Dr. George Dei from University of Toronto, Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook from University of Ottawa, Dr. Vidya Shah from York University, Dr. Janelle Brady and Dr. Kathryn Underwood from Toronto Metropolian University, Tesa Fiddler from Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board, Max Cooke from EdCan Network, Stephen Hurley from voicEd Radio, Courtnay McFarlane from Regent Park Community Health Centre, and Annie Kidder and Dr. Robin Liu Hopson from People for Education.
The Symposium invited participation by all Ontario district school boards, education stakeholders, and scholars focused on educational equity and human rights (considering Black and Indigenous students, newcomer/international students, racialized students, students living in low socioeconomic neighbourhoods, student who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled students, and other intersectionalities), to allow for sharing of promising practices around equity-based initiatives, along with providing space to reflect on and commit to taking greater action in support of enhanced equity for elementary school students.
Symposium Recap
As we begin 2024, we reflect on the inspiring conversations that took place at the Enhancing Equity in Ontario Elementary Education symposium. The symposium provided opportunities to share and consider promising practices regarding enhancing equity for elementary students. We received wonderful feedback about the logistics, moderated discussions, panels, and presentations, and are grateful for all of the dialogue and action that the symposium attendees continue to inspire.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of the presenters, symposium staff and volunteers. Your collaboration, support, and effort helped to ensure that the symposium ran as smoothly as possible.
Thank you all for your participation in this important event. Stay tuned for podcasts and symposium proceedings, which will be mobilized through this website.
Symposium Podcasts
Hosted by Stephen Hurley (Executive Director at voicEd Radio) and Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook (Professor and Vice Dean of Graduate Programs, University of Ottawa), who are joined by Kiera Brant-Birioukov (Kanyen’kehà:ka from Kenhtè:ke [Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory], Assistant Professor at York University); Kyrstin Dumont (Band member of the Algonquins of Kitigan Zibi, advocate, educator, and mentor); Stephanie Sanders (Ojibwe Anishinaabekwe from Curve Lake, blended with Spanish and French. M.Ed. student at the University of Ottawa, and an Indigenous Education Learning Partner with the Ottawa Catholic School Board); Marissa Magneson (Cree-Métis artist, photographer, educator, workshop facilitator, PhD student in the Faculty of Education at York University. Elected Youth Representative for the Toronto and York Region Métis Council); Roxanne Gillis (Indigenous M.Ed. student at York University, with a double major in Indigenous studies and Gender and Women’s studies. Indigenous consultant for the City of Toronto, and as a human trafficking survivor, works with the Native Women's Association of Canada); and Melissa Somer (Saulteaux Anishinaabekwe from Little Saskatchewan of the Interlake tribes, Buffalo Clan, blended with Pennsylvanian Dutch. ECE and student in the Masters of Urban Indigenous Education program. Facilitator, educator, and presenter for George Brown College, York University, and the TDSB).
For more information about each speaker and their work, see the Podcasts tab (opens in new window) .
In this podcast, participants shared their perspectives on equity, informed by their Indigenous worldviews and lived experiences. The discussion was guided by the following questions:
- What is equity for each of you in terms of your lived experiences and in terms of your current work in relation to settler colonial K-6 public and private schooling systems in Ontario?
- What are some of the historical and/or ongoing individual, structural, systemic and societal barriers?
- What are some of the professional (un)learning work taking place to counter and/or support students?