This event will provide solution based programming for organizations to Recruit, Retain and Promote from marginalized employee groups. For additional information contact Chris D'Souza. For full summit schedule click Register Here!

The event will take place on October 3-4 2024, and will be located at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Airport West 5444 Dixie Road, Mississauga, ON, L4W 2L2 Full Schedule

In her role as the Human Rights and Equity Advisor for the Waterloo Region District School Board, Deepa Ahluwalia helps to support the establishment of a human rights culture by helping the senior team to identify and address systematic barriers and gaps, and to also support the resolution of Code-based complaints. Deepa oversees the Human Rights Branch, whose mandate also includes providing professional learning and training as it relates to anti-oppression and human rights, and to assist in the resolution of complaints by providing coaching and conducting investigations.

"Shekoli. Nicole Robinson ní yukyáts. Onʌyota’a:ká: niwakuhutsyó:tʌ̲. Cambridge nú: teknakéhl̲e̲’. Hello, my name is Nicole Robinson. Oneida is my nation. Cambridge is where I live." Nicole identifies as having mixed Haudenosaunee and European ancestry. She moved to the Waterloo Region in 2006 to pursue graduate studies and has worked at the Waterloo Region District School Board as the Equity and Inclusion Officer – Indigenous Focus since 2008. In this role, her passion for raising Indigenous awareness in classrooms and challenging the colonial construct of education systems is what drives her work.

Sherwyn has been committed to working towards equity in education for over 30 years. His past work in the field has included numerous public speaking engagements, workshops, writing curriculum for the Ontario Ministry of Education, and co-authoring a book. Sherwyn’s work as an educator has taken him to 3 provinces where he’s worked in both private and public education. He has been an elementary and secondary school administrator for 15 years and currently works in the Upper Grand District School Board as Principal of Equity and Inclusion where he continues his work growing student achievement through his passion for equity, and excellence in instructional practice. When he is at home, Sherwyn is the father of 2 teens and a greyhound, the slowest fastest dog on Earth. He also enjoys astrophotography — taking pictures of the stars, playing blues harmonica and working on community initiatives.

Barry has over 33 years of experience in education. He began his career as both an Interpreter and Teacher of the Deaf. He worked in 4 different school boards and spent his last 21 years as an administrator. Most recently he served as Central Principal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Multi-Lingual Language Learners. In addition, he is a past Education Officer with the Equity and Inclusive Education Portfolio for 9 years. He has authored numerous Ministry of Education Documents supporting the LGBTQ population including “Happens to Be… LGBTQ in Our Schools”, and “Guidelines for Supporting our Transgender Students.” Barry was highlighted in the magazine Parents Canada in the article “The Kids Are All Right” discussing the experience of adopting their son as a same sex couple. Barry is currently an instructor for the Principal’s Qualification Course through York University and OPC and is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant for Ontario Principal's Council. Barry is the 4-time recipient of the PFLAG Champion Award for unwavering determination to create a more open and accepting society for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-identified persons in Ontario. He was featured in the documentary ‘Pride Talks’ at World Pride highlighting his work as a gay activist. Barry will be running a workshop: "Supporting Pride in the Workplace. Ensuring Welcome Spaces for 2SLGBTQ Employees"

Nathalie Sirois leads the Global Centre for Pluralism’s efforts to support educators and system leaders in making pluralism a lived experience in their specific contexts with a view to building inclusive societies resilient to fear and hate. She spent over 20 years in K-12 public education in a variety of roles, including community worker, teacher, instructional coach, consultant, in various system leader roles and as an advisor and coach to senior leaders. As one of the first Senior Advisors for Equity, Human Rights and Pluralism in a French-language school board in Canada, she contended daily with the systemic effects of the double minoritization of francophone students and staff from historically marginalized communities. Her journey has also brought her to offer training and to publish various resources on trauma-informed practice for educators and on educational leadership. Nathalie will be running a workshop during the summit; "Recrutement, Rétention: Reconnaissance, Appartenance"