Niagara College marked Trans Awareness Week (November 13 to 19) and Trans Day of Remembrance (November 20) with an event focused on open dialogue about the experiences of trans students.
Trans Awareness Week supports increasing the visibility of the trans community. Trans Day of Remembrance is observed annually and honours the memory of members of the trans community who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence.
In collaboration with the Centre for Academic Excellence (CAE), Centre for Organizational Excellence (COE), and the Rainbow Knights student club, this hybrid gathering welcomed students, staff, and faculty to engage in an important panel discussion led by trans students at NC. The event, which garnered 28 attendees, aimed to amplify trans voices, prompting the NC community to reflect on their role in fostering a welcoming space and learning environment for trans students at the College.
Opening the event, Samah Sabra, Associate Director of Workplace Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), emphasized the significance of this year’s panel, which included trans students.
Vice-President of Student Affairs, Dorita Pentesco, also shared insights on the EDI Blueprint, highlighting the College’s collective path toward enhancing EDI.
“The journey to enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion at the College is one we’re on together, and today’s event exemplifies that journey,” said Pentesco.
Whit Ross, Associate Director of Educational Development, kicked off the panel discussion, noting the importance of amplifying student voices and introducing each of the esteemed panelists.
Each panelist vocalized their pride in advocating for trans students at NC, expressing a deep desire to improve the quality of life for current and future members of the trans community on NC campuses.
Throughout the discussion, panelists addressed questions and offered suggestions on how to improve the campus experience for trans students. Notable recommendations included updating the College website with improved communication on resources and support for trans students, along with increasing the number of gender-neutral washrooms and change rooms on campus.
President Sean Kennedy providing closing remarks at the Learning From Trans Students panel discussion.
Panelists also emphasized the impactful nature of simple, small changes and minor actions as meaningful symbols of support for trans students. Actions including members of the NC community incorporating pronouns in their email signatures or displaying pride symbols in staff and faculty offices are easily achievable and carry considerable weight in fostering an inclusive environment.
This insightful discussion provided the NC community with firsthand perspectives on the barriers faced by trans students and proposed thoughtful solutions for creating a more welcoming space at the College.
The panel concluded with President Kennedy offering closing remarks and commending panelists for the courage demonstrated in their discussion. He shared a key takeaway, emphasizing that even the smallest signals play a pivotal role in making NC a more inclusive community, a sentiment that will undoubtedly guide the College’s future EDI endeavors.
