In honor of International Women’s Day, NC celebrated this year’s theme, “Inspire Inclusion.” On March 5, the Libraries and Learning Commons and Human Resources hosted the International Women’s Day Living Library Event where 76 guests joined in person and virtually to engage in an important conversation around our collective efforts toward enhancing equity and inclusivity in our community.
The event featured three inspiring women, who through their exemplary work, pave the path to inclusion in their organizations and communities. Jennifer Dockstader, Executive Director of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre; Zakia Hamdani, Equity Consultant at the District School Board of Niagara; and Cassandra (Cassie) Ogunniyi, Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Relations at Niagara Region, each shared their unique perspectives and experiences.
Senior Vice President, College Operations, Pam Skinner welcoming panelists and guests to the event.
“The event was spectacular, and alongside our partners at Human Resources, we showed what we can accomplish together through collaboration,” said Bellan Dye, Library Technician – Outreach and Advocacy. “Our guests were deeply engaged in discussing the themes of representation, collective effort, and open dialogue. Many thanks to everyone who joined us and to our panelists for their amazing insights.”
The panel was moderated by Director of EDI and Accessibility, Samah Sabra, and kicked off with a warm welcome from Senior Vice President, College Operations, Pam Skinner.
“Today’s session is open to students, employees, alumni and members of the community, and it’s great to know that we have all of these groups represented, coming here today to celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Skinner. “Seeing representation from multiple organizations from across the region on today’s panel reminds us of the collective effort needed to enhance equity and inclusivity in our community.”
This set the stage for a meaningful conversation, where attendees had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and learn ways to enhance inclusivity efforts in their personal lives and on NC campuses.
Each panelist began by sharing their journey and what inspires them in their work.
For Jennifer, she is inspired by the ability to not only have herself seen, but her people seen within our community and beyond.
“I really want people to confront the stereotypes they were taught about fearing Indigenous people and see them for what they truly are,” she said. “It’s important to understand this as part of Canada’s historical propaganda, designed to inhibit the sharing of Indigenous knowledge and culture. Whether it’s calls for action or calls for justice, it’s a call for Canadians to re-examine their beliefs, replace it with truth and initiate conversations with Indigenous people.”
Zakia’s journey, rooted in her upbringing, her Muslim faith, and her career in education, have inspired a commitment to creating inclusive spaces for the next generation.
“When I think about what grounds me in this work, it’s the sense of community and love,” said Zakia. “This work chose me.”
She particularly highlights the distinction between fitting in and belonging, drawing from her own experiences growing up and how she navigated spaces as a child.
“Fitting in often means losing a part of yourself or giving yourself up to fit in, whereas belonging means taking as you are,” she said. “Growing up I felt the constant need to prove myself, facing stereotypes and barriers based on how others viewed my immigrant family.”
A turning point that inspired her career trajectory came when her own children entered the education system and experienced similar challenges. She views this as her calling: to embody compassion and spread love, creating a sense of shared humanity despite the polarizing nature of our world.
Cassie’s journey has been shaped by various experiences, notably her time in East Timor after high school. Witnessing the challenges faced by communities there sparked her desire for impactful change.
“I became particularly interested in not just looking at individuals but figuring out how we can change systems, because as individuals we can’t do much on our own but together, we can achieve much more.”
This led her to pursue further education in International Development Studies, Sports Management, and Anthropology when she returned to Canada, where she now combines her skills and knowledge from these areas to contribute to public health development with an aim to disrupt systems for greater inclusivity.
Each panelist also had a unique perspective on the impacts their work will have in their communities and across the region.
Jennifer touched on the ancient Indigenous teaching, emphasizing that we are all interconnected beings made from the stars. She encouraged the audience to reflect on what becomes possible when we consider being not just grounded in the land but in the universe and the stars.
“That’s why I’m so anti-assimilation, because I want us to share the stardust with each other and sprinkle it around so it becomes contagious,” she said. “If we all become as small as what assimilation would consider “Canadian” then we are limiting ourselves. Expansion is important now and our capacity becomes much more when we know more, learn more, and act within what is possible and not what limits us.”
When considering her impact, Zakia recalled the journey of integrating her faith teachings with her professional role, acknowledging the influence of her beliefs.
She draws inspiration from a verse in her scripture: “when one of us is harmed, all of humanity is harmed.” This led her to consider the concept of “us versus them,” hoping to inspire a world where diverse cultures, religions, languages, and identities are unified without dominance and an education system where students can be their authentic selves.
Cassie reflected on the commonalities of core principles across diverse cultures, particularly noting the richness of Indigenous teachings and their alignment to the Christian principles she was raised with.
She asked the audience, “how much richer would all of our lives be if we embraced Indigenous ways of knowing and doing?” emphasizing the importance of mutual learning and understanding.
Cassie hopes to spread the recognition that everyone is the expert of their own lives and experiences, and that expanding our knowledge of the world can only be achieved through meaningful interactions with others.
For those unable to attend the International Women’s Day Living Library Event, a recording of the panel discussion can be accessed on the Libraries and Learning Commons Living Library Event Guide, where all past events can also be explored.
We encourage the NC community to continue commemorating and celebrating the important contributions of women throughout history during International Women’s History Month, this March. To continue learning more, visit the below resources:
