June 29, 2023
TheOffice of Anti-Racism, Equity and Human Rights Services(OAREHRS) is distressed and deeply saddened to hear about the stabbing incident at the University of Waterloo on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. We particularly condemn this incident of gender-based and transphobic violence, targeting a Gender Issues course within the Philosophy Department and Gender and Social Justice Program.
Hatred and hate-motivated violence must not be tolerated and has no place in our classrooms, schools, or communities.
We reaffirm George Brown College’s commitment to protecting 2SLGBTQIA+ people and gender-marginalized folks from violence, discrimination, and harassment. The college also commits to fostering an environment free of all forms of gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
OAREHRS has expanded our capacity to include two Gender-Based and Sexual Violence Response Advisors, a Gender and Sexual Violence Prevention Coordinator and an Awareness & Education Program Coordinator. This month, OAREHRS led four college-wide trainings on 2SLGBTQIA+ Fundamentals to Action and will continue offering educational initiatives like these alongside spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to gather, to strengthen our commitments to 2SLGBTQIA+ safety and belonging.
It is important for all of us to recognize our responsibilities to disrupt gender essentialism, transphobia, and gender-based discrimination in all the ways they appear, both overt and subtle, in our lives.
Our thoughts are with the University of Waterloo community members, particularly trans, nonbinary, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people, along with broader 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, who are impacted by this attack.
Please know that support is available.
If you experience or witness discrimination, harassment, gender-based or sexual violence, please contact OAREHRS atdiversity@georgebrown.caorsvra@georgebrown.ca.
For counselling services and support, students can contactGBC Counselling and Student Wellbeingatletstalk@georgebrown.caor 416-415-5000 ext. 5370.
We encourage employees to access mental health resources available through the Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP). Employees can visitlogin.lifeworks.comand log in with the username GBC and the password wellness or by phone at 1-844-880-9142.
The college will be closed as scheduled through Friday and Monday, but we encourage you to make use of community resources.
LGBT Youthline provides warmline support for people ages 16-29 via online chat & text service: 647-694-4275 oryouthline.ca.
Good2Talk is available for all Ontario post-secondary students: Online atgood2talk.ca, call at 1-866-925-5454, or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868.
如果你在危机中,请联系李反式feline attranslifeline.org, 1-877-330-6366, the Gerstein Crisis Centre atgersteincentre.org, (416) 929-5200, or Good2Talk.
