News and Stories

Black History Month

Black History Month 2024

February is Black History Month. While we should celebrate Black history and excellence every day, this is an opportunity for a focused, intentional and elevated reflection and recognition of Black history and achievement – and the many historical and contemporary contributions of Black Canadians, Black British Columbians and Black students, faculty and staff at UBC.

Lit candle

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

In 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Get involved and learn more:

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

Navigating Human Rights and Expression Rights with an Ethic of Care

The Equity & Inclusion Office (EIO) joins students, faculty, and staff in expressing care and concern for those experiencing and/or witnessing immeasurable loss and grief as a consequence of the Israel-Palestine conflict and ongoing war.

Through this ongoing difficult time, the EIO continues to provide confidential advising and community capacity building to promote safety, dignity and equity in learning and working environments.

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia

January 29 has been designated by the Canadian government as the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia – an opportunity to honour the survivors and victims of a violent hate-motivated attack on Muslim worshipers at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Sainte-Foy, Quebec in 2017. It is also a day to commit to ongoing efforts to combat Islamophobia in all of its manifestations from biased and bigoted attitudes, to individual and systemic acts of discrimination, to hate-motivated violence.

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Join UBC students, faculty, and staff to learn more about the importance of preserving Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism, and to reflect on our individual and collective responsibilities to safeguard human rights locally and globally.

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

Update on the progress of strategic equity and anti-racism efforts

Launched in January 2023, UBC’s Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) Framework set out the university’s integrated approach to advancing equity and anti-racism commitments and priorities drawn from across a number of institutional plans. Now, a year since the launch of the framework, at the January 2023 townhall, a number of efforts have moved the implementation of this work forward.

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

Remarks: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

The following remarks were delivered by Arig al Shaibah, Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion during the University Women’s Club of Vancouver Federation Committee Panel Discussion: “Are Students Safe on Post-Secondary Campuses?” on December 6, 2023.

International Day of persons with Disabilities is on December 3rd.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities was developed by the United Nations to increase awareness and understanding of the diversities of disability issues and to advocate for the rights of all disabled persons.

Photo of Dr. Arig al Shaibah

Recognizing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Arig al Shaibah, Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion, reflects on the significance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and efforts to advance accessibility and inclusion at UBC.

Headshot of Arig, al Shaibah AVP, Equity & Inclusion

Remarks: Two-Spirit Coast Salish Mosaic Reveal

The following remarks were delivered by Arig al Shaibah, Associate Vice-President, Equity and Inclusion during the Two-Spirit Coast Salish Mosaic Reveal on November 14, 2023. Thank you, Corinna. Good afternoon, everyone.  First, I want to thank the Coast Salish First Nations peoples for the gracious reception of guests like myself to your traditional, ancestral and unceded territories. […]