Diversity Thunder Bay

A new organization plans to boost education and advocacy efforts on gender and sexual diversity issues in Thunder Bay and the surrounding region.

Happy International Women’s Day! International Women's Day (March 8th) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Thunder Bay Public Library is committed to freedom of expression and anti-racism, the library said in a statement. The recent Dr. Seuss debate has highlighted how these values can sometimes become contradictions. When these contradictions cannot be resolved, we have to privilege one value over another. With regards to the Dr. Seuss titles that have racist content, we have decided to privilege our commitment to anti-racism.

Since a lot of people are spending a lot more time with their kids these days... https://www.cbc.ca//dr-seuss-and-how-to-deal-with-racism-i

Thank you to our Friends who are helping us virtually bring you Jesses Wente March 24! Register here NOW! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/jesse-wente-new-understandings-

Please read this urgent letter from NAN Grand Chief, Alvin Fiddler, regarding the sudden closure of youth justice facilities. With the closure of these youth justice centres, there will be no proximate detention facilities for youth from northern First Nations. And by proximate, we mean within hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers.... We must never forget that we are talking about a deeply vulnerable population: detained children aged 12 to 17. These are children who have... faced many hurdles and who have fallen through the cracks of several government systems. These are children who have increased needs yet limited access to much needed wrap-around services that would assist with their transition to productive and flourishing adulthood. https://www.nan.ca//closure-of-youth-justice-facilities-/

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Listen to this wrenching story, all too common in our community.

November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Say her name- Barbara Kentner.

Great Volunteer opportunity! Register now to be an Age Friendly Snow Angel!

‘Hope for change’: New group plans to offer warm food, clothes and connection to people who are homeless in Thunder Bay "A gentleman said to us the food we’re offering means a lot, but means nothing compared to treating him like he's a human being

Winter is practically upon us.

Diversity Thunder Bay supports the principles behind this project. " The pandemic starkly showed just how badly our support systems work for people who face marginalization due to poverty, oppression and inequality." Learn more and get involved here: https://www.justrecoveryontario.ca/

To all those celebrating, Happy Diwali!

Water is sacred

The latest One City, Many Voices column. Thunder Bay’s Anti-Racism and Respect Committee and Diversity Thunder Bay produce this monthly column to promote greater understanding of race relations in Northwestern Ontario. If you are interested in contributing, please let us know!

Celebrated in October to commemorate the first intersex protest, which took place in Boston, MA outside the annual American Academy of Pediatrics conference in ...1996. This day was first established in 2003 by Emi Koyoma and Betsy Driver, as a way to raise awareness and a day of action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children. Source www.queerevents.ca

Buffy Sainte-Marie for Treaties Week!

Dr. Amy Siciliano will be presenting her report on Year 2 (Sept. 2018 - Dec.2019) of the racism Incident Reporting Project, which is sponsored by The City of Thunder Bay's Anti-Racism & Respect Advisory Committee, in partnership with Diversity Thunder Bay and Lakehead Social Planning Council, to City Council on Monday Oct. 26th at 6:30pm* Watch the presentation and discussion through the link below or on tbaytel tv Channel 110 or Shaw Spotlight Channel 10. ... *The City Council meeting starts at 6:30pm and it is the second agenda item. https://www.thunderbay.ca//cit/watch-council-meetings.aspx

Shared from Chief of Neskantaga FN, Chris Moonias' Twitter account (@can_ndn) We need to help ensure that Bee and all children of Neskantaga know that they matter. #endbwa #dowenotmatter #arewenothuman #systemicracism #waterislife #neskantagafn #TreatiesRecognitionWeek #CanadaLongestBoilWaterAdvisory #25YearsBWA #fixourwater #WaterIsLife

I am awake, I am alive and this morning as my mind reels over the latest projectile thrown at an indigneous woman in this city, I cannot help but ask, "Do you h...ave our back?" The exercise was simple enough. Mom would make us stand back-to-back. "This is what partnership is" she would say as she made us each look around the room. "You can see much but what you cannot see is directly in front of your partner. He can see it. And what he cannot see is obvious to you, for it is directly in front of you. THIS is what it means to have each other's back - to see what the other can't, to warn them, and conversely, to believe what they tell you they see that you cannot." So do you have our back? When the racist joke is uttered and there are no BIPOC in the room, do you shut it down? Do you eliminate the threat we are not there to see? And when we tell you this venue is not safe for indigenous or that person is racist against us, do you believe what we see even as you can't? The questions are valid. For in this city, it seems far too many are turning a blind eye, refusing to see when yet another is assaulted or insulted. Too many blame us, the victim, rather than calling out a behaviour that should never be allowed. "When will this racism end?" they ask. When we stop tolerating it. When we ALL call it out. When together we decide NOT IN OUR CITY. The journey continues. This is me, praying you have our backs because those attacks we don't see coming ... are killing us. I love you. HUGSSSSSSSSSSS Sandi #ibelieveinyou #celebrateandsurvive

Report racism by calling 2-1-1 or online at https://www.lspc.ca/incidentreport/

Diversity Thunder Bay works towards an inclusive, equitable community free of racism and discrimination of any kind. Whether it be to celebrate diversity, to aspire to allyship or to simply be a good neighbour we must stand up as a whole and speak out if we encounter any form of racism or discrimination be it subtle, systemic or violent. Diversity Thunder Bay believes that Thunder Bay should be a welcoming and safe place for individuals and groups regardless of race, ancestr...y, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, class, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, education, marital status, source of income, same-sex partnership status, family status or disability. You can report racism that you witness or experience by calling 211 or online at https://www.lspc.ca/incidentreport/ If you witness or experience any acts of violence or have information about any of the reported incidents, please call the Thunder Bay Police.

Police have urged potential witnesses to the alleged incident to come forward, or provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com. Individuals who are reluctant to come forward due to mistrust of the police may contact the Indigenous Liaison Officer, Constable Bob Simon, by calling 807-684-1200.