HeforShe: Solidarity movement celebrated at U of G

Canada’s 26th governor general Adrienne Clarkson spoke to over 500 people at U of G's online HeForShe event on March 10. Two scholarships were awarded in her name that night, granting $5,000 to two U of G students. CREDIT: "ADRIENNE CLARKSON" BY ANDREW RUSK ON FLICKR LICENSED UNDER CC BY 2.0.

ELENI KOPSAFTIS

For many years, U of G has been celebrating the HeForShe initiative, a solidarity movement advocating for equality across all genders. On March 10, the school hosted a HeForShe event to highlight “the strength and resilience of our community,” which was led by Gerarda Darlington, Interim Dean of engineering and physical sciences at the university. “In our disciplines across Canada, which span chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics and statistics, and physics, we continue to see persistent gender imbalance in student enrollments,” said Darlington during the event. “Correcting that imbalance is a core strategy for us at the University of Guelph.

“Gender equality is not an issue of one gender versus another. It is a human rights issue.”

Launched in 2014 by the United Nations (UN), the HeForShe initiative has sparked over one billion social media conversations, two million HeForShe commitments, and one thousand HeForShe events.

To commit, one must pledge that “I am one of millions who believe that everyone is born free and equal. I will take action against; gender bias, discrimination and violence to bring the benefits of equality to us all.”

Attended by over 500 people, the HeForShe at U of G event was held virtually via Hopin.com and was organized in collaboration with the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, the college of engineering and physical sciences, and the university’s Gryphons football team.

Many community leaders spoke at the event including U of G president and vice-chancellor Charlotte Yates, Guelph mayor Cam Guthrie, Gryphons football player Anthony Hall, as well as Canada’s 26th governor general Adrienne Clarkson.

Clarkson arrived in Canada as a refugee from Hong Kong. Her parents were in their early 30s at the time and had two children, including Clarkson. They were able to get by through her father’s business in trade and commerce.

“Canada has always been very, very welcoming,” said Clarkson during the event. “In the friends that we’ve made and the people who helped us, it says ‘if you want to participate in life in Canada, we are willing to have you be part of it.’ And that’s what it all means. That’s what gender equality means, and that’s what being a refugee means. It’s belonging.”

Clarkson eventually became a journalist and best-selling author of Room for All of Us (2011), among other titles.

On gender equality, Clarkson said, “when I was pregnant with my first child, I went to my executive producer… and he told me ‘if you’re not back here six weeks after the baby’s born, you’re fired.’”

At the time, there was no legislation for maternity leave. So sure enough, Clarkson returned to work six weeks after her baby was born. In response to this, Clarkson asks “why can’t we have maternity leave for when the child is older? Why can’t we make it a choice?”

Clarkson explained that this all has to do with how different groups of people are treated. Namely, despite whether someone is a different gender, race, or religion, they should not be separated from everyone else.

All in all, the only way we can make a country worth living in is if we stay true to ourselves, said Clarkson.

U of G’s HeForShe initiative includes three scholarships.

The Adrienne Clarkson resilience scholarships awarded $5,000 to two U of G students, the first being hospitality and tourism student Bree Johnson.

Johnson credited her strength to her parents and grandparents for showing her that “if things don’t go as planned, that’s okay. As long as you try your best and stay happy, everything will work out eventually.”

Fifth-year engineering student Chelsea Ohiolei Ehimiaghe was awarded the engineering portion of the same scholarship.

“I was often the only woman on my team and always ended up being assigned to the role of report writing or project organizing,” said Ohiolei Ehimiaghe. “Four years later, I am here to own up to my skills and competences, and I am ever ready to display it.”

The HeForShe ally scholarship awards $2,500 to a student who is an ally to gender equality. The winner of this award was fourth-year adult development student and LGBTQ2SIA+ advocate Amy Kavanagh.

During the event, Kavanagh said the award meant a lot to her as she’s seen “the mental strain and deterioration” faced by trangender and non-binary folks.

“This pain put a fire in me to use my privilege as a cisgender person to be a voice for those being hurt by this unjust system and do my part in making the university campus a safer place for people of all genders.”

Finally, the HeForShe impact award recognizes a Guelph-Wellington business or organization that promotes and improves gender equality through initiatives.

The recipient of this year’s award was Skyline who presented $2,500 to Guelph YMCA-YWCA Safe Sisters, a weekly drop-in program for girls between Grades 7 and 8 that provides a safe space to learn and discuss personal safety and positive well-being.

Skyline is a Guelph-founded acquisition, management, development, and investment business with nearly 1,000 staff across Canada.

Melissa Haynes, supervisor of youth programs and community outreach at the YMCA Guelph location, said the Safe Sisters program is one that was dear to her heart.

“I had the privilege of working with many young ladies,” she said. “I got to witness their personal growth and development throughout the program and the impact of the program on a weekly basis, so thank you.”

To make the pledge or learn more about the HeForShe movement, visit heforshe.org for the UN’s website. To learn more about how the University of Guelph is supporting the HeForShe movement, go to uoguelph.ca/lang/heforshe.