Vic U Endorses Scarborough Charter

Victoria University launched its Black History Month celebrations by formally endorsing The Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education. Originally developed by the University of Toronto Scarborough in collaboration with Black communities, academic institutions and various institutional partners, the charter recognizes the realities of anti-Black racism and includes concrete steps for action to ensure institutional and cross-sector accountabilities.

“Vic U should be a place where every member of our campus feels that they belong, and as our surrounding communities in Canada grow, so do our desires to develop spaces where we learn from and with each other,” says Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University. “The principles, actions and accountabilities in the charter will help us further deliver inclusion, addressing key areas of university operations, and reconciling the university’s recruitment, curriculum development, institutional culture and community engagement practices with EDIA values.”

The Vic Black Excellence and Inclusion Committee put on events throughout Black History Month to recognize and support the everyday lived experiences, culture, joy and flourishing of Black people. These included a Black cultural food event; a screening of Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil, which tells the story of Canadian athletes barred from the pros due to race; and Black networking events.