We’re proud to share that Professor Dan Irving, and a long-time research affiliate with Egale Canada, was invited to speak at the , held in Ottawa on May 22–23.

Organized by Egale Canada in partnership with The Dignity Network, the P7 Summit brought together over 100 LGBTQI+ advocates and leaders from across the globe to shape collective strategies and influence international policy ahead of the G7. As part of the panel on “Gender Justice and Health Equity,” Professor Irving shared insights from the  project, a vital initiative led by Egale Canada that explores the employment experiences of Two-Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people.

Professor Irving’s contribution illuminated how systemic discrimination, precarious labour, and exclusion from policy conversations continue to shape employment landscapes — and emphasized the urgent need for equity-driven, community-rooted responses.

His work reminds us that labour justice and gender justice are deeply intertwined. By centering lived experience and resisting one-size-fits-all solutions, the project advances a vision of workplace equity that honours the complexity, brilliance, and resilience of Two-Spirit, trans, and nonbinary communities.

The post Professor Dan Irving Speaks at the 2025 P7 Summit appeared first on Feminist Institute of Social Transformation.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024
4:30 PM — 6:30 PM
2017 Dunton Tower

Black“LGBTQIA+” Psychology: Understanding collective self-determination, Afrocentrism, and optimal identity will be an overview of Dr. Michele K. Lewis’ Fulbright research project. Lewis will frame her work as intersecting Black Psychology, Culture Neuroscience, and what has been theorized as a Kemetic model of the cosmological interactive self (Maat, 2014). The objective of the project is greater understanding of spirit identities and interpersonal experiences of Black Same-Gender Loving (SGL), “LGBTQIA+” and/or non-binary gendered Black-identifying persons residing in Canada and the United States. Lewis’ use of Africentric methodology and reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clark­) renders the project a decolonized form of doing international research. Her research questions address participants’ belief systems, mystic experiences, identity, motivations, and attitudes as revealed through Africentric methodology. Preliminary observations and analysis will be presented on this work in progress.

The post 2024 Flo Bird Lecture with Dr. Michele Lewis. Black“LGBTQIA+” Psychology: Understanding Collective Self-determination, Afrocentrism, and Optimal Identity appeared first on Feminist Institute of Social Transformation.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 every year to acknowledge the significance and impacts of diverse women’s rights movements that bring attention to gender equity, reproductive rights, gender based violence, among others. on the rights of women, girls, Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse peoples in Canada, and around the world. Simultaneously, , leaving these folks worldwide facing unprecedented risks and harms. 

Marginalization and oppression are the result of intersecting and complex social identities, including gender, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, socio-economic status, disability, age, and more. FIST is dedicated to calls for action that support, protect and encourage women, girls, Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse peoples in Canada and beyond.

This IWD, the Feminist Futures Lecture Series (hosted by FIST) is excited to present a presentation by Dr. Gülay Kilicaslan titled: ‘Deprovincializing Kurdish Contentious Politics: Forced Migration and Activism across Kurdistan, Turkey, and Europe.’ Dr. Kilicaslan will discuss the two recent episodes of mass displacement of Kurds (the 1990s and the mid-2010s) carried out by the Turkish state, to shed light on how forced displacement influences the dynamics of political mobilization in Kurdish contentious politics. Dr. Kilicaslan’s research reveals the transformative role of forced displacement and migrant activism for anti-colonial social movements in achieving scale shift, self-rule, and decolonization.

You can attend this hybrid event – in-person (4050 Bicol Building) or –  on Wednesday 8 March, 10-11.30AM.

For more information, visit us at

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Today, November 25^th, is the and marks the start of the annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.  At FIST we are always thinking about the ways in which violence impacts the lives of our communities and beyond. Today, like every other day we will continue to teach our students about gender-based violence in Canada and beyond and the intersectional realities that put the most marginalized communities at risk.

For more information, events and resources, check out the links below:

Events:

• Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women: Join OCTEVAW at Ottawa City Hall on Friday, November 25th at 5PM to launch #16DaysOfActivism 
• Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan: On November 27, join the for Afghan women & girls
• Amnesty International Canada and Sisters Trust:
• The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF): On November 30, the CJF, in collaboration with the campaign and Canadian Women’s Foundation present: The Chilling Tide of Abuse Faced by Women Journalists (Free event – register )
• �Ӱ�ԭ��’s School of Journalism and Communication, in conjunction with CBC/Radio-Canada and #NotOK: Join in on an imprtant conversation on December 1; JOURNALISTS AND ONLINE HATE: What to do when the battlefield is everywhere (free – register )
• WW2PreventVAWG joins Raising Voices: On December 5 join the Launch of What Works II report: Evidence for Action – What Works to Prevent Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (Registration link )

Read:

• Gender-Based Violence Prevention Network:
• OCTEVAW:
• Canadian Women’s Foundation:
• Canadian Women’s Foundation:
• �Ӱ�ԭ�� University Newsroom:
• Jena Lynde-Smith:
• On December 6, 2022, the Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED) invites the �Ӱ�ԭ�� community to join us in observing Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Crisis / Help Lines:

………………………………………………………………………..Text (613)704-5535
…………………..24 hour 1(866) 863-0511 TTY 1(866) 863-7868
…….….…………………………………24 hour (613) 745-4818
……………………….………………24 hour (613) 238-3311 TEXT 343-306-5550
…………………………………24 hour (613) 562-2333 TTY (613) 562-3860
……………………………..24 hour (613) 234-2266 TTY (613) 725-1657
………………………………………24 hour 1(877) 336-2433 ATS 1(866) 860-7082
…�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ.1(877)330-6366
…�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ�Ħ..(613)-789-8096
………. CHAT- texting 613-209-1142
…….. 1-866-887-0015
…………………………………………………….. 1-855-554-4325

Shelters:

……………………….………………………. ………(613) 591-5901 TTY (613) 591-8912
………………………………………….……….……..(613) 234-5181 TTY (613) 234-5193
……………….……1(800) 267-7946, (613) 257-5960 TTY (613) 257-1952
…………………………………….1(877)336-2433, (613) 747-0020 or TTY(613) 744-7789
………………………………………………….……….(613) 225-3129 TTY (613) 225-4653
………………………………………………..(613) 789-1141
……………………………….………………………….. (613) 233-3386
……(613) 789-8220

The university has support for survivors of sexual violence through Equity and Inclusive Communities (EIC). You can access free and confidential support via web or text message with the new �Ӱ�ԭ�� University Sexual Assault Support Chat Service. For immediate crisis support, you can contact the Ottawa Distress Centre at 613-238-3311 or the Sexual Assault Centre of Ottawa at 613-234-2266.

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SUBMISSIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING RECEIVED. PLEASE CONTACT FISTGradCon2023@gmail.com IF YOU HAVE ANY INQUIRIES.

The graduate students of the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation are excited to announce a call for submissions for our 2023 conference titled, “Transforming Our Social World: Radical Practices of World Building & Destruction”. The conference will be held as an in person/online hybrid from March 23-24, 2023.

This conference was inspired by our Institute’s recent name change, our personal projects, and the work of countless thinkers and activists working towards social transformation that benefits everyone, especially those living with multiple oppressions. We are particularly inspired by abolitionists and community organizers like . Their book (2021) calls on us to push past reform and build an entirely new world:

When thinking about abolition we also turn to , , and (2015). Abolition is about breaking down, or destroying, what oppresses us. But it is also just as much concerned with building things that nourish us. It is a transformative practice that is founded on collective struggle, care, and interdependence.

We invite submissions that call for the generative destruction of all systems of power (abolition) so that we can build systems that value all bodyminds and leave no one behind (transformation). We seek presentations that acknowledge the inevitability of harm and activate our capacity to feel it and heal it. We want to cultivate a space for collective participation where we can bring to life a world that centers consent, collective self-determination, belonging, accountability, connection, care, and harm reduction.

We are hoping to host a multimedia conference where presenters can use any form of knowledge-making, such as, but not limited to: stories (written and oral), songs, poetry, poster presentations, paintings or other artforms, podcasts, PowerPoints, research papers, TikToks or any other methods. Group presentations or activities are welcomed and encouraged. We are welcoming submissions in English, French, and American Sign Language. Kindly submit your application with the following content in one .pdf copy (single spacing, 12pt. font) to FISTGradCon2023@gmail.com by December 31st, 2022.

Please re-share with your network(s):

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Khadija El Hilali, recent �Ӱ�ԭ�� University graduate, FIST staff member and community activist, recently launched in hopes of continuing her community-building efforts and the activism work she has engaged in for many years.

In July of 2022, offered essential grocery items to 200 families in two of Ottawa’s low-income neighbourhoods: Overbrook and Herongate. Each family received items such as rice, pasta, frozen chicken and meat, oil, sugar, flour, cereal, dry beans, fresh onions, fresh potatoes, and much more! 

The grocery boxes will last between three to five months, depending on the number of family members, income, and other factors. Khadija’s initiative has garnered a lot of support from the community and various  media attention, namely with Robyn Bresnahan,  ,  , and .

The objective of is to provide support for single-parent and low-income families living in Ottawa, unceded Algonquin Territory, by way of fundraising, mutual aid, knowledge/resource sharing, and community/solidarity-building activities and events.

aspires to be a low-barrier/barrier-free support sistem for families who are systemically minoritized due to race, language, and/or immigration status. aims to prioritize families who are racialized, have low/no-income, are impacted by incarceration and/or colonialism, experiencing and/or escaping violent situations (domestic abuse and/or state surveillance), and/or are otherwise in precarious situations. 

You can keep up with upcoming initiatives by visiting the or the . If you’re interested in getting involved, please send an email to contact@supportsistem.ca

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Dec 6, 2021

Dear friends of the Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies:

On this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we continue to to remember and to mourn the women whose lives were cut short at École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989.  Although we cannot restore this terrible loss, we continue to honour and recognize it through the work that we do at the Institute to address gender-based violence, which continues in a multitude of forms.  As our poster suggests, there are intersectional connections to be made to specific forms of violence and misogyny against racialized and Indigenous women, transgender women, and femmes, LGBTQ2SIA+, and gender non-binary people.  We dedicate ourselves to creating spaces that are safe for open discussion and study for all, and where grief can be expressed, so that we can transform the worlds we live in to eradicate violence.

Ann Cvetkovich

Director, Pauline Jewett Institute of Women’s and Gender Studies

�Ӱ�ԭ�� University

Message to Undergraduate Students in WGST 1808

Dear 1808:

Today, December 6, is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which is recognized across Turtle Island. This is a very important day that I would like to comment on. Please note, that there are references to violence below, especially gender-based, misogynistic violence. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone on the teaching team should you be looking for resources to discuss this violence.

 I would like to add that it is up to everyone in our community, regardless of gender, or ability, or race, or sexuality, or class, to call attention to not only the darkness of the misogynistic and gender-based violence that continues today, but also to the many victories for those who have fought for change.

However, as feminist thinkers in our learning community of WGST 1808, we are also keenly aware that when we talk about and take action on misogynistic and gender-based violence, we will consider gender, ability, race, sexuality, class, among other things. We will especially remember and consider that the very supports our communities can offer have workers who are the very perpetrators of the violence, such as in the legal system.

We are going to continue to talk about all of this in WGST 1808 and I am happy to talk about it with anyone via Zoom or in-person at �Ӱ�ԭ��. – Katherine Bausch

If you are looking for information on this National Day of Remembrance (this article contains detailed descriptions of violence and also national resources for support to talk about misogynistic and gender-based violence):

If you are looking for supports at �Ӱ�ԭ��:

�Ӱ�ԭ�� Sexual Assault Survivor Support:

�Ӱ�ԭ�� Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support Services:

If you are looking for other community-based supports:

Under the Umbrella:

Somerset West Community Health Centre Support Line for African, Caribbean, and Black Communities:

MMIW Ontario:

Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre:

For information and resources related to women with disabilities and violence:

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