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  • L’importance de la représentativité des personnes avec des incapacités dans les médias

    L’importance de la représentativité des personnes avec des incapacités dans les médias

    Les films et les émissions ont une part importante dans notre culture. Ce que nous voyons sur les écrans peut affecter notre image de la société dans son ensemble. Pendant longtemps, les personnes avec des incapacités avaient peu de représentativité au cinéma ou à la télévision et lorsqu’on les voyait, c’était toujours de façon négative. Cela change lentement. La représentativité est importante, car sans elle, les groupes marginalisés peuvent facilement ne pas se sentir entendus, vus et s’estimer simplement invisibles. Au fur et à mesure que les personnes ayant des handicaps jouent plus de rôles devant et derrière la caméra, ils ont une voix plus forte et plus de possibilités d’affecter, de façon positive, notre société.

    Comme très souvent, les progrès sont lents. Aux États-Unis, environ 8 % des films pour la famille comportent un rôle principal tenu par une personne avec une incapacité en 2018 et 2019. La fondation Ruderman Family, en 2017, a mené une étude qui en a déduit que seulement 2 % de personnages sur les écrans avaient des handicaps, alors qu’il y a 20 % d’Américains dans cette situation. Sur ces 2 % de personnages ayant des incapacités, 95 % d’entre eux étaient joués par des acteurs et actrices sans handicap. Cette énorme disparité a simplement aidé à entretenir les stigmatisations autour des handicapés et un faux manque de diversité sur les écrans qui représentent de façon erronée la riche diversité du monde réel.

    Il y a toutes sortes de raisons qui contribuent à ce manque de représentativité. Les personnes ayant des incapacités, souvent, ne peuvent pas participer à des programmes d’apprentissage pour les futurs acteurs et actrices et luttent pour trouver les moyens financiers et d’accessibilité nécessaires pour vivre dans les grands centres urbains où se trouvent les emplois dans les médias. Cela peut être pris en compte par des auditions nationales et de meilleures politiques économiques et d’infrastructure. Les répercussions seraient étendues. Cela avantagerait non seulement les personnes avec un handicap qui cherchent à travailler dans les médias, mais aussi toutes les autres personnes ayant des incapacités.

    Les productions de films et de programmes télévisuels ont engagé de modestes mesures pour s’attaquer à ce manque de représentativité. R. J. Mitte, un acteur atteint de paralysie cérébrale a joué un personnage important qui a le même handicap dans Breaking Bad. Sesame Street a présenté Julia, une marionnette qui est souffre d’autisme. Ali Stroker est devenue la première actrice de Broadway à jouer dans un fauteuil roulant dans Spring Awakening de 2016. Des médias pour les adultes et pour les enfants au monde du théâtre, ces rôles ont aidé à développer une plus grande sensibilisation au besoin de représentativité. Cela permet aux personnes ayant des incapacités de voir d’autres personnes comme elles avoir du succès et permet aux enfants qui se battent avec des problèmes, comme l’autisme, de voir un personnage comme eux à l’écran. Ces choix de distributions individuelles ont le pouvoir d’influencer de très nombreuses personnes.

    Il y a encore un long chemin pour combler l’énorme écart entre la diversité du monde réel et ce que nous voyons sur les écrans. Mais il y a des progrès. Au fur et à mesure que les barrières tombent, permettant à plus en plus de personnes ayant des incapacités d’entrer dans le domaine du spectacle, nous verrons la présence grandissante des acteurs, des scénaristes, des directeurs et beaucoup d’autres. Ces changements sont indispensables. Plus de gens trouveront de meilleures possibilités d’emplois, ceux avec des handicaps sentiront un plus grand sentiment d’inclusion et nous tous aurons une plus grande reconnaissance pour la diversité et nous pourrons assurer de meilleures possibilités pour tous. Les conséquences sociales, économiques et culturelles seront révolutionnaires.

    Sources:

    Applebaum, Lauren. “Disability Portrayal on Screen Hits a Landmark High, Yet Reinforces Negative Stereotypes.” Respectability. https://www.respectability.org/2020/05/see-jane-study-disability-portrayals/

    McGrath, Mary Kate. “How To Get Disability Representation In TV & Movies Right, According To The People Doing It.” Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-get-disability-representation-in-tv-movies-right-according-to-the-people-doing-it-17129242

    Ruiz-Grossman, Sarah. “Disability Representation Is Seriously Lack In TV And Movies: Report.” Huffington Post. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/disability-representation-movies-tv_n_5c9a7b85e4b07c88662cabe7?ri18n=

  • How to make the most out of the rest of the school year

    How to make the most out of the rest of the school year

    By Avreet Jagdev

    As we roll into springtime, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the school year is coming to an end. For many, this is exciting news — who doesn’t look forward to summer? But this also might mean you’re one step closer to graduating, which can be a big and scary change. Even for those not graduating, you’ll only be in your current grade once! So if you’re looking to make this academic year one to remember, here are some tips and pieces of advice to make the most out of the rest of your school year.

    1. Attend sports events

    Even if sports aren’t your thing, watching school sports events can be lots of fun, and will become memories you’ll cherish long after you graduate! As someone who graduated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I regret not going to high school sports games when I had the chance to do so. The energy is always unmatched, and it’s also a great way to unwind from the stress of school.

    1. Actively make new friends

    One thing that will always stick with you – even after the school year is over – are the friends you make. Especially if you’re someone who is more introverted or has had the same group of friends for most of their schooling, consider challenging yourself to actively pursue new friendships. This might mean sitting next to someone new in class, talking to a stranger in the hallway, or hanging out with your friends’ friends! However you do it, making new friends is one of the best ways to make the most out of the school year.

    1. Get involved in extracurriculars

    It might be late in the school year, but it is never too late to take on a new extracurricular activity! Consider joining a club, sport, intramurals, or other campus initiatives and opportunities. Look for things you truly enjoy.

    1. Study in a group

    Studying can be stressful, but you can make it more fun by starting a study group with your friends or classmates. Find a day and time that works for everyone in your group, and plan to meet at a library, school, or someone’s house. Bring your study material, and don’t forget snacks! Try setting timers for twenty-five minutes in which everyone is productive, give yourself five-minute breaks to chat and unwind, and repeat!

    1. Start thinking about your summer plans

    If you want to be proactive, the end of the school year can be a good time to start thinking about what you’ll be up to in the summer. If you want to save some money, start thinking about applying to summer jobs. If you want to have fun and make memories, look into summer camps or other activities you can join. If you plan to apply to university soon, think about dedicating your summer to working on your applications.

  • Starting Spring Traditions!

    Starting Spring Traditions!

    By Erin Rebello

    As the days start getting warmer and the new grass begins to peek out from the ground, it’s a sure sign that spring is on its way!

    As the snow melts, many animals come out of hibernation at this time of year. As a result, many people associate spring with “waking up” and “freshening up”. Many cultures also celebrate this exciting time of year with various customs and traditions. In India, Hindus celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, where colorful powder is thrown to show joy for the end of the winter and the beginning of the growing season. In North America, Catholics celebrate Easter, and you may be familiar with festivities such as egg hunts! Many people and cultures around the world celebrate the coming of spring. What will you do to celebrate?

    One tradition that my family takes part in every spring is the planting of a garden! We work together to decide what seeds and shrubs we want to plant and then spend a day driving around to different plant stores to pick them up. As a family, we prepare the garden with thoughtful weeding and soil-mixing. Then, we get together and plant our seeds and saplings for our blend of vegetables and flowers, which usually include tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beans, zucchini and different coloured roses! We also take care of our perennial flowers and shrubs from previous years. If you don’t have a backyard, you can always grow plants in pots on a terrace or balcony. A lot of areas also have community gardens where you can work with neighbours to cultivate a garden together! One great thing about this tradition is that it continues through the spring, summer, and fall, so it’s a great way to do something as a family all year round! As a bonus, you also have a beautiful looking garden and tons of fresh produce to munch on! Delicious!

    Another great tradition to take part in this spring is DIY projects. With flowers blooming and the sun shining, it’s safe to say that spring is a truly inspirational season! Channel your inner artist and be inspired by the world around you! There are a variety of different crafts you can make; my personal favourites are crafts that can serve as room decor! If you’ve been thinking of growing some plants indoors but think that terra cotta pots look too plain, simply pick up a paintbrush and get to work! This way, you’ll add a splash of colour to your room before your plants even begin to bloom! Another “eggcellent” craft idea is decorating Fabergé eggs! In the 1800s Russian jewelers crafted beautiful eggs made of gold and dripping with gemstones. These eggs cost a fortune and were used as gifts for the Tsars and their families. Although you may not have gold or jewels, with some hollowed out chicken eggs, some spray paint, and a couple rhinestones, you can make your very own customized Fabergé eggs! These eggs also work great if you celebrate Easter or you’re planning an egg hunt!

    As boring as it sounds, spring cleaning is another great tradition that you should consider adopting this year! Considering the fact that spring is about renewal and regrowth, now is a great time to catch up on all that cleaning you’ve been putting off for months! While you may have a tidy room, take some time to do a deep clean, vacuuming those hard to reach spots and dusting every nook and cranny. This is also an excellent opportunity to sort through your belongings and decide whether you want to keep them or not. Chances are, you’ll find a lot of toys or clothes that you’ve outgrown that are still taking up space in your room. Instead of just dumping unwanted items into the landfill, be sure to consider what can be given to friends, donated to thrift stores, or sent to a recycling plant! Though this whole ‘spring cleaning’ thing may seem like a chore at first, having a clean and tidy room allows for new growth and productivity in this new season!

  • St. Patrick’s Day: How a Simple Irish Tradition Turned into a Spectacle

    St. Patrick’s Day: How a Simple Irish Tradition Turned into a Spectacle

    If you’ve dropped by the dollar store a week or two after Valentine’s Day, you probably saw a whole aisle of green hats, green jewelry, accessories with green four-leaf clover designs, and shirts that say “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” on display. And if you’ve lived in Canada for some time,  you know that this signals that St. Patrick’s Day is soon to come.

    St. Patrick’s Day is marked every year on March 17, which is the death anniversary of St. Patrick, who died in the fifth century.  Since the 16th century, the Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years as it falls during the Christian season of Lent.

    In those days, Irish families would attend church service in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. While it was common to fast and/or abstain from the consumption of meat during the Lenten season, as well as to observe solemnity, these practices were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

    White St. Patrick is highly regarded as the patron saint of Ireland, largely credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish, the celebration of his life and what he has done for Ireland translated differently outside of the country.

    The St. Patrick’s Day Parade

    While the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by way of large feasts and lots of dancing, the first ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade didn’t take place in Ireland. Rather, it took place in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida on March 17, 1601. It was organized by Irish vicar Ricardo Artur.

    The practice didn’t really take off until it was held by Irish soldiers serving in the British army – not in Ireland, but in New York City on March 17, 1762. The parade made the military members feel at home even though they were far from it. In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies joined forces to hold one official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

    When the Great Potato Famine struck Ireland in 1845, close to one million Irish Catholics turned to the United States to survive. But because of their religious beliefs and accents that were unfamiliar to Americans at the time, the immigrants found it difficult to find jobs and ended up taking jobs that Americans didn’t really want.

    Then, when Irish Americans took to the streets on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their heritage, they were portrayed as a cartoonish group of people in newspapers. Shortly thereafter, the Irish Americans realized they could turn things around by embracing a political power that they could use to full advantage. So they started to form a voting bloc which will later be known as the “green machine.” It wasn’t before long when the St. Patrick’s Day parade became a source of pride for Irish Americans more than ever and even became a must-attend event for political candidates.

    Everything culminated in 1948 when then-President Harry S. Truman attended New York City‘s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

    Now, this is considered as the world‘s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants and 3 million spectators, lining up the 1.5 mile parade route, which typically takes five hours. Other cities like Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Savannah hold big parades to mark St. Patrick’s Day.

    In 2020 during the early onset of COVID-19, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC was one of the first major city events to be cancelled.

    Misinterpreted Symbolisms

    Despite the massive popularity of St. Patrick’s Day, many Irish people feel that the day is full of misinterpreted symbolisms.

    For example, there is the myth that if you kiss the Blarney stone you become eloquent. This is something that the Irish don’t even do.

    Another thing is green beer, which doesn’t exist in Ireland, as do the cabbage and corned beef.

    Yet another one is the leprechauns, which is derived from the old term “leath bhrogan” which translates to shoemaker. In old Irish culture, they were a symbol of luck, thus the term “luck of the Irish.” How leprechauns became a stuff of horror movies though is anyone’s guess.

    Most of these things have stemmed to please the tourists or pop culture fans.

    Despite these, the Irish will always be proud of their heritage and will always be welcoming for others to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with them.

     

    Sources

    https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

    https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/st-patricks-day-events-ds00/

    https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91823&page=1

  • Black History, Winter Blues, and Family Day… All in the Shortest Month!

    Black History, Winter Blues, and Family Day… All in the Shortest Month!

    February may be the shortest month, but it packs a punch! We’re deep into winter, and while the days are slowly getting longer, the cold and grey can make it feel like the season is dragging on forever. If you’re feeling a bit sluggish, you’re not alone — it’s that time of year when motivation can dip. But February also brings important moments to reflect, learn, and reconnect.

    Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians while also confronting the challenges and systemic injustices that persist. In this issue, we take a closer look at how BIPOC history is represented in schools, highlight five historic Black Canadians, and explore Canada’s past with slavery and segregation.

    Winter can be tough, and mental and physical health can take a hit as February drags on. We’ve got articles on handling the winter blues, along with career profiles that highlight jobs keeping people warm — like insulation workers — and jobs that keep you close to nature if you’re already dreaming of spring. If you’re looking for a way to help others this season, we’re also covering careers that support the homeless and those living in poverty.

    Family Day is a perfect chance to reconnect with loved ones, whether that means doing something special together or just enjoying some much-needed downtime. Check out this issue for ideas on fun Family Day activities and ways to strengthen your relationships.

    For even more unique insights, check out our interviews with industry pros, where professionals share firsthand experiences and advice on their careers.

    Stay warm, stay motivated, and keep pushing forward — we’re one month closer to spring!

    Warm regards,
    Anthony Teles
    Vice-President, Content

  • February 2025 Scholarships – Apply now!

    February 2025 Scholarships – Apply now!

    Information Security Undergraduate Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 20
    Award Deadline: February 28, 2025

    Wilfrid Laurier University Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 2
    Award Deadline: March 1, 2025

    RE/MAX Quest for Excellence Scholarship Program
    Scholarship Value: $1,000
    Awards Available: 40
    Award Deadline: March 9, 2025

    Connex Foundation Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 2
    Award Deadline: March 10, 2025

    Kocchar & Co. Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $1,000
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: March 31, 2025

    Jean Chretien Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 5
    Award Deadline: March 31, 2025

    Horatio Alger Association of Canada National Entrepreneurial Scholarships
    Scholarship Value: $25,000
    Awards Available: 10
    Award Deadline: March 31, 2025

    Kezian Science Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $1,200
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: March 31, 2025

    Lift Parts Express Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $500
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: April 30, 2025

    Emmett and Loretta Regan Memorial Award
    Scholarship Value: $4,500
    Awards Available: 2
    Award Deadline: April 30, 2025

    Pet Food Association of Canada Martha ‘Marty’ Wilder Honorary Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: June 1, 2025

    Algonquin College Tuition Contest
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: June 30, 2025

    Western Continuing Admission Scholarship of Excellence for Black Students
    Scholarship Value: $6,000
    Awards Available: 30
    Award Deadline: Ongoing

    Western Continuing Admission Scholarship of Excellence for Indigenous Students
    Scholarship Value: $6,000
    Awards Available: 30
    Award Deadline: Ongoing

  • Indigenous Student Scholarships for February 2025

    Indigenous Student Scholarships for February 2025

    Investing in Indigenous Scholars Scholarship (CityU)
    Scholarship Value: 100% of tuition
    Awards Available: N/A
    Award Deadline: February 21, 2025

    MLT Aikins Indigenous Scholarship
    Scholarship Value: $6,000
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: February 28, 2025

    National Indigenous Scholarship Program (Western University)
    Scholarship Value: $50,000
    Awards Available: 5
    Award Deadline: March 14, 2025

    ii’taa’poh’to’p Indigenous Student Access Program Award
    Scholarship Value: $2,000
    Awards Available: 20
    Award Deadline: March 20, 2025

    First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Women’s Scholarship – Women’s Program (Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario)
    Scholarship Value: $1,250
    Awards Available: 4
    Award Deadline: April 30, 2025

    Innovation Place Scholarships for Indigenous Students in the Sciences
    Scholarship Value: $5,000
    Awards Available: 1
    Award Deadline: June 1, 2025

    Petro-Canada Award for Indigenous High School Students
    Scholarship Value: $750
    Awards Available: 8
    Award Deadline: July 1, 2025

    Western Continuing Admission Scholarship of Excellence for Indigenous Students
    Scholarship Value: $6,000
    Awards Available: 30
    Award Deadline: Ongoing

  • Career Profile: Teacher Assistants

    Career Profile: Teacher Assistants

    In your classes at school, you probably have a regular teacher and maybe an assistant who helps with some of the lessons or with students who need personal attention. Teacher assistants help to provide students with the help that they need while relieving some of the pressure on teachers. For people who enjoy helping others with their work, the job of teacher assistant could be a good choice.

    As the job title suggests, teacher assistants work to help teachers in their classes. The exact job can vary, depending on the teachers and the courses. A teacher assistant in a math course, for example, might help students with multiplication or division problems. In a history or English course, the assistant might give presentations on various topics like Canadian prime ministers or on poetry. Sometimes, teacher assistants photocopy exercise sheets, hand out textbooks or do whatever else the teacher needs.

    Educational requirements for teacher assistants can vary, but normally a high school diploma is the minimum level. Many people in this field also have a university degree or a community college diploma in a field such as English as a Second Language teaching. Teacher assistants who want to work in a specific subject, such as mathematics or biology, should have post-secondary training in that subject.

    One aspect that educational assistants need to consider is the grade level where they want to work. Assisting in high school requires a deeper knowledge of the subject matter than in elementary school, but working with younger children requires special techniques to be able to speak at their level. Many people in this career specialize in one age group, but some people may be able to switch between the very young students and older ones. Being able to work with a variety of age groups can help people in this field to find jobs more easily than if they are confined to one or two grades.

    Working conditions for teacher assistants can vary, depending on the school and the help that the teacher needs. Often, the job requires some outdoor work, but most of the work is indoors. Some classes are large and others are small, and some are easier to deal with than others. In some cases, educational assistants might spend much of their time just keeping the class orderly. In other cases, people in this job might have the chance to teach lessons or to grade assignments.

    Jobs for educational assistants can be available in almost any public or private school. However, large schools are more likely to have the money to pay for people in this field. Educational assistants with special skills, such as in mathematics, languages, or music, are likely to find jobs more easily than people with a more general background. Salaries start at about $17.15 per hour and can rise to $30.75 per hour with experience. Taking additional courses can help people gain new skills and higher salaries in many cases.

    Working as an educational assistant can be a busy and sometimes stressful job, but it can also be very satisfying. If you enjoy helping others with their studies, it could be a good choice for you.

     

    Bibliography:

    Job Bank. “Educational Assistant in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/occupation/25517/ca.

    Job Bank. “Educational Assistant in Canada: Prevailing Wages in Canada.” https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/25517/ca

    Ontario Colleges. Education / Teaching / Teaching Assistant. https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/programs/education-community-and-social-services/education-teaching-teaching-assistant.

    Work BC. “Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants.” https://www.workbc.ca/career-profiles/elementary-and-secondary-school-teacher-assistants.

  • Career Profile: Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products

    Career Profile: Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products

    Some people like to sort out anything that they have in front of them, whether that is jellybeans, coins, or anything else. Agricultural products also need to be sorted out to ensure that people can buy good quality food and eat well. If you are detail-oriented, you might want to consider the job of grader and sorter for agricultural products.

    Like most jobs related to farms, career prospects for graders and sorters for agricultural products are best near farming areas. With modern transportation, however, people in this trade can often work in cities where the products are shipped. This career is always in demand to some extent, although job prospects might vary, depending on the state of the economy.

    Grading and sorting agricultural products can vary from one part of the country to another. The products could include grain, fruit, or anything else that farms produce. Some of the aspects that people in this field look for are colour, appearance, species, length, width, feel, smell, and quality. For example, someone sorting strawberries would look for bruised fruit or any that are too small to include in a basket. Sometimes graders and sorters weigh the products, but sometimes they use visual assessments. Then they discard the products that are not good enough to sell.

    Keeping good records is an important part of working in this field. Each product requires a tag to show what it is and where it should go. Some products need to be shipped across the country, and people in this field need to know the length of time it takes to get a product from one side of the country to another. If it takes a fruit a week to ripen after it is picked, for example, graders and sorters need to take that into account when they ship the agricultural products to another part of the country.

    The province where graders and sorters work can affect the kinds of products that they assess since different climates and types of soil affect the agricultural products that grow in the area. The Prairie Provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan tend to have more grain than other areas, and provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia have large amounts of fruit.

    Generally, graders and sorters need less than a high school diploma, but some employers might require more education. Having good eyesight with or without glasses is important. Standing at a table for hours at a time can be very tiring, and people might want to move on to office work as they age. Wages average about 21.99 per hour, starting at $32,000 annually and can rise to $22 per hour or $47,000 per year. Getting a diploma or certificate in an area related to agriculture can help people advance in this job.

    Job opportunities in this trade can vary, but prospects are likely to be good in the coming years. This is especially true for people who are willing to move to places where these jobs are available. Different times of the year tend to be busier than others because of the times when the agricultural products ripen. If this type of job appeals to you, why not consider a career as a grader and sorter for agricultural products?

     

    Bibliography:

    Owl Guru. “How To Become an Agricultural Products Grader and Sorter.” https://www.owlguru.com/career/agricultural-graders/requirements/.

    Payscale Canada. “Average Grader/Sorter, Agricultural Products Hourly Pay in Canada. https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Grader_%2F_Sorter%2C_Agricultural_Products/Hourly_Rate.

    World at Work. “Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products.” https://careers.worldatwork.org/career-insights/graders-and-sorters-agricultural-products/.

  • Curriculum Inclusion: Representing BIPOC History and Contributions in Schools

    Curriculum Inclusion: Representing BIPOC History and Contributions in Schools

    By Natasha Cooper

    In Canada’s unique and complex history, the stories of Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour or BIPOC communities have often been overlooked, written out, and silenced.  This reality is harmful to all students studying history, as it falls short of the primary reason why we teach students history; to understand the past so they can better understand the world and social-systematic structures they are currently living in.

    Recognizing and teaching BIPOC history is imperative for students to understand the full and diverse range of Canada’s heritage.  For far too long, an Anglicized curriculum emphasizing the triumphs of white settlers in this country has been the brunt of what Canadian students are taught in the classroom. These lessons fail to recognize the experiences of BIPOC communities, as well as any community that did not fall into a White, Anglo-Saxon and protestant background.  It is easy to see how such a narrow framework of history curriculum is harmful to students and society.

    While there are some lessons on the Atlantic Slave Trade as well as some more informal educational initiatives that take place in schools during black history month, many have noticed that the Canadian curriculum has large gaps in their curriculum on BIPOC experiences and contributions in Canada. Furthermore, when the history of minority groups is discussed, especially those of African descent, mostly negative experiences and stories are considered.  While of course, students need to be aware of the historical injustices that have taken place against BIPOC communities, it would also be beneficial to include the cultural history and positive impact of these peoples as well. It is necessary that further exploration of the experiences of BIPOC communities in Canada, both the good and the bad, are present in history lessons to ensure that students from all backgrounds feel positively represented.  Lessons on African civilizations and the achievements of black scientists, for example, are scathingly absent in the classroom.

    Another matter of concern is the inconsistency of the curriculum taught in schools. Unfortunately, what students are learning in History varies from classroom to classroom and can also be largely dependent on the teacher they have. This means that for a more inclusive history to be taught, school boards across the nation must do more to ensure that these lessons are mandatory within the curriculum.  Black people across Canada, more specifically educators and parents, have been campaigning for more teachings on the black experience in Canada for decades now.

    Only very recently, perhaps in light of the BLM movement are their voices finally being heard. British Columbia has made steps to include more elective history courses including Asian Studies, Genocide Studies, and BC First People’s Studies.  More elective courses covering a more diverse set of history is a great step forward but still lacks assurance that all Canadian students have a mandatory baseline understanding of our shared history with BIPOC communities. Teachers might find there simply are not enough hours dedicated to history to include all significant peoples and stories. This might mean that maybe these themes and lessons should also be highlighted in English, Social Studies, Geography, and other humanities courses.

    BIPOC inclusion in history can have a profound impact on self-esteem and a sense of belonging.  BIPOC students seeing themselves reflected in their curriculum is both validating and empowering.  By learning about the resilience, resistance, and achievements of BIPOC people, students can become more engaged in their own communities and be drivers of social change and justice.  If educators and school boards can take more steps to diversify mandatory history curricula, students will experience a more nuanced and accurate understanding of how our nation has come to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world.