On Friday, May 31, Niagara College proudly raised the Progress Pride flag, in celebration of Pride Month, at both the Welland Campus and the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The flag raising marks the start of Pride Month in June, symbolizing the College's allyship of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and support for equity, diversity and inclusion.
"I am very proud to be President of such an amazing College community, one where all are welcomed and where respect for each other is of the utmost importance," said President Sean Kennedy in his remarks to the College community at the flag raising in Welland. "Your presence today is a strong signal of support for fellow colleagues and students and Niagara College's 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Today represents a great stride by our whole community to bolster the culture of inclusion and belonging that is so central to our NC identity."
Pride Niagara Chair Enzo De Divitiis, members of the College's leadership team, Devin Garrah from the Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC), and Bruin Pol, President of the Rainbow Knights student club were in attendance, along with students and employees.
"Today we stand at the flagpoles at both campuses, gathering in solidarity, celebration and pride, to reaffirm our commitment as a community to our 2SLGBTQIA+ student and staff, said Pol at the flag raising.
"Reflecting on the past two years... it has been exciting to witness the progress Niagara College has made in terms of equity, diversity and inclusion," said Pol. "However, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges and milestones that brought us here, enabling us to make the progress as a College community."
This spring, Niagara College celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint, a collaboration with NCSAC. The Blueprint represents the College's formal commitment to EDI work which has had - and continues to have - a transformational impact.
During the Fall Term, the College celebrated inclusivity on campus with the first the first NCSAC Pride event in partnership between NCSAC and the NC Rainbow Knights student club.
The flag was raised ahead of Pride Month so that students and employees are free to attend events in the community. Niagara College is proud to be a Rainbow Sponsor for Pride Niagara's Pride festival, which includes various events throughout the Niagara Region.
Remarks at the flag raising sought to elevate Two-Spirit identity and the importance of working to address the impacts of colonization through support for Two-Spirit people. NC's Indigenous Education created Two Spirit Pins, reflective of the Two Spirit Anon design from 2016, which will be available at NC's booth at the Pride in the Park festival.
The College will continue to recognize and elevate 2SLGBTQIA+ people during Pride Month through various events and activities, including a talk entitled Here and Queer through the Years: Highlights of 2SLGBTQIA+ History in Canada, and tie-die events at both campuses.
Community events
The NC Recruitment Team, joined by Indigenous Education, will be in and around the community this month at various Pride events:
Pride Niagara: Saturday June 8 from noon to 6 p.m.
Montebello Park, 64 Ontario Street, St Catharines
Fort Erie Pride: Saturday, June 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fort Erie Leisureplex, 3 Municipal Centre Dr, Fort Erie
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 11,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada's top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
-30-
Media inquiries, please contact:
Jessica Torok
Communications Consultant
Cell: 905-932-1520
[email protected]
