We acknowledge that BCIT campuses are located on unceded Indigenous land belonging to the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Welcome
The Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) department helps BCIT foster a respectful and inclusive working and learning environment by creating awareness and belonging through education, events, and training. The RDI team provides assistance and support to individuals with concerns of bullying, harassment, and discrimination and strives to help people resolve conflicts informally. We also assist individuals who have formal complaints and coordinate workplace investigations.
RDI Services and Initiatives
- Accessibility at BCIT – Information on BCIT’s commitment to Accessibility and the Accessibility Plan can be found on the Accessibility Hub website
- Harassment, discrimination and bullying information
- Policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Board of Inquiry Procedures
- Diversity & Inclusion Awareness
- Free Courses – Relearning Gender, Anti-Racism, Understanding Unconscious Bias, Human Rights 101 and Respectful Workplaces
- Respectful Workplace Training
- Conflict Resolution
- Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI) membership
- Pride at Work Canada membership
- Pride at BCIT
- Black Excellence Day
- Diversity Circles
- Pink Shirt Day
RDI Annual Report
The RDI Annual Report is now available.
If you require the document in an alternative format, please email respect@bcit.ca
When doing the work of the Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion department we regularly reflect on three of the BCIT Values: Championing Diversity and Inclusion, Engaging with Respect, and Pursuing Collaboration. It is worth noting that in the 2022 BCIT Employee Experience Survey, diversity was one of the most positively scored strengths.
At BCIT, all staff, students, and faculty have the right to learn and work in an environment free of Ableism, Harassment, and Discrimination, Sexual Violence, and Racism. We strive to create an environment that promotes a sense of belonging.
Accessibility
In accordance with the Accessible British Columbia Act, BCIT has established an Accessibility Steering Committee and related working groups. See the Accessible British Columbia Act FAQ’s for more information about the Act and Regulations.
The purpose of these committees is to assist the Institute in identifying barriers to participation and advising on how to remove and prevent such barriers in our community through the development of an Accessibility Plan. The BCIT community will have an opportunity to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive environment for staff, faculty, and students at BCIT.
Guiding objectives for the committee are:
- Access: Persons should have barrier-free access to places, events, and other functions that are generally available in the community;
- Equality: Persons should have barrier-free access to those things that will give them equality of opportunity and outcome;
- Universal design: Access should be provided in a manner that does not establish or perpetuate differences based on a person’s disability; and
- Systemic responsibility: the responsibility to prevent and remove barriers rests with the person or organization that is responsible for establishing or perpetuating the barrier.
The Committee is co-chaired by the Director of the Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Office, and the Associate Vice President of Academic Operations and will report directly to the President. Care has been taken to ensure the Committee is reflective of the BCIT community and the diversity of persons in British Columbia. At least half of the members will be either persons with disabilities or individuals who support persons with disabilities.
To learn more about BCIT’s commitment to Accessibility, and to provide accessibility at BCIT feedback, as well as read the BCIT Accessibility Plan please visit the Accessibility Hub website
Read more about BCIT’s commitment to addressing systemic barriers and the funding received by the Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion department from Canada Research Chairs program to assist with this.
Diversity Circles
Diversity Circles supports staff, students, alumni, and the public with a series of panels, workshops, conversations, tools, and connections to support an effective model to engage with increasing diversity positively, sensitively, and strategically, by leveraging the power of community-based expertise, to drive responses to diversity and empower all participants in the diversity conversation. ASL interpreters are provided at every Diversity Circle event.
Body Inclusivity & Anti-Fat Bias
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 12:00 – 1:30 PM (Online Only)
This online roundtable discussion will explore topics pertaining to weight stigma and fat bias in a range of professional contexts. Specifically, this event explores how weight stigma persists across industries, including public health, theatre and performance, and academic research.
Canucks Autism Presentation
Tuesday April 2, 2024 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Online Only)
The Canucks Autism Network (CAN) provides high quality sports programs for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, while promoting acceptance and inclusion through community engagement and training initiatives across British Columbia and beyond. CAN believes that success is achieved through shared knowledge, strong partnerships and collective capacity. CAN’s workshop to BCIT will offer folks to a range of strategies for supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.
