Training and events
Human Rights and Equity provides presentations and information to members of the university community on issues related to respectful work and learning environments.
We also provide learning opportunities on the subject of equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as resource development.
Contact humanrights@unb.ca to discuss how we can assist.
Upcoming events
Black and racialized faculty and staff meet-up
Virtual meet-ups
Dec. 4 | 12:10 - 1 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Register for meeting link
Jan. 15 | 12:10 - 1 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Register for meeting link
UNB Fredericton
Jan. 13 | 12:10 - 1 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Harriet Irving Library | Active Learning Lab | Room 303
Introduction to digital accessibility in Microsoft Office
Virtual
Dec. 10 | 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Introduces the concept of digital accessibility and covers the basics of accessibility features in Microsoft Office applications. Learn about digital accessibility’s importance in education and the workplace, and explore basic accessibility features in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, including document structuring, alt text for images and accessible design principles.
Presenter
Mitch Baird has a broad background that includes health and nutrition, yoga, training, and deep cultural insights from the Cayuga Wolf Clan Knowledge-Keepers of Six Nations and beyond. He is renowned for his ability to solve any information technology issue and find effective solutions.
With over 20 years of experience providing technical solutions and staff training in both Indigenous and mainstream non-profit and small-business sectors, Mitch is adept at working within tight budgets. His skills include website development, graphic design and consulting on large IT projects and federal privacy compliance.
Recently, Mitch was selected for a federal accessibility advisory board, highlighting his commitment to making technology accessible for all.
Advanced Microsoft Office accessibility features
Virtual
Jan. 14 | 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Explore advanced accessibility features in Microsoft Office, with a focus on Word and PowerPoint. Delve into navigation with headings and bookmarks in Word, creating accessible tables and enhancing PowerPoint presentations with multimedia options and accessible templates.
Presenter
Mitch Baird has a broad background that includes health and nutrition, yoga, training, and deep cultural insights from the Cayuga Wolf Clan Knowledge-Keepers of Six Nations and beyond. He is renowned for his ability to solve any information technology issue and find effective solutions.
With over 20 years of experience providing technical solutions and staff training in both Indigenous and mainstream non-profit and small-business sectors, Mitch is adept at working within tight budgets. His skills include website development, graphic design and consulting on large IT projects and federal privacy compliance.
Recently, Mitch was selected for a federal accessibility advisory board, highlighting his commitment to making technology accessible for all.
Exploring tools to disrupt islamophobia
UNB Fredericton
Jan. 21 | 12:30 - 2 p.m. | Students, staff and faculty
Harriet Irving Library | Event space | Room 318
This workshop examines how Islamophobia may affect students, staff, and faculty in post-secondary institutions. Participants will examine how negative public discourses about Islam impact Muslim identities. Case studies and practical strategies will be discussed to foster inclusive and equitable learning and work environments.
Facilitator
Jannat Firdous is the manager of education programs at the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), where she draws on her background as an educator to foster safe and inclusive learning environments for Muslim students, staff and communities.
Passionate about empowering Muslim identities in Canadian schools, Jannat provides tools for identifying and challenging systemic inequalities, including Islamophobia, that influence educational experiences.
At NCCM, she leads anti-Islamophobia workshops and advocates for the needs of Muslims, ensuring they feel safe and welcome in all educational settings.
Trayces and Tributes: Celebrating Black identity exhibition series
UNB Fredericton
Jan. 23 - March 27
UNB Art Centre, East & West Galleries, Memorial Hall
The UNB Art Centre, in partnership with the UNB Human Rights and Equity Office, is proud to present two powerful exhibitions that invite our community to reflect, engage, and celebrate Black identity and heritage.
Trayces is a striking visual narrative exploring Black skin, memory and cultural lineage. Through portraits crafted with transparent vinyl and aluminum baking trays, the exhibition draws inspiration from West African scarification traditions to examine identity, beauty and the marks we carry.
Alongside Trayces, the UNB Art Centre continues its annual Black History Month project, honouring notable Black New Brunswickers who have fought, and continue to fight, for equality in the face of prejudice and discrimination. This ongoing research initiative adds new faces and stories each year, bringing their portraits to the streets of Fredericton throughout February. Banners along Westmoreland and Regent Streets stand as a public tribute to their achievements and enduring contributions to shaping contemporary New Brunswick.
Three special events will accompany these exhibitions, creating opportunities for deeper reflection and dialogue:
Exhibit opening: Trayces and Tributes: Celebrating Black identity exhibition series
Jan. 23 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Snow date: Jan. 30 | 5 - 7 p.m.
UNB Art Centre, East & West Galleries, Memorial Hall
Join us for the opening of Trayces, an exhibition that explores Black skin, memory, and cultural lineage through 14 stunning photographic portraits. These works celebrate the tones, textures and stories of Black skin across the diaspora. Meet the creative team behind the exhibition and experience this powerful visual narrative together.
Alongside Trayces, the UNB Art Centre continues its annual Black History Month project, honouring notable Black New Brunswickers who have fought, and continue to fight, for equality in the face of prejudice and discrimination.
Artist talk with Gary Weekes
Feb. 5 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Snow date: Feb. 6 | 5 - 7 p.m.)
UNB Art Centre, East & West Galleries, Memorial Hall
Join artist Gary Weekes for an in-depth conversation about the making of Trayces. Discover the creative inspirations behind the work, the photographic and sculptural processes involved, and the cultural influences that shaped this series. This session creates space for dialogue about representation, artistry and the stories carried through Black skin.
About the artist
Fredericton-based photographer Gary Weekes works across genres with a focus on quality and sensitivity, shaped by years in London and New York. His fine art practice centers on collaborative storytelling, leading to a historic 2022 solo exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, which later acquired his work. He has been recognized as a byblacks.com People’s Choice Visual Artist of the Year and a CBC 2023 Black Changemaker.
Expanding into short documentary film, Gary is developing Still Here: Preserving Our Legacy, a multi-year project culminating in a book and major exhibition in July 2026. Guided by the belief that everything carries a resonant “pulse,” he works to reveal beauty that is often overlooked.
Panel discussion: The art of belonging
March 21 | 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Snow date: March 28 | 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.)
UNB Art Centre, East & West Galleries, Memorial Hall
In recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, this community-centered conversation will explore belonging, identity and cultural histories. Rooted in the themes of Trayces, the panel will reflect on how our stories shape who we are and what it takes to build dignity and belonging across difference.
Speakers TBD.
