Human Rights and Equity Conference

Shruti Gola Taraschi-Carr is the Director of Race Relations, Equity, and Inclusion for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.  The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is committed to actively engaging and working with all Nova Scotians and our diverse communities to address issues of discrimination by effectively advancing equity and dignity, fostering positive and respectful relationships, and protecting human rights. Shruti, or Gola as she is more commonly known, has worked for a number of years to seed and cultivate restorative processes in criminal justice, community services, child welfare settings, schools, post-secondary and workplace settings. 

Colleen Belle is the Coordinator of the Welcoming Communities program at the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), where she has worked since 2019. She has a Master of Arts (with merit) in Cross-Cultural Communication and International Relations from the UK. As a member of the Communities Integration Services (CIS) team at ISANS, her work relates to Intercultural- Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (I-EDI) training. Colleen designs, develops, and delivers a variety of I-EDI workshops that empower various audiences. She also participates in working groups and advises on Steering Committees and panels to dismantle systemic racism and provide equitable opportunities for immigrants and marginalized communities. 

Colleen utilizes her knowledge and expertise in 6 fields, her diverse background, and her experiences from managing, marketing, consulting, and tutoring at a university, to provide practical and engaging learning opportunities for various audiences, and to strengthen community capacity and engagement. She is looking forward to engaging with you at the 5th annual Human Rights and Equity Conference.

Daisy Peter-Paul is a passionate and dedicated working professional who is committed to supporting and empowering Indigenous students in higher education. With deep roots in the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation, Daisy brings a unique cultural perspective to her work, enhancing the academic experience for students within the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie University through her role at the Ulnooweg Education Centre.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of New Brunswick, expected to be completed in Spring of 2026, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University, majoring in psychology and native studies. Daisy also holds a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Counselling and a Diploma in Cybersecurity. Her educational background, combined with her diverse skill set, equips her with a multifaceted approach to technology, mental health and wellbeing.

In her current role as the Indigenous Pathways Program Coordinator, Daisy excels in building and maintaining relationships with Indigenous students, promoting pathways to success, and providing both academic and cultural advising. Her previous experience as the Treaty Rights Education Coordinator for Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. allowed her to facilitate educational sessions and advocate for the rights and traditions of the Mi’gmaq people, demonstrating her commitment to education and community engagement.

With a strong foundation in leadership, adaptability, communication, and problem-solving, Daisy is open to new opportunities that align with her dedication to helping others. She is passionate about educating those around her and is eager to contribute to the mental health field, leveraging her diverse experiences and deep cultural insights to make a meaningful impact.

Carmel Farahbakhsh (they/them) is a community educator, arts maker, and youth worker. They have collaborated on the Khyber Centre for the Arts board for six years, and hold a position as co-director of local music festival EVERYSEEKER. In 2020, they transitioned from a five-year term coordinating South House Sexual and Gender Resource Centre to working as the Executive Director at the Youth Project, seeing a direct link between this community work and access to creative spaces and the arts community. As the Executive Director of the Youth Project, Carmel holds a youth-centric approach to organizational movement and support. Carmel builds their vision from their community education background and aims to apply an anti-racist and trauma-informed framework to their work. They also collaborate and organize with local initiatives, artist-run-centres, and community partners with an aim to create wider 2SQTBIPOC community and support systems within the province.

“As an agent for social change, I utilize education, music and artistic approaches to open minds and hearts, to unlearn oppressive practices, to transform daily intentions and actions into spiritual labor that yields a more just and harmonious world” - Delvina E. Bernard

Delvina Bernard is a proud mother of two daughters and an 8th generation African Nova Scotian who traces her family roots to the Black Loyalists of 1783 (Yarmouth and Lequille) and the Black Refugees of 1812 (Lake Loon, Cherry Brook, Guysborough Rd). For more than 30 years, Delvina has dedicated her professional and personal life, as an educator, senior administrator, cultural analyst and musician, to developing strategic initiatives aimed at dismantling all forms of systemic discrimination. As an institutional change strategist and social justice advocate, Delvina has led the design and implementation of numerous educational, cultural, and economic development programs to advance and upskill historically marginalized, underrepresented, equity deserving groups. Delvina has traveled globally as an ambassador for anti-racism, anti-poverty and gender justice causes and has received regional and national awards for her leadership in the arts, education, and international development. Delvina is currently employed as the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Advisor at Mount Saint Vincent University. She holds degrees in Business, Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. She is currently a part time PhD student at Saint Mary’s University conducting qualitative research on economic models for Reparatory Justice.