News

The Office of Equity & Inclusion would like to invite you to the third event in our series Viola Desmond Legacy Lecture, scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 7:00-8:30pm AST. This will be a virtual event (Microsoft Teams Live) and further details, including the event link, is available on our website.

The Viola Desmond Legacy Lecture, a four-part series, welcomes prominent speakers from diverse communities to discuss issues of diversity, equity and inclusiveness. The series takes its name from the late Desmond, a Black Nova Scotian businesswoman who fought systemic racism in the province during the mid-20th century and, in 2010, was granted posthumously the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, Free Pardon by, then, Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Dr. Mayann Francis.

We are thrilled to announce our next Viola Desmond Legacy Lecture will feature acclaimed artist and educator, Vivek Shraya. Vivek is an artist whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music, literature, visual art, theatre, and film. Her album Part-Time Woman was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, and her best-selling book I’m Afraid of Men was heralded by Vanity Fair as “cultural rocket fuel.” A seven-time Lambda Literary Award finalist, Vivek was a Pride Toronto Grand Marshal and a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation, who's mission is founded on a commitment to feminism and racial, social and gender justice. She is also the founder of the award-winning publishing imprint VS. Books, which supports emerging BIPOC writers.

Event details:
Tuesday, November 15, 2022

7:00-8:30pm (AST)

Microsoft Teams Live - https://tinyurl.com/mupk32n

Host: Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley
Q&A Moderator: Dr. OmiSoore Dryden

This event will also feature a Spoken Word presentation from a local community artist, and a student leader will introduce our speaker, Vivek Shraya.

Wela'lin,