Events

On this page, you will find upcoming and past Commision and community events. We encourage all Nova Scotians to participate and celebrate our diverse communities. If you have an event we should include here please contact us.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events scheduled

Past Events

December 4th, 2024 - December 4th, 2024 - Understanding Hate Crimes

Date:  Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
A recording of this webinar is posted below.
 

Earlier this year, Statistics Canada reported the total number of hate crimes in Canada has more than doubled from 2019 to 2024.  Halifax ranks fifth in the country for its hate crime rate, reporting 121 hate crimes last year, an increase of 62% over the previous year. Halifax Regional Police (HRP) attributes this increase in reported crimes to the establishment of a dedicated hate crimes unit, higher reporting and increasing public awareness.

Crimes motivated by race, religion and sexual orientation were the most common police reported hate crimes according to HRP in 2023. Changing demographics, divisive public discourse and far-right views contribute to concerns that this trend will continue.  Its important Nova Scotians understand what a hate crime is and what they can do about them.

Join Professor Isaac Saney (Dalhousie University), retired Detective Constable Craig Upshaw, and Crown Attorney Sharon Goodwin to learn about the impacts of hate-motivated crimes.

Background

Recording

December 4th, 2024 - December 4th, 2024 - Advancing Action for Equity and Justice in Impact Organizations

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 3"30 - 4:30 p.m.
A recording of this session is posted below.

Are you a champion for justice and equity and re-imagining work in your organization? Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia (IONS) will introduce the Pathway to Actions platform as a tool for teams to build equitable workplaces.

Join us December 4 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (online) to find out how ~30 impact organizations from Mi'kma'ki have collaborated to create this resource hub for advancing equity and justice action in organizations.  In this session we will introduce some of the tools and resources, alongside the goals and approach to supporting teams to create more equitable and inclusive workplaces.

About the Platform

  • The resource hub includes over 100 locally vetted tools and resources. 
  • Individuals and teams can take a survey that will provide them an organizational persona with 10 curated resources based on where they are in their equity journey.
  • Built from community research with local changemakers, the organizational personas outline common motivations, needs, and barriers faced in this work. They aim to help individuals and teams reflect on their journeys and plan actionable steps to create inclusive workplaces. 

Recording

 

December 4th, 2024 - December 4th, 2024 - An Update from Nova Scotia's Office of Equity and Anti-Racism

Date: Wednesday, December 4,2024
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
A recording of this session is available below.

The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism (OEA) was established in 2021 and has been working to ensure that human rights are protected and respected in Nova Scotia since it was created.

The work of OEA includes the Dismantling Racism and Hate Act that was drafted with an All Party Committee based on community engagement and passed in April of 2022. It was the first of its kind in Canada to address both racism and inequity and it was a catalyst for an all of government effort to address hate, inequity and racism in Nova Scotia. Progress has been made since the passing of the Act which is detailed in OEA’s Annual Report to the Legislature each year.

The Act has several requirements including the creation of an Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy that was published in July 2023. The Strategy has several requirements including the creation of the Equity Impact Assessment (EIA) tool and the creation of a Public Engagement Guidebook. Both of these tools are helping policy makers to have the needs of underrepresented and underserved communities at the forefront of their work. The Strategy also requires OEA to create the province’s first 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan based on community engagement.

Join representatives from the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism December 4 from 11:00 - 12:00 on Zoom to learn abour this work and more.

Recording

December 4th, 2024 - December 4th, 2024 - Honouring Our Treaty Relationships

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lindsay Room, Halifax Central Library, 5440 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax, and via Zoom (Registration required for online participants)


Elder Joe Michael is a Keptin in the Mi’kmaq Grand Council;  Acadia's Elder in Residence and honorary Humanities Doctorate recipient;  and a contributor to Treaty Education Nova Scotia. In April 2024, he was the first Mi’kmaq to be Knighten by the St. George Society in Halifax, an e800-year old tradition.

A highly regarded inspirational and spiritual leader, Elder Joe promotes a balance between contemporary and traditional knowledge, teachings, and practices to organizations and individuals. Most notably, Elder Joe was the first Mi’kmaq member of the RCMP and he combined this knowledge with contemporary policing practices to increase cross-cultural awareness and develop the RCMP’s Aboriginal Community Policing model that remains part of the force’s cadet training program in Regina. Before retiring as Detachment Commander, he became the force’s Pipe Carrier responsible for performing sacred rituals and ceremonies and helping all races better understand Aboriginal culture.

Please join us Wednesday, December 4 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in-person in the Lindsay Room at the Halifax Central Library for this session with Elder Joe who will fill the space with stories that will help you understand who the Mi’kmaq are, historically and today, and how we can walk the road to reconciliation.