Message from Director, Sean Rogers
BMSC stands together against racism and intolerance
The BMSC stands in solidarity against all incidents of anti-Black and anti-Asian racism and the continued racism, violence and oppression that is directed at Indigenous communities. We want to acknowledge the events unfolding across the world and their impact on members of our own community. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, along with countless others, point to deep societal flaws. In Canada, Black, Indigenous and racialized people continue to fall victim (see Desmond Cole, CBC the Current).
Deeply connected to our environment, and having the privilege of being located on the traditional territories of a Nation that has cared for this environment for countless generations, BMSC must be responsive to injustice and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. BMSC continues to pursue these common goals through respectful and inclusive collaboration. Given the disproportionate effects of the Covid-19 global pandemic on the vulnerable that is still ravaging the planet, this is a time to address inequality and build a kinder, more inclusive and healthy society.
Committing to these values and this vision is a first step forward. We can and will do more as a community to understand and support one another in these shared values. Over the coming weeks, I will be working with our member universities and partners to provide staff with access to unconscious/implicit bias workshops and anti-racism educational programs. We will also work together to create additional ways that we can further diversify our community and create awareness at every level of our educational programs. If you think there is more BMSC can do more, please let me know.