Pembina Trails hosts second annual IBPOC event for staff

Pembina Trails is excited to have hosted its second annual IBPOC event on April 21.

The focus this year was allyship. IBPOC members, including teachers and education professionals from across the division, invited their allies to the gathering. The event also welcomed School Trustees Jasmine Brar and Christine Jolly, Indigenous Elder Glenna Henderson, Equity, Diversity and Anti-racism Consultant Catherine Birch, and IBPOC committee lead and Pembina Trails Senior Administrator Troy Scott.

Throughout the amazing morning, allyship was celebrated and honoured. Together, we agreed that authentic allyship involves risk-taking and humility. Allies make changes, amplify IBPOC voices, remove systemic barriers, and so much more. The discussions highlighted the genuine support that non-IBPOC allies provide and how important their contributions are. Being an ally is a life-long, action-oriented process.

The IBPOC members expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to our allies, ensuring that their efforts don’t go unnoticed. They made the choice to support IBPOC, as Pembina Trails Collegiate teacher Sanjeeva Louis mentioned at the end of the meeting.

“So this is not just about what we have done. It is about what we are beginning to build together. A space where no one has to shrink to belong. A space where voices are not only heard, but valued and acknowledged. A space where none of us are standing all alone.”

Thank you to Pembina Trails Senior Administrators for allowing the IBPOC work to happen and for creating space for these important discussions to happen.

Pembina Trails IBPOC members: Jill Fast, Brenda Muswagon, Sonia Khoutir, Ryyan Koleric, Sanjeeva Louis, Troy Scott, Carol Stewart, Monaliza Vianzon, Sylvia Wastesicoot, Calvin Yong

Written by Pembina Trails IBPOC members Sonia Khoutir, Carol Stewart, and Sanjeeva Louis.

Photo credit: Daniel, Fort Richmond Collegiate student