Canadian Activism Related to Gender Marginalization

Schedule of Events Wednesday March 8, 2023

2pm Keynote Speaker Dr. Beverly Bain:  Watch the stream In person in Scott House 105, or register for Webinar to watch remotely

3:15pm Undergraduate panel 1 Kerr House 102 (or register for conference to watch remotely)

• Breaking New Ground:  looking at significant jumps forward in activism based on gender marginalization with presentations on feminist thought in literature, the recognition of non-binary as an option on some Canadian legal documentation and the experience of women in Canadian academia before it became commonplace

4:15pm Undergraduate panel 2 Kerr House 102 (or watch remotely)

• Indigenous Activism Surrounding Gender Marginalization:  with presentations on the shift from viewing climate change as an exclusively environmental issue to one of human rights as well, gender and sexuality and history of native cities, and more.

5:15 wrap up 

Afternoon Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Beverly Bain

Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto

Still We Refuse!- A Conversation on Anti-Black Racism, Police Violence, Feminism and Abolition

March 8, 2023, 2pm EST 

This is a virtual Zoom webinar event and open to everyone.  Preregistration required

The 2020 uprising ignited by Black Lives Matter in the U.S. that erupted across the globe following the police killing of George Floyd, led to loud demands for defunding and abolition of police. We saw a Black reckoning here in Canada which began with Black Lives Matter and numerous protests, Pride marches, teach-ins and campaigns to defund and abolish police, organized by the No Pride in Policing Coalition (NPPC).

During the calls for defunding in 2020 by the masses, there were public genuflections from the Toronto Police Chief, the Prime Minister and other public officials who found their way to these gatherings. However, as the pandemic continued to take its toll, a terrifying backlash from Mayor Tory and the Toronto Police Service ensued. The City and police escalated its attacks on the homeless and Indigenous peoples in encampments, Blacks, racialized, unhoused, poor and those with mental health issues. Mayor Tory has recently proposed a 50 million dollar increase to the Toronto Police Services (TPS) amidst protests from activists and members of the public.

This presentation will focus on the capitalist, racist and heteromasculinist context that continue to legitimize policing institutions and the on-going collective refusals by activists as we organize and work to create liveable futures.

About our speaker:
Beverly Bain is a Black queer radical feminist anti-capitalist scholar and Professor. She teaches on Black queer diaspora, feminism, anti-racism, decolonialism, diasporic sexualities and gender and police violence in Women and Gender Studies, in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto/ Mississauga Campus.