Failure to include Black communities in health policy public engagement perpetuates health disparities

Alpha Abebe, McMaster University and Rhonda C. George, McMaster University It is time for us to accept that policy failure and lack of community engagement in policy decision-making go hand-in-hand. The fact that the communities with the worst health outcomes are also the communities least likely to be meaningfully engaged in health policy decision-making should not be a surprise. As it stands, a growing body … Continue reading Failure to include Black communities in health policy public engagement perpetuates health disparities

Close to home: The Canadian far right, COVID-19 and social media

Merlyna Lim, Carleton University and Brandon Rigato, Carleton University Weeks after the so-called “freedom convoy” protests ended, a familiar quietness has returned to the streets of downtown Ottawa. No more sounds of blaring horns and people partying into the wee hours. The only remaining visible traces are abandoned trucks in impound yards and barriers on streets. But these too will be cleared, just like the … Continue reading Close to home: The Canadian far right, COVID-19 and social media

The colour of someone’s skin doesn’t equate to definitive sameness

Warren Clarke, University of Manitoba Despite the highly publicized 2020 murder of George Floyd and subsequent calls for change, many people of non-African descent around the world have yet to consider the lasting impacts of anti-Black racism. Anti-Black racism is rooted in the enslavement and historical experiences of people of African descent. It continues to harm Black people and communities, “othering” their existence while creating … Continue reading The colour of someone’s skin doesn’t equate to definitive sameness

The cultural sector needs support in order to benefit from a digital remake

Ricard Gil, Queen’s University, Ontario The COVID-19 crisis has dealt a massive blow to the cultural and creative sectors in Canada and around the world. The impact was broad and deep. In 2020, museums were closed for an average of more than 155 days, and in 2021, many of them had to shut their doors again, resulting in a 70 per cent drop in attendance. … Continue reading The cultural sector needs support in order to benefit from a digital remake

More than entertainment: Indigenous women are teaching through filmmaking

Jocelyn Thorpe, University of Manitoba and Kaila Johnston, University of Manitoba Boys fish with their mother and grandmother. A young woman trains as a mixed martial artist. Relay riders race horses around a track, leaping from horse to horse. A twelve-year-old navigates the Oka Crisis. A mother joins an underground freedom movement in order to get her daughter back. A young girl learns she can … Continue reading More than entertainment: Indigenous women are teaching through filmmaking