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Community Building Working Group

Five people sitting in a circle outside surround by trees on a sunny day

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)’s Community Building Working Group was formed in 2024 at the direction of President Mohamed Lachemi and is led by Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion, Tanya (Toni) De Mello.

Acknowledging the challenges arising from numerous global and geopolitical crises, the Working Group adopts a comprehensive approach to community-building, viewing it as essential to fostering an equitable and engaged campus culture. This group was initiated to support the TMU community in managing the impacts of the war in Israel and Palestine and aims to offer support more broadly because there are a variety of conflicts/issues that impact our students, faculty and staff that would benefit from these resources.

The Working Group is composed of front-line support staff who work in partnership to plan, organize and host initiatives that address community needs. 

Adopting a comprehensive approach to community-building

The TMU community thrives when we respect and protect the fundamental human rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled, even amid differing political ideologies and perspectives. TMU is committed to creating an environment that values learning through open discourse and constructive disagreement while fostering a strong sense of belonging. 

In response to numerous global and geopolitical crises, the Working Group takes a comprehensive approach to community-building, an essential component of an equitable and engaged campus culture. The group’s objectives are:

  1. Supporting individual and community well-being.
  2. Building trust, belonging and positive engagement across the university community.
  3. Strengthening capacity for navigating difficult conversations and conflict resolution.

The feedback from the  (google form) community survey (external link)  and ongoing consultations affirmed that diverse communities have distinct needs. The Working Group and partners across TMU have organized a range of engaging initiatives for the community since 2023.

Key areas of focus for the 2024/25 academic year

Upcoming programming for the 2024/25 academic year builds on feedback and aims to address community needs. These include:

  • Exploring how the mind, body, feelings and actions contribute to our learning process.
  • Recognizing the role that universities play in protecting human rights and freedom of expression.
  • Understanding different kinds of racism and oppression and how they affect our communities. 
  • Equipping community members in learning about conflict resolution strategies and engaging in civil discourse.

Upcoming initiatives (winter 2025)

  • Antisemitism workshop (in progress) hosted by the OVPECI
  • Human rights and freedom of expression workshop (in progress) hosted by the OVPECI
  • Mondays from January 27 to March 17, 2025 – Women’s Peer Support Group by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Wednesdays from January 29 to March 5, 2025 – Learning Helpful Habits hosted by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Wednesday, January 29, February 5, February 12, February 26 and March 5, 2025 – Discovering Our Personal Growth hosted by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Wednesday, January 29, February 12 and March 12, 2025 – GRAD Art Hive hosted by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
  • Thursdays from January 30 to March 20, 2025 – Men’s Peer Support Group hosted by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
  • Mondays from February 3 to March 3, 2025 – Basic Self-Defence Series for Women hosted by Community Safety and Security
  • Tuesday, February 4, February 25, March 18 and April 18, 2025 – Underground Art Lounge hosted by Student Wellbeing, Health Promotion Programs and Student Success Navigators 
  • February 26, 2025 – Supporting Faculty to Understand and Reduce the Impacts of Ableism hosted by Academic Accommodation Support
  • Thursdays from February 27 to March 27, 2025 –  (google form) “Let’s Talk About Us” Series (external link)  hosted by Student Wellbeing
  • March 5, 2025 – Pivot Point Speaker Series: Building career resilience with Rola Dagher hosted by the Chang School of Continuing Education
  • March 6, 2025 – Transforming Communication Through Somatic Practices hosted by Workplace Wellbeing in partnership with the OVPECI 
  • Wednesdays from March 12 to April 2, 2025 – Queer Community Circle Peer Support Group hosted by Student Wellbeing in partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

Ongoing initiatives

In addition to the supports continuously offered to students, faculty and staff, programming for the winter semester has been enhanced to include:

  • Weekly – Thriving in Action student peer support groups hosted by the Centre for Student Development and Counselling
  • Every Tuesday and Friday – Meditation sessions for employees hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • Every Thursday from January 16 to April 28, 2025 – Spiritual counselling with Imam Yasin Dwyer hosted by the Muslim Employee Community Network in partnership with the Muslim Chaplain of Toronto
  • Monthly – Writing for wellness sessions for employees on topics like coping strategies and self-compassion) hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • Ongoing – Active Wellbeing Programs hosted by Athletics and Recreation
  • Ongoing – Culturally specific, individual counselling is available for employees by reaching out to TMU’s Employee and Family Assistance Program, Telus Health, to speak to a counsellor from their own community. This involves pairing employees with counsellors who have self-identified as having shared experiences or specializations associated with gender, geography, language, ethnicity, religion, age and more.

Past initiatives

  • Fridays from September 20 to December 20, 2024 – Friday Mindfulness Meditation hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • Mondays from September 30 to November 11, 2024 – Learning Helpful Habits hosted by Student Wellbeing
  • Wednesday, September 25, October 9, October 23, November 6, November 20, December 4, 2024 – Grad Art Hive hosted by the Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Student Wellbeing
  • October 1, 2024 – Addressing Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the Workplace with the Bernardi Centre hosted by the OVPECI
  • Tuesdays from October 1 to November 26, 2024 – TMU Therapy Dogs hosted by Student Life and Learning Support
  • Wednesdays from October 2 to November 13, 2024 – Empowerment in Self Care hosted by Student Wellbeing
  • October 3, 2024 – Leading with Integrity through Change, Crisis and Uncertainty hosted by the Talent Management Centre of Expertise
  • October 8, 2024 – Stress Management and Self-Care hosted by Student Wellbeing
  • October 8, 2024 – Body and Mind Connection through Yoga and iRest® (Integrative Restoration) Yoga Nidra with Jen Baradi hosted by the School of Nutrition
  • Tuesdays from October 8 to November 5, 2024 – Campus Connection Corner hosted by Student Wellbeing
  • October 9, 2024 – Community Equity Networks Showcase
  • October 9 and October 16, 2024 – De-Escalating Potentially Violent Situations hosted by Community Safety and Security
  • October 10, 2024 – Navigating Jewish Grief and Joy: Nothing so whole as a broken heart hosted by the Jewish Employee Community Network
  • October 10, 2024 – Embodied Learning in Uncertain Times hosted by the OVPECI
  • October 11, 2024 – Writing for Wellness: Strengthening Relationships hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • Tuesdays from October 15 to December 17, 2024 – Meditation for Everyday Life hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • October 22, 2024 – Azad آزاد gathering for Queer Muslim employees hosted by Positive Space and the Muslim Employee Community Network, in partnership with the OVPECI and the CBWG
  • October 22, 2024 – Equity Advocate Training: Inclusive Evaluation Practices in Tenure and Promotion hosted by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
  • October 29, 2024 – Well-being and Faith: Supporting the Muslim community at TMU with Imam Dwyer and Tanya De Mello hosted by the Muslim Employee Community Network, in partnership with the OVPECI and the CBWG
  • October 31, 2024 – Mastering Difficult Conversations for Leaders hosted by the Talent Management Centre of Expertise
  • November 1, 2024 – Writing for Wellness: Gratitude and joy hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • November 6, 2024 – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) and Freestyle Socials event with Chang School Leaders and Manager hosted by the Chang School and OVPECI
  • November 6 and November 13, 2024 – De-Escalating Potentially Violent Situations hosted by Community Safety and Security
  • November 18, 2024 – Notice, Engage, Refer and Debrief hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • November 22, 2024 – Writing for Wellness: Cultivating Optimism hosted by Workplace Wellbeing Services
  • November 27, 2024 – Part 1: Combating Islamophobia with the National Council of Canadian Muslims hosted by the Muslim Employee Community Network, in partnership with the OVPECI and the CBWG 
  • January 23, 2025 – Thriving in Academia: Notice, Engage, Refer and Debrief hosted by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs 
  • January 28, 2025 – Part 2: Combating Islamophobia with the National Council of Canadian Muslims hosted by the Muslim Employee Community Network, in partnership with the OVPECI and the CBWG
  • February 10, 2025 – Thriving in Academia: Principles of Effective Feedback hosted by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Affairs
  • February 12, 2025 – MMIWGM2S events: Healing Through Crafting, Film Screening and Memorial Potluck Feast hosted by Indigenous Initiatives in the OVPECI and Indigenous Education Council in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic
  • February 13, 2025 – Blooming with Kindness hosted by Consent Comes First (CCF) 

TMU worked in collaboration with Amira Elghawaby (Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia) and Deborah Lyons (Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism) to inform the choice of initiatives and educational sessions.

Student-led community events

TMU has a highly engaged and committed student body that regularly plans and hosts meaningful events for a variety of communities. With over 400 active student groups offering thousands of events and initiatives each year, there are many opportunities to get involved.

Student groups have organized several events for TMU community members, including:

  • Ongoing – Shabbat dinners with Jewish community members by Hillel TMU
  • March 14, 2024 – Peacebuilding in a Time of Crisis: In Conversation with Mohammad Darawshe (external link)  hosted by Hillel TMU
  • September 19, 2024 –  (google form) Dinner and Discussion with Muhammad Zoabi (external link)  hosted by Hillel TMU
  • January 27, 2025 – The Last Goodbye: An Immersive VR Experience and Tabling Event hosted by Hillel TMU, TMU and the Toronto Metropolitan Students' Union (TMSU)
  • January 28, 2025 – Memorial Ceremony and Survivor Testimony with Pinchas Gutter hosted by Hillel TMU
  • January 29, 2025 – The Law and the Holocaust: A Conversation on Human Rights hosted by Lincoln Alexander Law School’s Jewish Law Students Association 
  • January 30, 2025 – Crossing the River: From Poland to Paradise Documentary Screening and Q&A with Allan Novack hosted by Hillel TMU, TMU and the TMSU
  • February 7, 2025 – Multifaith Shabbat Dinner hosted by Hillel TMU in partnership with the President's Office

To explore these vibrant communities, visit ExploreTMU for a list of events and ways to get involved. You can search by event or organization or browse the comprehensive calendar to see what’s happening and get involved! If you have any questions, connect with Student Life and Campus Engagement at campusengagement@torontomu.ca.

Reminder of resources and support available to community members year-round

Community members who may need support in managing their well-being in response to the ongoing crisis are encouraged to access the many supports available to them:

  • Students can access well-being services and support, including individual counselling support and/or individual peer support hosted by Student Wellbeing.
  • Students can access Good2Talk (external link) , a free, confidential mental health support service for all post-secondary students in Ontario, available 24/7/365. Access support by calling 1-866-925-5454 or by texting “GOOD2TALKON" to 686868.
  • Student Care offers support to students navigating a variety of complex factors while they study, including financial, academic, physical and mental health challenges. Students are encouraged to connect with them at studentcare@torontomu.ca.
  • Faculty and staff members can access support, including culturally specific, individual counselling, through TMU’s Employee and Family Assistance Program, Telus Health. This service pairs employees with counsellors who share experiences or specialize in areas such as gender, language, ethnicity, religion and more. To make a request, employees can contact the Care Access Centre at 1-844-880-9142.
  • There are also several faculty and staff community networks that employees can access for support.
  • Human Rights Services is available to all students, faculty and staff at the university if they believe they have experienced incidents that breach the Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy. This robust policy covers all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. All TMU students, faculty and staff can access the university's free, fair and confidential complaint resolution process in response to alleged forms of discrimination and/or harassment.
  • Community Safety and Security’s WalkSafe Program is available for all community members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To request WalkSafe, call 416-979-5040 or email walksafe@torontomu.ca. Personal Safety Planning Sessions are also available for individuals, groups and teams.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Community Building Working Group, please contact equity@torontomu.ca.