You Belong Here Speaker Series - Hadiya Roderique

On February 13, as part of our You Belong Here campaign, the University of Regina will host Hadiya Roderique at a free event open to the entire community. As a young, black woman working as a lawyer on Bay Street, Hadiya Roderique delivered a wake-up call to corporate Canada in the form of her Globe and Mail feature essay, "Black on Bay Street.” Roderique’s think piece sparked discussion in boardrooms across Canada. In her thought-provoking talks, she discusses barriers and challenges to diversity and inclusion, and counters those common arguments to show the power of a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Extensive research has confirmed how important it is to build teams whose members don’t all look or think the same way. Diversity and inclusion are valuable to any team, in any setting, and lead to more creativity and innovation. And yet, there’s still a lot of work to do. While most business leaders now understand why having a diverse and inclusive culture is critical to performance, they don't necessarily know how to achieve that goal.

Roderique is a lawyer, journalist, researcher, consultant, broadcast commentator, and award-winning writer. She also holds an M.A. in Criminology, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. As a researcher, she broadly examines how race, gender, and parenthood shape perceptions and relationships in the workplace; academia include.
“Everyone at the University should see themselves reflected in our campus community. They should come to a place where everyone feels like they belong and are respected,” says President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Vianne Timmons. “Our University is not just a reflection of who we are as community, but who we want to be; and the University of Regina wants to reflect a diversity of people, ideas, opinions and perspectives.”

The February 13th event will also feature University of Regina doctoral student and recipient of a 2019 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Merelda Fiddler-Potter. Fiddler-Potter’s research project is an exploration of mainstream media’s role in reconciliation in Canada. She will moderate a Q & A session with Roderique, diving deeper into the barriers and challenges that continue to stand in the way of true diversity and inclusion.
This speaker series is part of the University of Regina You Belong Here campaign – a campaign that reinforces the message that our University and our communities are welcoming and inclusive places for all.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event on February 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Auditorium located in the Education Building on the University’s Main Campus. Free parking is provided in lots 7 and 8.