Nominations for 2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards now open

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) is pleased to announce the institutional call for nominations to recognize the transformative efforts by University of Calgary students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, postdoctoral fellows, staff and teams.

The EDI Awards aim to recognize the passion, dedication and campus engagement of individuals and teams who are committed to promoting equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, community engagement, and living and working environments.

“The annual EDI Awards is an important opportunity for the university to recognize the difficult and transformative work of students, staff, faculty and postdoctoral fellows, and teams on campus who advance equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in all areas of campus life,” says Dr. Malinda Smith, vice-provost and associate vice-president research (equity, diversity and inclusion).

“We want to acknowledge these efforts, which are often invisible and showcase how change happens with each of us contributing to make the campus more fair and inclusive for all equity deserving groups.”

At UCalgary, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility are foundational values, practices and strategic commitments across all areas of teaching, learning, research, service and community engagement. They enable excellence, innovation and creativity. We work collaboratively as a campus community to foster positive change for all members in our community and beyond.

“Equity and inclusion necessitate collaborative efforts across all areas of our campus community and beyond,” says Dr. Sévan Beukian, PhD, director equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility for OEDI.

“This award is very meaningful because it recognizes the dedication of members and teams to make our campus more welcoming, inclusive and to celebrate work that advances equity efforts through an intersectional lens.”

The call for nominations for the 2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Awards is officially open from Monday, Oct. 31, and will be accepted until Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 11:59 p.m. MT.

We invite all to submit their nominations for the 2023 awards in the following categories:   

• Undergraduate and graduate students  
• Faculty  
• Postdoctoral fellows 
• Staff (AUPE and MaPS)  
• Team   

Award nominations should describe the nominee’s outstanding contributions in a role, a practice, event, applied research, policy, program or other activities that foster a more equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible campus. Contributions should highlight sustainable and measurable change for any group traditionally underrepresented on campus. It can be ongoing work, or an outstanding accomplishment at a point in time.  

Examples include, but are not limited to:  

• A strategic plan and action program that recognizes the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility
• An ongoing action, initiative or program that helps students from an equity-deserving group feel welcome, included and a sense of belonging  
• A tool or practice that provides accommodations for an equity-deserving group, e.g., increased accessibility for people with disabilities  
• An initiative or action aiming at adapting or changing procedures, policies or practices to make them more equitable and inclusive
• Initiatives to promote pluralism, anti-racism, accessibility, trans visibility  
• Exemplifying leadership in fostering an equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible campus 

Nominations should present specific and concrete examples to illustrate how the nominee meets each of the eligibility and award criteria, showing the nominee’s outstanding efforts and accomplishments toward advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility at the University of Calgary.  

Submit your nominations   

Nomination forms and additional information on the 2023 EDI Awards are available on the OEDI website. Nominations are open until Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. MT. You can also find out about the 2022 EDI Award winners on the OEDI website. If you have any questions, please contact us at equity@ucalgary.ca.