On Monday June 5, Sheridan marked Pride month by raising the Pride flag for the very first time on our campuses.
A crowd of students, faculty and staff gathered at the Trafalgar Campus SCAET lobby, where the main ceremony took place.
In her remarks, President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Mary Preece thanked the Sheridan Student Union for bringing forward the request to raise the rainbow flag. Mary noted that symbols like the Pride flag matter greatly; they provide a signal that the lines of communication are open. “Raising the Pride flag demonstrates Sheridan’s commitment to fostering equity and inclusion … which includes support for sexual and gender diversity and all human rights,” she said.
Mary recognized that there is still work to be done to build a truly inclusive community for all of our students and employees. She noted some of the steps taken so far, such as installing new universal washrooms and gender inclusive signage at Davis and Trafalgar, developing a procedure to help our students change their name or gender in PeopleSoft to reflect their lived identities, and last year’s LGBTQ + climate survey to better understand the issues that still need addressing.
Speaking on behalf of the Sheridan Student Union, SSU President Enrique Ponce affirmed that sexual and gender diversity is a very important topic among Sheridan’s student body, and has fueled some of SSU’s recent equity and diversity initiatives, such as their Pride Week activities this past April. Enrique echoed Mary’s sentiment that together we should always continue the work of making Sheridan a respectful and caring place. Enrique also recognized the many advocacy efforts of the Sheridan Association for Sexual and Gender Diversity at Trafalgar and the Sheridan Pride Club at Davis.
Mary and Enrique then led the crowd outside to the front of the SCAET building, where the Pride flag was raised proudly alongside the Canadian flag and the Sheridan 50th anniversary flag. Pride flags were simultaneously raised at the Davis and STC campuses, and a digital flag was displayed on the digital sign outside HMC B-wing.
The Pride colours will be displayed through to sundown on Sunday, June 25, which coincides with the completion of Toronto Pride.
Check out our Twitter Moment for highlights from the flag raising ceremony, and to see Sheridan’s special Pride video message featuring the Gilbert font, named in honour of LGBTQ+ activist and Pride flag creator, Gilbert Baker, who passed away this March.
Happy Pride, Sheridan!
