Loyalist College is committed to creating a welcoming environment in which everyone feels safe and cared for. Our core values include inclusivity, caring and accountability; these fundamental beliefs guide our collective actions and are ones we aspire to instil in our students and each other.

As a change agent, the College has a moral purpose to condemn racism of any kind and build capacity to work collaboratively on campus and with community partners to generate positive actions, solutions and impact.

Acknowledging the issues and opening up a conversation about how, where and why racism persists in the Bay of Quinte region is the first step toward dismantling it and cultivating equity and inclusion.

We invite all members of the Loyalist community to join us for a Standing Together Against Racism Web Forum on Thursday, September 10 at 1 pm during Loyalist’s Orientation week. This event creates an opportunity for us to come together to listen, reflect and share. By learning from each other’s perspectives, we can each do our part in cultivating our own mindfulness and awareness while working together to actively remove systemic barriers and direct change on our campus, in our community and beyond.

Register now

This LIVE online event will be held via Zoom. Once you’ve registered using the link above, you will receive an email with the link to access the web forum.

Meet the Members of the Panel

Dr. Aruna Alexander, Founding President of the United Nations Association, Quinte Branch; Minister with The United Church of Canada for 30 years in the Quinte region

Dr. Aruna Alexander is the recipient of Ontario’s Newcomer Champion Award presented by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Community Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Rotary Club of Belleville. She has initiated numerous projects with the City of Belleville including UNESCO’S Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination program. She is a member of the City of Belleville’s Inclusion Committee; a thought leader for the Ambassadors for Belleville Project which focuses on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and wider community; and organizes the annual Leadership Summit on Inclusivity. She leads the anti-racism, intercultural and interfaith working group on the Justice Team, East Central Ontario Regional Council for The United Church of Canada; introduced the Model United Nations debating program to Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, Loyalist College, Quinte Mohawk School and Albert College; and is a team member of the local Orange the World project regarding advocacy for women and children experiencing violence in the Bay of Quinte region.  
Georgina Thompson, Loyalist College Nursing Graduate
Georgina Thompson, RN, BScN, MHA, has been active in the Quinte community for many years. She is a Rotary Fellow, received the Harry Jerome Business Award, and won the First Business Women Award for the Quinte area. Georgina also received the Premier’s Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Health Sciences for the Province of Ontario, nominated by Loyalist College. In addition, Georgina was a member of the Loyalist College Board of Governors for six years, was one of the first 14 inaugural chairs nominated to the South East Local Health Integrated Networks (LHIN), acted as a past member of Thurlow Township/Belleville City Council, and was a local business owner for 25 years.

Orlando Ferro, Executive Director of Quinte Immigration Services
Orlando Ferro holds a foreign university degree in Law and Business Administration and has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years as Executive Director for Quinte Immigration Services. He has participated in government budget and policy consultations on a range of topics, including social assistance, education, health care, regional economic development, equity, diversity, human rights, and more. Under Orlando’s oversight, the Quinte Local Immigration Partnership was established in 2007, which now has 67 stakeholders as part of its council. Orlando also founded Central Eastern Ontario Translation and Interpretation Services, is a member of the Canadian Council for Refugees, and is a former Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants Board member.
Sydney Jarvis, Loyalist College Social Service Worker Graduate
Sydney Jarvis is a recent graduate from the Social Service Worker program at Loyalist College. Sydney identifies as a woman of colour, as she is part Guyanese and part English. Sydney was one of the co-creators of the Black Lives Matter vigil and march that was held in Belleville in June 2020 and has always had a strong passion for advocacy and bringing light to systemic racism in her community and in Canada. 

Web Forum Schedule, September 10, 1 – 2:30 pm

  • Welcome, Indigenous Land Acknowledgement & Opening Remarks – Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President & CEO
  • Panel Member Introductions – Georgina Thompson, Panel Moderator
  • Open Panel Discussion 
  • Q&A 
  • Closing Remarks