OSPE - The Voice - May 2019 - 18

COVER

people are a lost cause on these matters, but
others genuinely mean you no harm and
will alter their behaviour immediately.
2. Reach out to a trusted ally for help -
you don't always have to do all the work
yourself. Good allies will be willing and
able to help you communicate your
issues to others. Whether it's a peer
or a superior who you trust to
stand up for you, reaching out
to them is always worthwhile.
Sometimes, people need to
hear the same message from
multiple perspectives for it to
really sink in.
3. Find the people who put you at
ease - microaggressions will not
be solved overnight, and you won't have the energy to deal
with every issue that comes up on a daily basis. Instead of
simply getting "a thick skin" or "learning to deal with the
fact that life is tough", find people who you relate to and
who you can connect with. If you're able to be honest about
your struggles in a space you feel comfortable in, it will help
you manage the tougher times that are out of your control.
Community is a powerful weapon against hardship.
Engineering is a profession that caters to the entirety of
society, and our workplace diversity should adequately reflect
the communities we are serving. The more comfortable we can
make one another feel, the more likely we'll be able to work
together to solve problems, which is the one thing all eengineers,
no matter their background, will always have in common.
Microaggressions are only one example of the many barriers
impacting the outcomes of equity-seeking groups in STEM
sectors of the economy. OSPE will be discussing this, and other
key issues at:
The EDI Imperative: Changing the Profile of STEM in Canada
Location: Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel Drive in Ottawa, Ontario
Date: November 6, 2019
Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
The conference, presented by OSPE's EDI Committee, will
bring together professionals, thought leaders, academics,
elected officials, and government departments to discuss the
importance of creating inclusive workplaces. EDI in Canada's
STEM sector is vital - the moral and business case has been
18

THE VOICE

Summer 2019

Engineering is a
profession that
caters to the entirety
of society, and our
workplace diversity
should adequately
reflect the communities
we are serving.

made. If we don't work together to remove barriers to full
inclusion, our businesses, educational institutions, and society
will miss out on innovative ideas, perspectives and attitudes that
can help shape our nation's future.
It is time to recognize that more needs to be done to ensure
EDI becomes a reality, not only by sharing insights on the
challenges that persist, but by defining solutions to address
them. This event is not just about creating a conversation, it's
about fostering a movement.

➝ For more information, please contact relevant OSPE
staff, or visit www.ospeedi.ca.
Jason Di Tommaso
Strategic Partnerships
613-986-1437
jditommso@ospe.on.ca
Marianne So
Specialist, Community Engagement and Events
416-223-9961 ext. 237
mso@ospe.on.ca
Andrea Carmona
Lead, Policy and Government Relations
416-223-9961 ext. 243
acarmona@ospe.on.ca
http://www.ospeedi.ca
OSPE - The Voice - May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - May 2019
