Black History Month 2024

Education is the Premise of Progress

February is Black History Month. It’s a time for the Materiel Group to celebrate and honour Black Voices and Black Excellence in our community.

As a Defence Team that values diversity and inclusion, continued efforts in dismantling systemic inequality are important. The key to advancing diversity, equity and inclusivity lies in our coming together to learn, collaborate and consolidate our relations within our organisation.

Our discussions during the month of February will serve to empower each and every one of us with the knowledge and tools to take our organisation to the next level, making our workspaces psychologically safer, more equitable and inclusive for all of its members.

We encourage all Materiel Group members to participate in these upcoming events and become a catalyst for change, by fostering a culture of excellence, and demonstrating your commitment to elevating the Materiel Group and ultimately serving the interests of Canadians.

In collaboration,

Troy Crosby, Assistant Deputy Minster (Materiel)

Nancy Tremblay, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel)

Book Club Discussion - Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians with Author Lindsay Ruck

February 1, 2024

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET

Recording

Join us as we discuss the book “Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Achievement” with Canadian Author, Lindsay Ruck.

Lindsay’s book illuminates stories of Black Canadian figures who enacted many inspiring and courageous deeds, demonstrating bravery, resilience, and determination.

Lindsay will attend the session and will be available for a captivating discussion led by Materiel Group’s Chief of Staff, Major-General Rob Dundon and Diversity and Inclusion Office Section Head Samantha Moonsammy. This is a unique chance to interact directly with the author behind this enlightening work and gain deeper insights into her research and the significance of these stories for our workplace.

This book club will empower members with knowledge of an aspect of Canadian history that is too often unexplored.

Invite only ADM Event - The Idea Marketplace Experience: Re-imagining Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

February 15, 2024

8:30 am - 4:00 pm ET

ADMs from National Defence will participate in “The Idea Marketplace Experience - Re-Imagining Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

This day will feature opportunities for productive dialogue and coaching sessions, providing leaders with the opportunity to share and enhance their learning based on their experiences within their organizations. Through facilitated coaching, they will collectively embark on a journey of self-discovery, gaining insights into their mindset, consciousness, and patterned responses to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace. Co-hosted by ADM’s Troy Crosby and Rob Chambers.

Jam Session - Using Your Voice for Change

February 20, 2024

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET

The Jam Session is your opportunity to share your ideas on building an inclusive and psychologically safer workplace culture with ADMA Nancy Tremblay.

Jam Sessions allow us the opportunity to advance the people side of our business and link initiatives directly back to our L1 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan as well as the Mat Group Strategic Plan for HRM. Our success is tied to how effectively we can support you and other Materiel Group members and where everyone can belong and thrive in our organization, as reflected in the Public Service Employee Surveys.

Jam Sessions create an impact by having all the voices at the table. With leadership and members at all levels of the organization, Jam Sessions result in a better life through better work for everyone. This work takes many forms, and your participation in courageous conversations at Jam Sessions are an important part of this process.The Jam Session is your opportunity to share your ideas on building an inclusive and psychologically safer workplace culture with ADMA Nancy Tremblay.

Ask Me Anything: Celebrating Black Excellence

February 21, 2024

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm ET

Link to join webinar

Join us for February’s Ask Me Anything, where we commit to having an honest, open, and transparent conversation for Black History Month. This month's speakers are public servants and inclusive leaders from diverse backgrounds, departments, and stages of life who will have real and raw conversations celebrating Black excellence in the public service.

Their complex stories offer an entry point into understanding the multifaceted experiences of Black Canadians.

The month of February is the month designated to remembering the contributions Black people have made in the past and continue to make across Canada and beyond. Black History Month is about embracing innovation, resilience, and togetherness toward a united country in which everyone has a chance to prosper.

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Ask Me Anything sessions is a platform to share stories, listen, ask respectful questions and continue on our journey to becoming more inclusive organizations. As individuals you can’t necessarily change where you live, you certainly can’t change your past, but you can adjust who influences you—through the authors you read, music you listen to, movies you watch and interactions with your community. The Ask Me Anything series provides you with an opportunity to increase your perspective—to learn from the lived-experiences of individuals who are bravely sharing their experiences to help educate and move the public service towards a culture where equity is embedded.

The series also provides an opportunity for you to know that you aren’t alone, these experiences, especially the negative ones are systemic and happen all too frequently throughout the public service. The objective by shining this light is to continually increase the network of public servants ready to take action and move forward towards a culture of inclusivity and belonging.