Western Celebrates Black History Month 2024
Building Bridges: Embracing Diversity, Connecting Communities
In alignment with our 2024 DEI theme: “Building Bridges: Embracing Diversity, Connecting Communities,” and to celebrate Black History Month, three members from the Black Employees Network and Allies (BENA) Employee Resource Group share what embracing diversity means to them and how they connect with their communities.
Meet Jillian Todd
My name is Jillian Tod, an Employee Journey Specialist here at Western! I joined the BENA ERG as an ally supporting our black community of professionals and as someone who has had experiences being in a marginalized space. I was born and raised in Winnipeg to parents who immigrated to Canada, them being of Caribbean and West Indian descent. I was raised in a very multicultural environment and grew up being immersed in indigenous communities and traditions as I was adopted into a family with Western and Metis heritages.
Living in Winnipeg has been great at providing me the opportunity to learn, celebrate, and understand the diversity that exists within Canada. For example, I love attending our Annual Folklorama Festival, which runs for two weeks in the summer. Visitors who attend the festival experience different forms of cultural ceremonies, cuisines and traditions and celebrate the cultural heritage of the many ethnicities in our city.
Meet Nermin Kassem
My name is Nermin Kassem, and I am a Project Manager at Western. As an Egyptian living in Canada for fifteen years, embracing diversity means incorporating the rich cultural nuances of my history into Toronto. I can interact with other Egyptians and celebrate our customs thanks to the Egyptian Gala and other Egyptian events, which act as a cultural bridge. Egyptian eateries in Toronto offer a soothing sense of familiarity and a taste of home.
Masrawe is an Egyptian restaurant that stands out from many other Middle Eastern restaurants due to its exceptional offering of a wide range of authentic Egyptian homemade food and sweets. A delicious fusion of traditional flavours and recipes will take you right into the heart of Egypt. From savory dishes like koshary and ful medames to delectable sweets like basbousa and konafa, this restaurant is a treasure trove of Egyptian culinary delights. Beyond cuisine, the city’s multiculturalism is evident, and I love the diversity of viewpoints that exist here. It was only natural for me to join the Employee Resource Group (ERG), which allowed me to support the development of an inclusive workplace actively. Through our ERG, we stand for diversity and ensure everyone’s voice is respected and elevated in this multicultural mosaic.
Meet Fisayo Olayinka-Bello
I am Oluwafisayo Olayinka-Bello, an insurance advisor at WCIS – the Eagle Creek Branch. Being a Nigerian born in Nigeria, my focus on embracing diversity was filtered by gender and social background. This is because Nigeria is largely a black nation. However, being a Nigerian in Canada and being a visible minority, I experienced several culture shocks. What I appreciate is that most of the spaces I have been at in Canada are usually merit-based, which means that some decisions are made based on the quality of work, not the colour of my skin, and I would love to see more of that.
Embracing diversity for me means being given a fairground to work and communicate without any bias. Connecting with other Nigerians at my church and other groups on social media has helped me settle in Canada better.
