SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Ongoing commitments to achieve inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) are integral to Dalhousie’s vision, mission, actions, culture, and how we interact with one another on a daily basis. These obligations extend to redressing historical and ongoing systemic inequalities among our citizenry. We remain committed to facilitating and celebrating the success of our African Nova Scotian communities, and to reconciliation and continued work to build integrity in Dalhousie’s relationship with Canada’s First Peoples, especially the Mi’kmaq on whose lands we are privileged to share.

High-impact research

Research reveals rise in seniors, people with non‑acute medical issues being left at emergency departments — especially during the holidays

Dr. Mah and colleagues have interviewed health-care workers and administrators about the cases at a Halifax hospital, and are also speaking with patients and their families about how they ended up in emergency departments and what might be done in the community to prevent that.
Read more in Dal News

Community first: Dal researchers work with African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq communities to get it right from the start

Dalhousie School of Social Work professor Nancy Ross's project will be led by four African Nova Scotian community members to examine systemic racism in health care and social services. A second project is a partnership with the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) co-led by School for Resource and Environmental Studies professor Melanie Zurba. The projects are made possible by SSHRC’s Race, Gender and Diversity Initiative.
Read more in Dal News

Dal scholar named CIHR Applied Public Health Chair, to investigate inequity in COVID interventions

Matthew Herder, director of Dal's Health Law Institute, aims to interrogate how various laws, policies, and practices have limited access to COVID-19 vaccines and other important interventions in many parts of the world. His project will investigate how the current approach to innovation creates sources of inequity depending on the part of the world you live in.
Read more in Dal News

Avoiding the services ‘cliff’: New research looks at improving the transition to adulthood for people with developmental disabilities

Working closely with individuals who have developmental disabilities, their families, clinicians and other health professionals, Dr. Ghanouni will look for ways to streamline, maintain and enhance access to programs to support these young people as they transition to adulthood.
Read more in Faculty of Health news

Exceptional student experience

New Dal major uncovers long‑hidden Black experience in Canada and beyond

A new Black and African Diaspora Studies major introduced at Dalhousie this fall offers students an expansive interdisciplinary program exploring the previously overlooked historical, societal, and cultural dimensions of African Canadian life and the broader global Black world.
Read more in Dal News

Dal prof helps unlock powerful new opportunities in adapted sport

In her third- and fourth-year classes, Dr. Sarah Moore, assistant professor and adapted physical activity researcher at Dalhousie’s School of Health and Human Performance, has students complete a volunteer placement in parasport. Through this they build therapeutic relationships with their participants.
Read more in Dal News

Dalhousie hires first advisor to support 2SLGBTQ+ students

The 2SLGBTQ+ advisor provides a variety of supports and services that include one-on-one advising, university-wide programming and events, referrals to gender-affirming care, navigating name or gender marker changes, and much more.
Read more in Dal News

Working towards a barrier-free Dalhousie!

The Student Accessibility Centre (Halifax) and the Student Success Centre (Truro) are Dalhousie’s centres of expertise on student access, inclusion, and accommodation support. We work collaboratively with Dalhousie and King's students, faculty, and staff to create an inclusive educational environment for students. The Centre is responsible for administering the university-wide Student Accommodation Policy working across all programs and faculties.

Previously featured

Dalhousie medical school appoints first academic director for Black health

Dr. Jones is advising on undergraduate curriculum and provides advice to the Dean of Dalhousie Medical School and the Associate Dean of Serving and Engaging Society on matters related to the health and wellbeing of African Nova Scotian and Black communities.
Read more in Dal News

African Nova Scotian students uncover powerful new perspectives abroad

The program, piloted last year with a trip to Zambia, gives students a chance to travel to places where Black people are the majority population — an experience that could be transformative for some.
Read more in Dal News

Schulich School of Law introduces first mandatory course on African Nova Scotian legal history and issues

Dalhousie's Schulich School of Law has launched its first mandatory course on African Nova Scotian Legal History & Issues and Critical Race Theory (ANS/CRT) that all first-year law students will take. The course is part of developing a more inclusive curriculum and addressing systemic anti-Black racism in the law and legal education.
Read more in Dal News

Civic university with global impact

Slavery conference keynote exposes Made in Canada stories of segregation — and the visionaries who pushed back

International scholars, professors, and media had assembled at the Universities Studying Slavery (USS) conference to hear Dr. Sylvia D. Hamilton speak at the luncheon keynote address. The conference, hosted by Dalhousie, the University of King’s College and the Black Cultural Centre, was the first USS gathering to be held outside of the United States.
Read more in Dal News

Marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Dalhousie University is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the L’nu’k, and led by Cathy Martin, our director for Indigenous community engagement, we are building stronger partnerships with our communities on campus and off.
Read more in Dal News

First symposium supporting Black Canadian STEM education  

This week marks the first of many symposiums by the Department of Canadian Heritage and Dalhousie University in their three-year project to support Black Canadian education. Past/Future: African Canadian History, Arts and Culture in STEM Education in Canada is the first symposium of its kind in Canada. The hope is to support educators in bridging boundaries for Black learners.
Read more in Dal News

New Social Work Cohort for Black/African Nova Scotian Students

Nova Scotia is investing in training to help address under-representation of Black/African Nova Scotians in the social work field and ease pressures on the healthcare and social service systems. Through the Africentric bachelor of social work pilot cohort program at Dalhousie University, 25 aspiring bachelor of social work professionals can learn as part of an Africentric cohort.
Read the press release

New pathway program to grow number of Indigenous students entering Dal undergraduate medical studies

Led by Dr. Brent Young, Academic Director for Indigenous Health, and supported by Keknu’tmasiek Welo’ltimk (pronounced: gag-new-d-muss-seeg well-oh-l-dim-k, a Mi’kmaw phrase that translates to “We Learn Healing”) Program Manager Ms. Hannah Asprey, this new admissions pathway will minimize the barriers that have prevented Indigenous applicants from entering medical school at Dalhousie.
Read more in Dal News

Foundation for inclusion and distinction

Dal deepens ties with Indigenous peoples by setting up physical office in Mi'kmaw community

Dal currently offers support for Indigenous students on its campuses in Halifax and Truro. But the new space brings Dal directly into the Millbrook community — a step that should help make the university feel more familiar.
Read more in Dal News

A confidential and impartial resource for students

The Ombudsperson Office is committed to educating the community and will endeavour to find ways to work together that recognize and challenge inequalities. The Office is available to all Dalhousie students for free, confidential, impartial, and independent support to help resolve any university-related concerns.

Office of Equity and Inclusion

Human Rights and Equity Services is pleased to offer some of our diversity and inclusion related workshops to the Dalhousie community. These open sessions will create opportunities for discussion, growth and community engagement.

Employment Equity

Employment Equity is a program designed to ensure that all job applicants and employees have a fair chance in the workplace. Dalhousie's Employment Equity Policy establishes the university’s commitment to employment equity and outlines how employment equity will be implemented throughout the university.

Dalhousie University Accessibility Plan

The Dalhousie University Accessibility Plan acknowledges the imperative to make Dalhousie fully accessible by removing barriers to education, employment, and research. We are committed to the work required to achieve this goal for our community.

Looking back in order to move forward

The Lord Dalhousie Scholarly Panel on Slavery and Race was established to examine the university's history with regard to slavery and race and recommend actions Dalhousie could take in response. Dalhousie University acknowledges our dual responsibility to address the legacies of anti-Black racism and slavery, while continuing to stand against anti-Black racism today.
Read the report