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Training,
Workshops and
Facilitation
The Office of Community and Belonging offers educational workshops, presentations and facilitated learning experiences focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging for MRU students, faculty and staff.
Whether you are looking for a guest presentation for your class, a learning opportunity for your department or team, or a customized session designed around a specific topic or need, we can work with you to create an engaging and meaningful learning experience.
Sessions can be incorporated into classrooms, departmental meetings, team gatherings, retreats, professional development opportunities and other learning environments. Offerings can range from brief presentations to more interactive, in-depth workshops and can be adapted based on your audience, learning goals, available time and context.
This training is an optional offering available to individuals and departments across campus.
Examples of Training, Workshop and Facilitation Topics
The following are examples of topics that may be explored through OCB workshops, presentations and facilitated learning experiences.
Explore how bias, assumptions and microaggressions can impact our interactions, decisions and experiences of belonging. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own perspectives and consider practical ways to respond more thoughtfully and intentionally.
Explore what helps people feel safe to ask questions, share ideas, make mistakes and contribute authentically. This session considers practical ways to foster greater trust, openness and inclusion in classrooms, teams and other learning or work environments.
Explore how culture can influence communication, expectations, behaviours and ways of working with others. This session supports participants in building greater awareness and adaptability when engaging across cultural differences.
Build greater awareness of how systems, identities and lived experiences can shape access, opportunity and belonging. Sessions may introduce foundational concepts or focus more deeply on specific topics depending on the audience and learning goals.
Explore how the words we use, the assumptions we make and the ways we communicate can shape people's experiences of inclusion and belonging. Participants will learn practical inclusive language techniques and communication practices they can apply in everyday interactions.
Explore what meaningful allyship can look like in everyday situations. Participants consider how to move beyond good intentions and take practical action to support greater inclusion, equity and belonging.
Customized Learning Experiences
Have a particular topic, audience or learning need in mind?
The examples above are just a starting point. We can work directly with you to understand your goals and design a learning experience tailored to your team, class, or department.
Explore a Training Opportunity
Interested in bringing a workshop or learning experience to your classroom, team or department? Contact the Education and Development Specialist at njessa@mtroyal.ca or complete the form below.
Testimonials
"I cannot recommend Narissa's (Education and Development Specialist) training enough. Narissa hosted an Inclusive Advising session for the Academic Advising team, and the advisors found the session highly engaging, relevant, and impactful. The training incorporated thoughtful real-world examples that were well grounded in the concepts being discussed, while the breakout conversations created meaningful opportunities for reflection, discussion, and participation. The emotional and thought-provoking videos also left a lasting impression on many attendees. Even for those already familiar with the topics, the session served as a valuable refresher and reinforced the importance of continued learning and awareness.”
- April McNulty, Instructor, General Education | Training, Development and Continuous Improvement Specialist, Academic Advising
“We were so excited to have Narissa guest lecture in HPED 1020 - Leadership and Communication. Specifically, Narissa created and taught a class on inclusive communication. She ensured the information met the objectives of the class, tailored the content to our students, and created an engaging and interactive lesson and shared resources for students to continue their learning. Students spoke highly of the information delivered and how it will help them consider inclusive communication. We are already planning to have Narissa back next year!”
- Dr. Julie Booke, Department of Health and Physical Education
“Narissa from the Office of Community and Belonging visited the Internal Public Relations & Member Engagement class and shared meaningful insights into MRU's EDI efforts. She reminded students that as organizational members and future PR professionals, they have a real opportunity and also responsibility to champion diversity and belonging in every organization they are part of.”
- PUBR3843, Internal PR and Member Engagement, Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation
“Moussa and Narissa took some time to share their experiences with my Diversity and Education class in the fall. Thank you for sharing space with the teacher candidates to explore intercultural communication, systemic racism and culture in such meaningful ways. Your insights encouraged deeper reflection on how cultural assumptions, bias, values, and lived experiences shape how the world is perceived and experienced, particularly within school settings. It really helped set the tone for the course and influenced the honest conversations, reflection, and learning that continued in the classes that followed.”
- Joy Pablo-Wrzosek, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health, Community and Education