In this reflection on Cannexus, the national career-development conference, Ashleigh-Rae Thomas wonders how she and another participant could have such contrasting reactions to discussions of diversity in the workplace. Black, Indigenous, and racialized people all know well the importance of DEI efforts. But what about decision-makers and people in positions of power who feel nonchalant toward, or even attacked by, equity initiatives in the workplace?

Earlier this year, I attended a national career-development conference, Cannexus, for the very first time. There was a huge focus on diversity in the workplace.

Throughout the sessions I sat in the first morning, speakers presented ideas about what the future of work in Canada could be, noting that workers are more queer, more diverse, and getting older. At one session about Indigenous workers, I learned about the “hands back, hands forward” model, which embodies the concept of receiving past teachings and passing these on to future generations in sustainable ways. Each session, including an inspiring keynote, underscored the importance of diversity in the workplace and seemed to pose this question: how can we keep up with an increasingly diverse workforce across the country?

As a (young) Black woman, these ideas resonated with me. That others were talking about issues I have experienced left me feeling invigorated and optimistic.

My feeling of hopefulness didn’t last very long, though. At lunch, I sat beside an older white man who had also attended the inspiring (to me) keynote. He complained to a woman beside him that he was no longer attending sessions about race or mental health. “It’s all the same thing over and over,” he said. “My white guilt is at an all-time high. Everything is the ‘white man’s’ fault.”

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Source : The Philanthropist Journal, Ashleigh Rae-Thomas, 6 juin 2023