On June 10th, a delegation from the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles attended the Quebec National Assembly for the announcement of the winners of the "Pour un Québec sans racisme" awards. The award in the Public Sector category was presented to the Cégep in recognition of its ongoing commitment to inclusion, equity, and the fight against racism.
This award recognises the Cégep's comprehensive approach, which views education as a key driver in building a more inclusive, open and diversity-friendly society. The institution implements a range of educational and social initiatives designed to promote inclusion, centred on four complementary priorities.
Priority 1 - Developing an inclusive institutional culture
Kindness, inclusion, and commitment form the core of the Cégep's practices, as evidenced by its history, strategic planning, success plan, and annual reports. Its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is reflected in actions that promote equity, social justice, and the reduction of inequalities.
Priority 2 - Promoting inclusion and equitable access to qualifications
The Cégep has implemented a series of initiatives designed to facilitate access to education and support the success of people from diverse backgrounds. These initiatives are based on inclusive teaching approaches, intercultural activities and support services tailored to the needs of the student body. They help to promote equity in access to education across the region. For example, to facilitate the reception and integration of nurses qualified outside Canada, the Cégep has organised ten intercultural training sessions and workshops, as well as real-life' activities.
Priority 3 - Strengthening relations with First Nations communities and territorial inclusion
The Cégep delivers training programs, awareness-raising activities and educational initiatives that help bridge the gap between college education and the realities of First Nations communities, while supporting the recognition of First Nations knowledge and skills. Specifically, the Carleton-sur-Mer campus has developed a First Nations-Allied Campus' project, which includes several initiatives focused on mutual understanding and intercultural reconciliation. In addition, the Continuing Education department has set up a wind turbine maintenance course specifically tailored to the realities and context of these communities.
Priority 4 - Promoting intercultural openness and international cooperation
International cooperation projects and educational initiatives with an intercultural focus reflect the Cégep's ongoing commitment to global openness and inclusive development. Full-time students engage in work placement and study abroad opportunities through the Cégep's own international cooperation projects, with the support of several partners abroad and the Cégep's office in West Africa.
These initiatives demonstrate that a wide range of projects addressing various aspects of inclusion can, when taken together, create something truly distinctive. Éric Couillard, Director of Continuing Education at the Cégep, highlights the collective nature of this recognition:
"This award is a testament to the Cégep and its staff's sincere commitment to developing innovative initiatives that address various aspects of inclusion. We do not pretend to be perfect, but we can be proud of the collective efforts we put forth to take concrete action in providing inclusive, respectful, and meaningful learning environments."
The Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles will pursue its efforts to play an active role in building a fairer, more inclusive, and racism-free society.
