Equity at York University has been shaped by the acts and advocacy of many.
A new participatory history-telling project invites staff, students, faculty, alumni, retirees and partners to share pivotal events and experiences that have marked York’s progress toward equity.
The University will use submissions from community members to create the York Equity Timeline (YET), a digital timeline charting York’s path toward greater equity across the University.
Led by Laina Bay-Cheng, vice-president equity, people and culture (VPEPC), the York Equity Timeline will be created using the events, initiatives and moments – referred to as milestones – that York participants identify as meaningful. When the timeline launches in early 2026, everyone will be invited to respond to and reflect on the milestones, and identify other key moments that should be added.
“Recounting how equity has evolved at York since the University’s founding is not only about reporting facts and events, it is an opportunity to consider our University’s distinct roots, values and culture,” says Bay-Cheng, who will serve as interim provost and vice-president academic beginning Jan. 1, 2026. “Creating the timeline using contributions from community members is important because there is not just one single story of equity’s evolution at York. The timeline should reflect the diversity and dynamism of the University.”
Shared milestones can reflect incremental changes or bold initiatives. These moments could focus on a particular social issue, identity group or an academic/staff unit at York, or could have broader, cross-cutting relevance and impact.
The YET website will showcase key events and initiatives that have shaped York, and will allow community members to browse milestones, share feedback, suggest new entries and reflect on the future of equity at the University. Milestones will be tagged for easy filtering and visitors can join an equity listserv or contribute additional materials.
Oliver Martin, director of workplace restoration and culture at York’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, says YET will be a powerful reminder of how every voice helps drive change.
“I see the York Equity Timeline as more than a record of events – it’s an opportunity to listen deeply and reflect on the moments that have shaped us,” says Martin. “When we make space for honest stories, including the hard truths, we create conditions for real cultural change that can helps us be better together.”
The project upholds York’s commitment to track its equity-focused efforts and progress, as outlined in the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (DEDI) Strategy.
“Our hope is that the York Equity Timeline will offer a different way to engage with and understand the steps we have taken as a University toward becoming more equitable,” says Amy Gaukel, senior executive officer in VPEPC and key contributor to the DEDI strategy. “This different approach to communicating impact will also help us see the path forward, and that, like the DEDI Strategy, will live in a way that grows and changes along with our communities, priorities and circumstances.”
Anyone who identifies as part of York’s wider community is invited to contribute by Dec. 12.
Submissions are confidential but require your name and connection to York to ensure the timeline is community-built. Those interested can contribute by:
- visiting the York Equity Timeline page;
- scanning the QR code on the project flyer and campus LCD screens; or
- emailing equity@yorku.ca.