What moments have shaped equity at York University – and which ones are still waiting to be told?
The York Equity Timeline (YET) brings together community-identified milestones from across the University’s history in an interactive resource designed to grow through participation.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees can explore the timeline, engage with York’s equity journey and contribute perspectives that can help the timeline continue to grow.
Built with contributions from York community members, the timeline captures experiences and developments that have helped shape equity at York. Milestones range from incremental changes to bold initiatives and may relate to particular social issues, identity groups, academic or staff units, or have broader relevance across the University.
The project builds on a community consultation launched in 2025 that invited submission of events, initiatives and experiences.
The digital timeline allows visitors to navigate an interactive collection of key moments across York's history, search by topic and learn more about the events, initiatives and experiences included.
Community members can provide instant feedback on milestones by selecting a reaction, sharing reflections and suggesting additions.
Feedback is reviewed by the YET team and helps inform the timeline’s continued development of an engaging living resource that encourages storytelling, connection and dialogue across generations of the York community.
The project traces its roots back to York's founding vision. At his installation as the University's first president, Murray Ross described York as a "new university" with a responsibility to foster social progress, critical thinking and human development. The timeline invites community members to consider how that vision has taken shape through decades of collective action.
"This timeline, created by York community members, charts the University's path toward equity, starting with its founding," says Laina Bay-Cheng, interim provost and vice-president academic, who led the project in her former role as vice-president equity, people and culture.
"I hope it helps people reflect on how far we've come, celebrates moments where York has led the way and reinforces the next steps toward equity.”
The project supports York’s commitment to advancing decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion across the institution. It recognizes the work reflected in York’s DEDI Strategy while highlighting the decades of contributions from the community who have helped shape a more equitable University.
"The timeline is a creative way to bring together different perspectives on what equity means, how we can advance it and how we measure progress across the York community," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president, equity, people and culture.
"I hope it helps build a shared sense of pride and belonging and encourages people to stay involved."
For Bay-Cheng, one of the strengths of the project lies in its ability to place individual moments within a broader story of institutional change.
"I know from my own research how meaningful life history calendar methodologies can be. Creating a timeline isn't just about identifying events, it's a chance to see past experiences in context: what came before, what was going on at the same time and what came after," she says.
"The timeline allows us to understand the history of equity at York and to consider what we want it to be in the future."
The York Equity Timeline is a living project that grows through community participation. While it captures many significant moments in York's history, community members are encouraged to continue contributing milestones, stories and perspectives that help tell a fuller story of the University's ongoing pursuit of equity.
Explore the York Equity Timeline.