Surrounded by the remains of an Easter egg hunt and a lovely family dinner, I cried. It had happened again, on another holy day in a different sacred house.
Once again, our community is feeling the impact of people killed in the midst of worship, on one of the holiest days for Christians. The devastating attacks on people in churches and at hotels on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka are appalling and, like Christchurch, are an attack on all of us. We condemn these atrocities and stand with our Sri Lankan faculty, staff, and students – and all those affected – as they mourn losses within their extended family and friends.
UBC is committed to fighting hate and to ensuring a welcoming and respectful environment where we can all feel respected and supported no matter our faith. Discrimination, on any ground, including religious belief, is contrary to the values of the University. These values are supported and protected by UBC’s Policy #3: Discrimination & Harassment, the BC Human Rights Code, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
UBC welcomes students, staff, and faculty from across the world to our campus. As a university we are a global community, and we are committed, through our spaces of knowledge and learning, to enhance efforts that foster a more inclusive world.
I encourage all those affected by this event to access the resources and services available at UBC.
If you are concerned about your physical safety, please reach out to UBC Campus Security. For other supports, the following resources can assist you:
- UBC Counselling Services
- UBC Chaplains
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Human Rights Advisor, UBC Equity & Inclusion Office
- UBC Campus Security
The #UnitedforSriLanka vigil, organized via Facebook is scheduled to take place at Holland Park in Surrey at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22nd.
Sara-Jane Finlay, Associate Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion