Third National Anti-racism Summit

Keynote speaker Josephine Etowa PhD, RN, RM, FWACN, FAAN

Dr Josephine Etowa is a Full Professor & past chair of the Loyer-DaSilva Research in Public Health Nursing and OHTN in Black Women’s HIV Prevention and care at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa. She is a past president of the Health Association of African Canadians. Her research focuses on inequities in health and healthcare with emphasis on women’s health, perinatal health, HIV/AIDS, nurses’ worklife, community health nursing and the health of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) Canadians.

She is a community-engaged scholar with extensive projects on inequities in health and healthcare including perinatal health, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, nurses’ work life, community health nursing, and the health of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) Canadians. Her research studies are informed by an intersectionality lens and Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach. Her research projects have been funded by international, national, provincial and local agencies and these projects are guided by the tenets of qualitative research and participatory action research (PAR). In an effort to explicate the complexities of the social realities often embedded in nursing research, she also uses mixed research methods including integration of both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Her employment history spans across international boundaries and as a registered nurse (RN), a midwife, a lactation consultant, a researcher and an educator, Dr Etowa has worked in various capacities within the Canadian health care system. Before her appointment as a professor at University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, she worked as an Associate Professor of Nursing at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health Professions. She holds an honorary appointment with the IWK Health Centre, Halifax Nova Scotia.

Dr Etowa urges everyone to continue to engage in the important work of dismantling anti-Black and structural racism all year round. Engaging in anti-racism work happens every day, not only in February, so she and her team will continue to engage in and advocate for anti-racism research, practice and policies especially in Ottawa where the population of ACB people is growing at a fast rate. She is a transformational leader in health equity, antiracism, and community empowerment research within Canada and internationally.

Speaker Amie Archibald-Varley RN, BScN, MN- CP Women’s Health

Amie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Brunswick in Nursing and her Master’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Toronto (U of T). She also completed a collaborative Master’s degree program with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at U of T in Women’s Health. Amie is a dynamic speaker, advocate and activist for nursing as a profession, mental health, health equity, Women’s health and Women’s rights. Her Master’s degree focused on the mental health of postpartum Women and transgender medicine. She has worked as a nurse in many roles; Labour and Delivery Nurse, Maternal Child Nurse, Educator, Professional Practice Clinician, College/University Faculty and in Quality Improvement. Amie has co-moderated and facilitated many discussions in Advancing Health Equity. She brings communities together through “courageous conversations” on anti-racism and anti-black racism in healthcare.

Speaker Sara Fung RN, BScN, MN, IBCLC, CAPM

Sara received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western University and her Master of Nursing from the University of Toronto. She is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). She has been practicing as a registered nurse since 2007. Her expertise is in maternal child health, with clinical experience in obstetrics and the NICU. She has worked in both academic and community hospitals and home health as a bedside nurse, educator, advanced practice nurse and professional practice specialist. In addition to working full time, she is also a mother of 2, resume writer/interview coach, and podcaster! Sara is passionate about issues such as bullying and incivility, anti-Asian racism, diversity and inclusion, and helping nurses find their career paths in a profession with so many opportunities!

Speaker Ovie Onagbeboma Founder, Executive Director

Ovie, a nationally recognized business leader, has garnered significant recognition for her outstanding contributions. In 2024, she was honoured among the "100 African Black Caribbean Accomplished Canadian Women," acknowledging her exemplary achievements in various fields.

Ovie's professional journey as a Lean Six Sigma belt-certified nurse leader and Research Associate at the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University showcases her dedication to excellence. Her role as an advisor to the Chief Nursing Officer of Canada reflects her influence in shaping policies and a toolkit on nursing retention. This collaboration with Health Canada in co-developing the National Nursing Retention ToolKit exemplifies her commitment to addressing critical challenges in the healthcare industry.

Identifying a gap in healthcare delivery, Ovie took proactive steps to create positive change. Under her leadership, the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA) has evolved into a transformative national organization. The CBNA has significantly impacted Black nurses, nursing students, and critical allies, expanding its reach by establishing chapters in multiple provinces and institutions. Ovie's leadership has positioned the CBNA as a leading advocate, amplifying the voices of Black nurses nationwide.

Moderator Nadia Prendergast RN, PhD

Nadia Prendergast has been actively involved in creating strategies and approaches on ways to address racism within the classroom and clinical settings. She currently sits as an advisor for the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Student Nurses Association on addressing racism within nursing. Since migrating from England to Canada, Prendergast has worked as a public health nurse, a clinical case coordinator and childbirth educator. She completed her master’s, and PhD in education and women’s studies from OISE, at the University of Toronto. Her area of research focused on the lived experiences of internationally educated nurses of colour working within Canada’s multiculturalism practices. As a triple Crown recipient of Toastmasters, Dr. Prendergast’s areas of interests reside in primary health care, community development, women’s health, and race and equity studies. Her aim is to rupture all forms of racism while empowering activism in the classroom and therefore create a positive future for the generations to come.

Panelist Margot Latimer RN, PhD

Dr. Margot Latimer is a settler Canadian with Scottish ancestry. She lives and works on the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq. She is a Professor in the Faculty of Health and is cross appointed in the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie University. Margot is the CIHR Research Chair in Indigenous Health Nursing in Nova Scotia and holds a scientific appointment at IWK Health in Halifax. Since 2008 she has been working closely with First Nation communities to mobilize Indigenous knowledge to improve health care experiences. Margot co-leads several CIHR funded projects with community researchers, including the “Aboriginal Children’s Hurt and Healing” Initiative, the Chronic Pain Network, and the L’nu Nursing Initiative.

Panelist Jennifer Lapum PhD, MN, BScN, RN

Dr. Jennifer Lapum is a full professor in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Dr. Lapum is a Registered Nurse with a clinical background in critical care nursing. Over the last 10 years, she has been dedicated to producing open educational resources (OER) with a focus on social justice issues and democratizing knowledge. As part of her OER work, Dr. Lapum has both led and collaborated with teams to produce resources focused on inclusive health assessment practices, communication, documentation, and anti-racism. She is also keenly interested in issues surrounding patient-centered care, empathy, and compassion within technologically dominated environments of care. Her program of research is focused on ensuring that the 7,024th patient does not feel like the 7,024th patient. Dr. Lapum has an arts-based and narrative program of research and uses media such as poetry, visual images, installation art, and dance to facilitate knowledge translation and a deep understanding of illness and human experiences within her research and teaching pedagogy.

Panelist Heather Bensler RN, MSN, EdD

Heather Bensler joined the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary in August 2017 as a tenure- track assistant professor (teaching) and the Director of Indigenous Initiatives with a focus on faculty and curriculum development. She is the Assistant Dean Academic Partnerships for the Faculty of Nursing. She is responsible for ongoing development, sustainment, and extension of collaborative partnerships with rural and Indigenous academic partners in the profession of undergraduate nursing educational programs. Dr. Bensler is dedicated to improving culturally safe practices that recognize and respect the unique cultural identity of Indigenous people.

Speaker Laurent Martel

Laurent Martel is the director of the Centre for Demography at Statistics Canada. He leads many key statistical programs of the agency: demographic estimates and projections, demographic and linguistic characteristics included in the census of population, as well as linguistic statistics. He has a master’s degree in demography from the Université de Montréal, as well as an advanced 3rd cycle university degree in economic demography from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris.

Speaker Dzifa Dordunoo PhD, RN

Dzifa Dordunoo is native of Dzodze, Ghana, and is an esteemed educator, researcher and leader with over two decades of experience. She is one of the co-founders and the inaugural president of the Coalition of African, Caribbean and Black Nurses in BC. She is a practitioner with over 20 years of varied clinical experience working in general medicine and coronary care units and outpatient clinics. As a scholar and researcher, she has a strong research interest in improving access and quality of health services. Her program of research leverages dissemination and implementation science with patient-centered lens to address factors that influence quality and safety of care and outcomes, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Panelist Dawn Googoo RN, MN

Dawn Googoo is a Mi’kmaq Registered Nurse with a Master of Nursing. She is from We’koqma’q L’nue’kati (formally known as Waycobah First Nation). During their education and career as a medic and nurse, she has encountered many obstacles and opportunities that have helped her to see the need to increase knowledge about the Indigenous people and culture in this country. This knowledge could improve access and health for Indigenous people along with increasing Indigenous presence in nursing education and the profession. Dawn enjoys sharing stories to create an understanding of the barriers and ways that we can move forward together. The Canadian history still impacts the resistance people hold to learn about the Indigenous people. Without knowing, one is without caring in the way that is needed. Dawn is a dedicated advocate for the health of Indigenous people, including support for the success of Indigenous people in the health professions, particularly nursing. Dawn’s role within the NS Research Chair in Indigenous Health Nursing involves gathering evidence that supports Indigenous People to access culturally safe nursing education and health services.

Panelist Holly Murphy MN, RN BScN, CPMHN(C), Advanced Practice Leader, Trauma Informed Care

Holly Murphy is an experienced advanced practice lead and has enjoyed various roles throughout her career from clinical care, professional practice, patient safety and management. Holly is skilled in and dedicated to Trauma Informed Care and believes we all play an important role in creating trauma informed environments to improve equity-related outcomes and create meaningful systemic change.

Panelist Janet Montague RN, MN, PhD Candidate

Janet Montague (She/Her/Hers) is a Nursing Professor and Coordinator at Centennial College and teaches in the Toronto Metropolitan, Centennial, George Brown Collaborative Nursing Degree program. Janet is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at Western University. Her doctoral dissertation explores Black students’ experiences of belonging in nursing education through the lens of Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. Beyond her dissertation work, Janet’s scholarly interests encompass many areas, including direct teaching outcomes, championing anti-racist pedagogies, nursing students’ sense of belonging, student transition, mentorship, and promoting students’ success. Her contributions to nursing education and research are a testament to her dedication to fostering a culture of belonging within nursing education and paving the way for more equitable and inclusive learning environments.

Janet is involved in various volunteer activities and committees within her community and the nursing profession. She is President-elect and Board member for the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario (RNFOO), Co-chairs the Canadian Association Schools of Nursing (CASN) Anti-racism Committee and the CASN Social Justice and Anti-racism Nurse Educator Interest Group, Co-Director of Student Engagement of the Pan-Canadian Association of Nurses of African Descent (PCANAD) and is a past Board of Directors for the Jamaican Canadian Association of Nurses (JCAN). Janet is also an expert panel member in developing RNAO’s best practice guideline (BPG) on Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Nursing. Her dedication to causes that promote equity, anti-racism, and social justice further exemplifies her commitment to making a meaningful impact within the nursing profession.

Moderator Nikki Porter-Hunter RN, BScN

Nikki Rose is a Sťuxtéwsemc (Secwépemc) nurse currently residing in the unceded territory of Secwépemc'ulucw, specifically Tk’emlups te Secwépemc in Kamloops, British Columbia. Nikki Rose holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Nursing in advanced practice leadership, specializing in Indigenous health, Indigenous nursing leadership, and Indigenous research methodologies.

Nikki Rose brings years of clinical practice and research experience working with Indigenous communities in both rural and remote areas. Her dedication is centered on advancing the parallel pathways of health and wellness, harmonizing both Western and Indigenous approaches, practices, and perspectives. In her role as Clinical Nurse Specialist, Indigenous Cultural Safety with BC Cancer, Nikki Rose is committed to supporting a collective dedication to reconciliation, advancing Indigenous cultural safety, and actively contributing to the eradication of Indigenous-specific racism within healthcare systems.