This Giving Tuesday, over 182 donors gave to help make a safer and more inclusive Laurier

Dec. 5, 2022

#GivingTuesday 2022 at Laurier was a day for alumni, staff, faculty, parents and friends to come together to support efforts to foster a more inclusive Laurier community. 

This year, in the university’s first-ever EDI-focused campaign, more than 182 donors gave more than $57,000 (including matching funds generously donated by the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association) to support Laurier students.  

“On behalf of Laurier, I offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who joined me in making a donation this Giving Tuesday. Whether you gave to support the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion's highest priority needs or another area at the university, your gift will go directly to help Laurier in its efforts to ensure all of our students thrive," says Jason Coolman, Laurier’s vice-president of Advancement and External Relations.  

With the return to on-campus learning, the number of students registered with CSEDI groups and programs has grown rapidly this year. The centre is a collective of support staff and student-led services on Laurier’s Brantford and Waterloo campuses, including:   

• Association of Black Students (Waterloo) 
• Rainbow Centre (Waterloo)  
• Black Student Collective (Brantford)  
• Middle Eastern Association (Brantford) 
• Queer Sphere (Brantford)  
• Muslim Students’ Association (Waterloo and Brantford) 
• Student Advocates for Accessibility (Brantford) 
• Laurier Brantford Women’s Centre (Brantford)  
• Centre for Women and Trans People (Waterloo) 

The centre also provides support to Clubs and Associations under the Students’ Union, and individual students seeking support, collaborations or care on campus. 

With more support, CSEDI will be better able to meet the needs of Laurier’s increasingly diverse student population. The centre can continue to deliver educational programming across both Brantford and Waterloo campuses, connect students with accessibility resources, mental health supports, EDI education and affirming care and make much-needed updates to offerings like multi-faith prayer and communal gathering spaces.   

“My heart is so full and I am so grateful for the incredible support provided by the Laurier community,” says CSEDI manager Lauren Burrows (BA, ’14, MA, ’20). “Thanks to the support of so many, we will be able to do more to build a safer, more inclusive Laurier for all.”