Dear George Brown Community,
We continue to be saddened by the violence and the loss of lives unfolding in Israel and Gaza stemming from the Israel-Hamas war. At George Brown College, we firmly believe that violence against civilians and the promotion of hate should never be tolerated. Our thoughts are with both the Israeli and Palestinian communities, and we hope for a peaceful resolution.
We are aware of the potential for protests within Toronto related to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. As a result, Toronto Police Services (TPS) have increased their presence within the city to support public safety and wellbeing.
While the exact scale of these protests remains uncertain, we understand the potential for protests to be triggering and disruptive, particularly for members of our GBC community who have direct or indirect connections to the affected Israeli and Palestinian communities.
George Brown College firmly stands against all forms of hate, violence, antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism. We stand for an inclusive college community that respects the dignity, rights and responsibilities of all our members.
At George Brown, our policies and conduct codes promote safety and respectful dialogue. It's our collective duty to uphold these obligations.
As a diverse and inclusive community, we expect all our college members to demonstrate empathy for the emotional impact this is having on our community members who are directly affected and to treat one another with dignity. Our actions reflect our commitment to civil discourse and peaceful conflict resolution, a value that extends to global and local issues.
At George Brown, we remain committed to fostering our values of human rights and inclusion and ensuring safety for our diverse community members. Your safety is our utmost priority, and we are continuously monitoring the situation and encourage you to keep aware of the updates by Toronto Police Services and other official authorities.
For student and employee support, please note the following:
- If you are concerned about your or another person’s safety and security: Call GBC’s Safety & Security number: 416-415-4000, or 0 from a George Brown College internal Cisco phone, or the emergency text number 416-723-4761
- If you experience or witness discrimination or harassment: Contact OAREHRS at diversity@georgebrown.ca or svra@georgebrown.ca.
- If you are a student who needs counselling and support: Contact GBC Counselling and Student Wellbeing at letstalk@georgebrown.ca or 416-415-5000 ext. 5370.
- If you are an employee who needs counselling and support: Visit login.lifeworks.com and log in with the username GBC and the password wellness, or by phone at 1-844-880-9142.
In these challenging times, let us stand together with mutual support and respect – exhibiting that, our strength as a college community shines through with the hope for a peaceful resolution for all.
Dr. Gervan Fearon
President, George Brown College
