Trigger warning: the following message deals with an act of gender-based violence and may be disturbing.

I am deeply troubled by the acts of violence that occurred at the University of Waterloo yesterday afternoon.

Police in Ontario have confirmed the three stabbing victims received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and have stated this appears to be a hate-motivated crime related to gender expression and gender identity. This makes a disturbing act even more abhorrent, especially during Pride month.

UFV is not immune to forms of hatred; indeed, we have recently seen acts of vandalism against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community on the Abbotsford campus. UFV is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and safe environment and we stand united against violence and hate in any form. All members of our community are valued and welcomed.

University campuses must be safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces where all community members can express their identity and ideas while working, teaching, and learning in a peaceful environment. As a symbol of our commitment to inclusivity and solidarity we will continue to fly the Pride flag into July.

We know this type of event can be unsettling and difficult to process. If you are struggling to cope, please do not suffer alone. UFV has support resources available.

Students:

Counselling services are available through the UFV Counselling Services page.

Resources are available on the UFV Safe Student Community page.

Faculty, staff, and administration:

Contact UFV’s employee assistance provider, Homewood Health, in confidence by calling: 1-800-663-1142 or visit www.homewoodhealth.com.

Human Resources also offers Not Myself Today, an initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association. We encourage you to explore the resources, tools, and activities that are available online.

UFV also reminds you that Safety and Security’s mission is to make sure UFV’s campuses are safe and secure for everyone. UFV has a security operations centre that’s staffed 24 hours a day and four security offices across our campuses.

In an emergency you should:

Call 911 (9-911 from a UFV phone) or call UFV Safety and Security at 1-855-239-7654 (or local 7654 on campus).

I encourage you to support one another as we learn more about this crime in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Mandigo

Acting President and Vice-Chancellor