Date: March 31, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. AT

Location: Microsoft Teams Link (Note: the link will be shared with all registrants prior to the event.)

Register HERE.

On Monday, March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility, the Office of Alumni Relations will host Mica Daurie, founder of Transgender/Non-Binary Rights Advocacy Nova Scotia (T.R.A.N.S.), along with Allison Smith, Director of Human Rights and Human Rights Education at Acadia, as they chat with Executive Director, Alumni Relations Oonagh Proudfoot (’93, ’06).

The conversation will explore the significance of celebrating trans rights and importance of providing support in the face of challenges experienced by members of the 2STGNC+ (2-spirit, trans, gender non-conforming) community. Allison will share insights on the development of supports on campus, while Mica will discuss her advocacy work in Nova Scotia. Attendees are encouraged to come ready to ask questions.

Speaker bios:

Mica Daurie

Mica Daurie (she/her) is a 2SLGBTQIA+ community advocate and thought leader with years of experience in spaces like government public service, legal and legislative services, corporate services, event planning, and a wealth of government and community DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) work.

Mica has held roles such as Court Administrator, Election Area Officer (Planning), City Hall Legislative Support, Administrative Coordinator for Council Support, Board of Inquiry Administrator for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, and more. Mica has smashed glass ceilings as the first openly transgender woman to work at Halifax City Hall, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, and much more.

Mica is a radical forward thinker who has brought difficult and thought-provoking conversations to every space she has been in. Her work is approached from her lived experience as a queer transgender woman raised here in K'jipuktuk, and her services are offered in a manner that is accessible, inclusive, restorative, decolonized, and culturally competent. Mica has training in Gender Based Analysis+, Restorative Practices, Trauma Informed Care, French language at Université Sainte-Anne, and more. She works with a variety of leaders cross-province to create safer spaces for 2SLBTQIA+ folks. Mica also serves on the Board of Executives for the Local Council of Women Halifax.

Allison Smith

Allison Smith (she/they) is an Adjunct Professor in Acadia’s Law and Society program and Acadia’s Director of Human Rights and Human Rights Education. Allison has a law degree from Dalhousie University and has built a career focused on human rights, gender equality, restorative dispute resolution, and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. Before coming to Acadia, Allison worked at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission as a Human Rights Officer. Allison is the author of numerous publications focused on human rights, diversity, and inclusion published by the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia.

Resources

An introductory guide to terminology, pronouns, and other important parts of allyship: https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/trans-101

The Moving Beyond the Binary publication, which provides information about human rights, navigating pronoun and name updates, and creating welcoming spaces for Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary, and other gender diverse people: https://www.legalinfo.org/beyondthebinary

A short video based on Moving Beyond the Binary that features folks from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Nova Scotia speaking about why gender inclusion matters: https://youtu.be/_HPGOIdNPto?si=YbqRf9JNc3JPMSen