Regional Vice Presidents Carol Osborne and Laurie Ann Wesselby attended the African Canadian Experience (ACE) Workshop held in Upper Hammonds Plains from November 3 – 6, 2025.
By way of background, the RCMP’s African Canadian Experience (ACE) Workshop was created in 2018, by five employees of “H” Division.
The workshop seeks to “raise awareness about diversity in the workplace and equips individual employees with the knowledge and skills needed to proactively and effectively support a workplace that is inclusive, diverse, free of discrimination and Anti-Black Racism. The workshop also assists those in understanding obstacles and negative circumstances faced by those in the African Canadian Community.”
As stated by the organizers, “The African Canadian Experience is one which is steeped in culture, tradition and discrimination. Participants are immersed in an interactive experience on topics such as The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children Restorative Inquiry, Africville and a community panel which allows for open dialogue and sharing of experiences.
In addition, workshop participants receive training from subject matter experts on the topics of Black Canadian history, Anti-Black Racism, Unconscious Bias, White Privilege, Scenario Based Training, the Canadian Education System and their impacts on the African Canadian Community.
RVPs Osborne and Wesselby were honoured to attend this workshop and encourage anyone who can attend to do so.
The workshop is engaging and inspiring. The facilitators have created a workshop that not only provides a history, but they have developed an environment for participants to better understand the obstacles faced by the African Canadian Community. This will assist the RVPs in their role as union representatives and in their own personal development. They cannot thank the ACE Team enough for such a powerful experience.
It should be noted that two of the creators/facilitators are also USJE Members, Shelly Braithwaite and Dana Colley-Provo from the RCMP; USJE Local 80002 in Halifax, NS.
Over 650 Participants across Canada have taken the in-person workshop. Participants consist of RCMP employees of all categories, as well as Municipal policing agencies, Federal and Provincial Public Safety Employees and African Canadian Stakeholders across Canada.