Overview
Diversity in Motion: Confidence, Courage, and Community is a transformative event focused on harnessing the power of diversity to build stronger, more inclusive communities. This event celebrates the unique perspectives and experiences that shape our world, while providing a platform for individuals to cultivate the confidence and courage needed to make a lasting impact.
Through inspiring keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, and interactive workshops, attendees will explore how diversity can be a powerful catalyst for building connection and fostering belonging. Participants will learn how to step into their full potential, develop the confidence to embrace their authentic selves, and find the courage to take bold action toward creating more inclusive spaces—whether at work, in their neighborhoods, or within their personal networks.
The event will spotlight the importance of community as a force for positive change, emphasizing how collaboration, empathy, and shared purpose can bring diverse groups together in pursuit of common goals. Together, we’ll examine real-world examples of communities overcoming adversity through collective strength, and offer tools to help individuals and organizations nurture the kind of environments where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Whether you’re looking to build stronger relationships, enhance your leadership capacity, or contribute to a more inclusive society, Diversity in Motion will provide the inspiration, resources, and connections needed to turn aspirations into action.
Territorial Acknowledgement: We respectfully acknowledge that this event occurs on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. We recognize and honour their ongoing relationship with the land and waters in this region.
Event Details
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria,BC V8W 9W2
Hosted by: Wear2Start Society
Event Highlights:
- Interactive breakout sessions
- Empowering storytelling sessions
This free event has limited space, so we encourage you to register early. Refreshments will be provided. Please consider supporting Wear2Start with a donation.
Disclaimer: Please note that some themes discussed during the event, may involve sensitive topics, including but not limited to personal adversity and trauma. We aim to create a supportive and respectful environment, but we encourage attendees to participate at their own comfort level. Please be assured that mental health resources will be available if anyone needs support during or after the event, ensuring you feel supported and cared for.
Speakers
Mayor Marianne Alto
City of Victoria
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto is a facilitator by trade with university degrees in law and science. A businesswoman active in community causes for decades, Marianne was first elected to Victoria City Council in 2010, and elected as Mayor in 2022.
As an advocate for equity, inclusion, and fairness, much of Mayor Alto’s work this term has centered around reconciliation, sustainable cities, housing, governance, relationship building, and community safety and wellbeing.
Tracey Drake
CEO, Royal BC Museum
Tracey Drake is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal BC Museum and Archives. Tracey has worked at the museum since 2021, and oversees Museum operations, BC Archives, and IMAX, as well as the critical work of reconciliation, repatriation, community engagement and PARC Campus – the provincial archives, collections, and research building capital project in Colwood.
Passionate about the organization’s mandate as a provincial institution, Tracey is focused on becoming a progressive and diverse museum for all British Columbians and stewarding the reimagining of the museum for future generations.
Prior to joining the Royal BC Museum, Tracey’s career in executive leadership and strategic management consulting spanned more than two decades, working with organizations across the tourism, cultural, and non-profit sectors. Deeply committed to community, Tracey has
served on numerous boards and was recognized nationally for her significant fundraising efforts in British Columbia.
Ashley MacDonald
Office Manager, Kopar Administration Wear2Start, Volunteer Coordinator,
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Annette Angell (They/Them)
Coordinator, Sexualized Violence Prevention Education and Support, University of Victoria
Annette (they/them) is a settler of Scottish, English & Polish ancestry raised on the lands of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation. After studying and working in cities across Turtle Island, Annette is now grateful to build a home and community on the unceded homelands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.
Annette has worked in the anti-violence sector for over a decade, supporting survivors of sexualized violence and families fleeing intimate partner violence in crisis support services, emergency shelters and transitional housing. In their approach to anti-violence work, Annette combines their experiences in harm reduction and trauma-centered care with a deep commitment to transformative and healing justice. Annette holds a JD/BCL from the Faculty of Law at McGill University.