Tribute to Kimberley Black

Sometimes, your resilience is challenged in unexpected ways. Sometimes, challenges present opportunities for people to step up and step in to help. Sometimes, this help reinforces your ability to confront challenges with courage and strength. My own community stepped in to lift me up, carry me through, and safely rest me on the other side of an unprecedented test of my resilience. Sometimes, all you can do is be grateful. Kimberley Black

Kimberley Black Graduate Scholarship

In the summer of 2020, Kimberley Black was violently attacked by a stranger while walking alone in her neighbourhood. Following the attack, Kimberley was diagnosed with global brain damage and placed in a week-long coma while awaiting reconstructive jaw surgery. On November 27, 2020 Kimberley successfully defended her Master’s thesis – just four months after the attack. Kimberley’s strength, resilience and courage are an inspiration to all women. She created purpose from her personal tragedy and is determined to use her experience to raise awareness about gender-based violence through her commitment to support other women.

To support Kimberley’s dedication to “give back” to the community that supported her through this difficult time, her education colleagues have organized a virtual 5k walk/run in support of a Graduate Scholarship. All proceeds from this walk/run will go towards the Kimberley Black Graduate Scholarship, to support a woman graduate student pursuing graduate studies at the Faculty of Education, who has demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

No woman should be afraid to take a walk alone.

• 50% of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence
• 67% of all Canadians say they have personally known at least one woman who has experienced physical or sexual abuse
• Indigenous women are killed at six times the rate of non-Indigenous women

For more facts about gender-based violence in Canada:
Gender-based violence and unwanted sexual behaviour in Canada, 2018