Thoughtfully planned celebrations play a vital role in team building, boosting morale, and fostering an inclusive workplace. They create opportunities for team members to connect, learn from one another, and build a sense of belonging. When approached with intention, celebrations can become a meaningful part of your team’s culture of inclusion.
But with so many possibilities, how do we decide why, what, when, and how to celebrate?
Inclusive celebrations can take many forms. A well-rounded approach often includes a mix of the following:
- Milestones: Recognizing individual, team, or organizational achievements—such as project launches, anniversaries, or key accomplishments.
- Cultural, religious, and traditional: Celebrations like Rosh Hashanah, Chinese New Year, Sundance ceremonies, Christmas, Diwali, or Eid al-Fitr.
- Solidarity and commemoration: Participating in observances such as:
- Black History Month (February)
- International Women’s Day (March 8)
- Pride Month (June)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
- World Mental Health Day (October 10)
- Remembrance Day (November 11)
Engage your team in the planning process. Invite input on what to celebrate and how. Clarify the purpose of each gathering—whether it’s for learning, connection, recognition, solidarity, or some other purpose. Ask if anyone would like to lead or share a celebration that’s meaningful to them, or if they prefer to celebrate privately.
Consider attending events together at the university or in the community to show support and build shared experiences. Build in accessibility considerations so no one is inadvertently excluded and consider offering a land acknowledgement when appropriate.
Additional tips for inclusive planning:
- Share organizing work equitably by rotating responsibilities among team members.
- Send a thoughtful invitation that outlines the purpose, engagement expectations, and any preparation needed.
- Make participation optional.
- Offer a variety of food and drink options to accommodate dietary needs.
- Choose a time that won’t exclude team members with care responsibilities or other considerations.
- Check cultural event calendars to choose a date that won’t clash with other important observances or celebrations that are important to team members.
- Ask for feedback to continuously improve future celebrations.
For a deeper dive into planning meaningful gatherings, I highly recommend The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker.
For more information about this article or concrete measures to strengthen inclusion and equity in your lab or research program, please contact Joanne Garcia-Moores at jmoores@uoguelph.ca.
