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Join us for our next SASS @ Ban Righ Centre drop-in session, Thursday March 26 from 11:30am-1pm in the BRC Lounge. An Academic Skills & Writing Specialist from Student Academic Success Services (SASS) will be available to chat about any questions you might have about writing or studying.

*event is for mature women students and students mothers @ Queen's

SASS provides academic skills and writing support to Queen’s students at every level. Their staff is made up of experts from across the fields of writing, learning, and education

In partnership with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services, “The Weight of Care: Beyond Balance in Academic Life” opens a conversation about caregiving, boundaries, healthy relationships, and safety in the university community. Together we'll reflect on how care work is distributed, valued, and experienced and what it means to move beyond the idea of “balance” towards more sustainable and supportive approaches.

Join the conversation with our panelists, Dr. Rebecca Hall, Global Development Studies, Dr. Halima Wali, Meghan Mendelin, PhD candidate in Global Development Studies, and moderated by Rebecca Rappeport, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Services. This event will be held on March 11, 2026 from 12-1pm at at the Ban Righ Centre (32 Bader Lane). 

lunch and light refreshments will be available. Please arrive 15-20 minutes early if you wish to have lunch

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall is Associate Professor and Graduate Chair in the Department of Global Development Studies at Queen’s University. As a feminist political economist concerned with social justice, her research has examined the gendered dynamics of resource extraction in Canada; social reproduction and caring labours; ongoing processes of settler colonialism; and gender violence. Her forthcoming book, Life Time: Care Under the Clock, examines the tension between our caring commitments and the compulsions of capitalism. In it, Rebecca combines scholarly analysis with personal narrative. The book will be published by McClelland & Stewart (Penguin RandomHouse) in 2027. Rebecca lives with her partner, two children and two cats in the Skeleton Park neighbourhood.

Halima Wali

Halima Wali is a researcher and educator whose work focuses on women’s lived experiences of education, with particular attention to the structural and social barriers that shape access and opportunity. As a recent PhD graduate from Queen’s University and a former student mother, her experiences navigating caregiving responsibilities alongside academic work inform her interest in care, emotional labour, and the institutional cultures that shape how support is offered or withheld within university spaces. Her research centers the voices of women in Northern Nigeria and explores how education is experienced by those who are often expected to carry multiple roles of care while also meeting institutional expectations.

Meghan Mendelin

Meghan Mendelin is a PhD candidate in the department of Global Development Studies at ���˴�Ƭ. Her doctoral research project uses feminist political economy and social reproduction frameworks to examine the role of community-based non-profit organizations in contemporary Canada. Focusing on the child care sector, she researches how advocacy groups and daycare providers navigate and resist the undervaluation and invisibilization of their work under neoliberal austerity.

Rebecca Rappeport

Rebecca joined the Human Rights and Equity Office in 2022, bringing over 15 years of community development expertise to her role as the SVPR Education and Outreach Coordinator. As a central figure in sexual violence prevention and response education, Rebecca plays a vital role in supporting students affected by sexual violence. With a B.A. in International Development focused on Gender from the University of Guelph and an M.A. in International Affairs from NPSIA, where she specialized in sexual violence prevention in development contexts, Rebecca is deeply committed to her work. Her approach is rooted in intersectionality and anti-oppression, drawing on extensive experience in sexual violence prevention, survivor support, reproductive health, and youth advocacy. Rebecca's dedication to advancing innovative, evidence-based prevention and awareness education is at the heart of her contributions to the HREO and the community she serves. 

Taking Care of Your Mind, Body and Spirit: Strategies for Well Being

Join us to discuss what being well really means for you and to share some skills and routines that have helped you make it through the winter.

Date: Wednesday March 4
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM (online)

To register, email Taylor Cenac

Come to join the conversation or just to listen; all mature women students and recent graduates are invited to attend.

If you are a Muslim student on campus and need a quiet place to meditate or pray throughout Ramadan, we are holding space on the 2nd floor for this purpose. You are welcome to use the space Monday - Friday, between 9 – 4 from February 18 to March 19.

We have a prayer mat available for use.

For a list of other prayer and meditation spaces at Queen’s, visit the Queen's Faith and Spiritual Life website.

Thinking of someone special for Valentine's Day? Make your own Valentine's Day card at the Ban Righ Centre between February 10-13th from 10am-2pm! This program is for mature women students at Queen's.

Idorenyin's West African Palm Nut Soup

Palm nut is a primary staple in every household in West Africa. Palm nut is also crucial the economy of West Africa through export primarily to the ‘Global North’. Palm nut soup is known by different names across Western Africa.  You can call it banga, Abak, Abentwan, ofe akwu, sauce graine, deku dessi, etc. This soup is very warm and comforting. It has very healthy fat and has the ability to lower and maintain one’s blood sugar house in the village. Her grandmother had a large Atama leaf tree, the vegetable that is cooked along with palm nut soup. Idorenyin’s grandmother had palm plantations and was involved in Palm oil production, processing, and sales, so the ingredients were always very accessible to cook. Idorenyin fell in love with the soup-the texture, warmth and distinct taste it brings.

Idorenyin is a 4th year PhD candidate in Cultural Studies. Her research interest is on socio-cultural impact of the extraction of critical mineral resources in the Niger Delta and the Northwest Territories. Idorenyin sees cooking as an art that is very spiritual--it connects you with your ancestors. For Idorenyin, cooking is a spiritual journey, to create something that warms the body and uplifts the soul. She learnt to cook from the women around her: her mum, grandmother, and aunties. As an immigrant in Canada, cooking her native soup, fosters a sense of belonging and continued connection to home.

Mélinda’s “Soup Joumou”

Soup joumou is a Haitian squash-based dish typically eaten on January 1st to mark Haiti's Independence Day. Once a dish that enslaved people were forced to prepare but forbidden from eating, it has become a powerful reminder of the spirit of the Haitian Revolution and a symbol of freedom throughout the diaspora. Made in large batches and meant to be shared, the soup emphasizes community and togetherness. Every year, my grandmother cooks it from memory, tasting and adjusting as she goes before distributing it to friends and family. While the traditional recipe includes beef, it varies from household to household. This vegan version preserves the core flavors of soup joumou while offering a plant-based take on the beloved dish.

Mélinda Pierre-Paul Cardinal is a PhD student in Gender Studies at Queen’s University. She holds a BFA and MA in Art History and a Graduate Diploma in Communications from Concordia University. Her research adopts a Black feminist framework and interdisciplinary methods to examine contemporary visual art and aesthetics by Black women from across the diaspora, exploring themes of Black survival and liberation. Outside of academia, she enjoys trying new Caribbean restaurants with friends and family.

Amelework and Hiwot’s “Dinich Wot”

The spicy Ethiopian potato stew, ‘Dinich Wot’, is a flavourful, staple, and accessible dish that fits well within fasting cuisine. The stew foundation comes from berbere, Ethiopia’s signature spice blend, which infuses the potatoes with rich warmth and medium heat. Potato stew is served as part of an Ethiopian meal alongside injera, where its bold, spicy character complements the tangy flatbread beautifully. It is culturally significant as the potato is affordable and easy to find in every market, and the stew can be shared among family and friends.

Amelework Emirie is a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Studies. When she was a child, she used to watch her mom and aunt cook. She started cooking simple dishes at the age of 12. Since then, she has enjoyed cooking.

Hiwot Andualem is a PhD student in Rehabilitation Science at Queen’s University. Beyond my academic work, she enjoys cooking simple recipes that remind me of home in Ethiopia. She especially loves preparing dishes that bring back the familiar tastes of her childhood and her mother’s cooking. One of her favourites is Dinich wot—a dish that is loved by almost everyone. It is easy to cook, tasty, spicy, affordable, and deeply comforting, carrying the warmth and flavour of home in every bite.

DROP IN

Have questions about your writing?

Need tips on proofreading & editing?

Join us for our next SASS @ Ban Righ Centre drop-in session, Thursday January 29 from 11:30am-1pm in the BRC Lounge. An Academic Skills & Writing Specialist from Student Academic Success Services (SASS) will be available to chat about any questions you might have about writing or studying.

*event is for mature women students and students mothers @ Queen's

SASS provides academic skills and writing support to Queen’s students at every level. Their staff is made up of experts from across the fields of writing, learning, and education

Casual Conversation

The Writing Struggle: Finding Flow and Finishing Drafts

Whether you're stuck in a draft, revising for clarity, or avoiding the page altogether, this conversation is a space to share tips and talk through the challenges of academic writing. We’ll discuss writing processes (e.g. editing strategies) and how to get writing done/beat writer’s block - or both!

*for mature women students at Queen's

SASS provides academic skills and writing support to Queen’s students at every level. Their staff is made up of experts from across the fields of writing, learning, and education