“Xenon 2: Your Experience Awaits!” is an immersive education experience designed by BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) to support learners in developing a strong understanding of systemic discrimination and to encourage reflection about how it may show up in their organizations and communities.
In this first-of-its-kind experiential session, participants contribute to a simulation in which they establish a new community on the planet Xenon 2. During the expedition, team members discover how the “perfect” community they have planned contributes to harms and barriers, and experience and witness the impacts of systemic discrimination within the systems being set up. The exercise provides a new way for learners to understand this complex concept and begin reflecting on ways to make their workplaces, services and societies more equitable.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Group size: 9 to 20 participants
Location: In person at your B.C.-based organization or another convenient location
Cost: Free
Request a session for your workplace or organization by filling in our event request form or email if you have questions.
What is systemic discrimination?
Even when well intentioned, sometimes laws and structures in our society—including policies, practices and behaviours—produce consistently discriminatory outcomes, maintaining the power of certain groups over others, or reinforcing the disadvantage of certain groups. This is known as systemic discrimination.
Systemic discrimination is a significant issue in B.C. and Canada, but it isn’t well understood. That’s why BCOHRC developed Xenon 2 and a broader suite of educational resources about systemic discrimination. Additional free-to-access resources—including animated short video, an infographic, live public webinars and conversation guides—can be found on our main Systemic Discrimination page.
What’s the deal with Xenon 2?
The Xenon 2 session now on offer is highly acclaimed, with reviewers praising it for its effectiveness in encouraging the active and creative engagement of participants, enabling courageous conversations and building deep understanding of the subject matter.
The session was developed in collaboration with community members with backgrounds in human rights education and with lived experience with systemic discrimination. Over the last few years, BCOHRC has been testing and refining the sessions with select organizations in different regions of B.C. and is now excited to offer the sessions more broadly.
Ready to book?
We’re excited to facilitate a session for your workplace or organization! Request a session by filling in our event request form or email if you have questions.
To support our limited capacity and for optimal planning, we prefer six months’ notice. Our team will follow up on all requests to discuss your needs.
Interested in facilitating?
BCOHRC is offering training to those interested in facilitating Xenon 2 sessions within their organizations and associated groups. If you work for an organization committed to human rights, diversity, equity and inclusion, consider becoming a facilitator! Email for more information or approach us after your organization’s Xenon 2 session.