The Inclusivity Project was created in 2014 by Leh Dueling, Sabrina Pa, and Valérie Simon. The objective was to establish more inclusive spaces in the department and promote greater diversity and solidarity within the philosophical community. This project exists through various modes of being, including office hours open to students to talk with peers in a non-judgmental and confidential space about their experiences in philosophy. Events will also be held pertaining to the Inclusivity Project, such as panel discussions and round-table events.

The person in charge of organizing events related to The Inclusivity Project and of upholding The Sheila Mason Bursary (see below) is the Sustainability and Inclusivity Advisor of SoPhiA.

 The Sheila Mason BursaryScreenshot 2019-02-12 at 13.25.03

The newest and most exciting development of this project is The Sheila Mason Bursary, which was awarded for the first time in 2018. The aim of this bursary is to provide a stronger network of support to those who have felt marginalized within philosophy, while striving as a collective whole towards more diverse philosophical questioning and community engagement. This bursary was created by the original founders of the Inclusivity Project and an ad-hoc committee which included Ali Hendra, Serene Qandil, and Ayesha Wright.

Eligibility for the bursary: 
The Sheila Mason Bursary is available to women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+, and students with disabilities enrolled in the Department of Philosophy at Concordia, either as a minor, major, or honours student. Those in greater financial need will be given priority. Students at any stage of their undergraduate philosophy degree may apply.

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The 2024 Sheila Mason Bursary Applications

Deadline to apply: March 22nd, 2024

Award: Four awards of 400$

Application Requirements: 

  1. A personal statement, which must include a description of community involvement, how the individual is working towards creating an inclusive environment within philosophy, and an explanation of financial need. This must be between 500-750 words.
  2. An essay on the topic of the individual’s choice, however it must explore such topics including “queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory”, or be relevant to the aims of the Inclusivity Project and the Bursary. This essay should be between 1500-2000 words. Work that has been written for any class prior may be submitted.
  3. One brief letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor, employer, etc.
  4. A Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) updated to include information pertinent to this award, such as extra-curricular involvement. This C.V. must also include the contact information of the individual who has written your letter of recommendation.

For complete submissions or inquiries please email:

  • inclusivity dot sophia at asfa dot ca

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The 2023 Sheila Mason Bursary Applications

Deadline to apply: March 17th, 2023

Award: Four awards of 400$

Application Requirements:

  1. A personal statement, which must include a description of community involvement, how the individual is working towards creating an inclusive environment within philosophy, and an explanation of financial need. This must be between 500-750 words.
  2. An essay on the topic of the individual’s choice, however it must explore such topics including “queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory”, or be relevant to the aims of the Inclusivity Project and the Bursary. This essay should be between 1500-2000 words. Work that has been written for any class prior may be submitted.
  3. One brief letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor, employer, etc.
  4. A Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) updated to include information pertinent to this award, such as extra-curricular involvement. This C.V. must also include the contact information of the individual who has written your letter of recommendation.

To apply: Please use this Google Form. 

For inquiries, please email:

  • inclusivity dot sophia at asfa dot ca

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Winners of the Sheila Mason Bursary

2018: 

Amanda Kane, with her paper “Sexual Violence Stripped: Revealing Epistemic Injustice.”

Margaret Ta, with her paper “Lisa Tessman on Moral Scepticism.”

2019:

Kashanti Sandy, with his paper on the ontology of the black man.

2020:

Michèle Martin (BA Hon. Philosophy), with their essay regarding the intersection of social experience and the status of people with disabilities in society, and the impact of social dynamics in policy making regarding their health.

2021:

There were no submissions for the bursary during the 2020-2021 academic year.

2022:

Soline Van de Moortele (BA Hon. Philosophy), with their philosophy community contributions and essay “Reading the Tragedy of the Feminine in Euripides’ Ion” on the oppression of women in relation to parrêsia within Michel Foucault’s account of Euripides’ play Ion.

2023:

Kourney Abero for the work titled: “Is Your Feminism Intersectional Yet?”

       Marcus-Xavier Granada for the work titled: “On the Violence of Illumination: Racial Discourse of Control through Environmental Design and Surveillance”