Unlearning Club
Welcome to the Unlearning Club!
Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Public Health) invites members of the public and/or organizations to start their own unlearning journey alongside us in the Unlearning Club. As part of our commitment to truth and reconciliation, Public Health is taking action with the Unlearning Club. To expand the impact of this initiative, we are offering a free document to help you start your own Unlearning Club.
Start your own unlearning journey with this free resource! (PDF, 1 MB)
What is the Unlearning Club?
The Unlearning Club is an 18-month learning journey that explores systemic racism, white supremacy, and colonization as key factors influencing health outcomes. It aims to provide participants with the tools to recognize how anti-Indigenous racism and white supremacy manifest in our daily work and lives—through policies, practices, and processes—and to actively adopt anti-racist strategies to challenge and dismantle these systems.
Who is this resource intended for?
The Unlearning Club was originally designed for Public Health staff and Board of Health members. However, we believe it will benefit everyone. This version of the Unlearning Club has been revised for public use. Keep in mind that some of the learning resources included are academic in nature and may be more complex. Whenever possible, the learning resources offer multiple ways to explore the same concepts, supporting a variety of learning styles and reading levels.
Why is unlearning important?
Unlearning and undoing white supremacy and racism is important work that everyone can participate in to create a more equitable, welcoming, and healthy community. The Unlearning Club supports the understanding that:
- White supremacy and racism harms everyone and every mindset shift can make a difference.
- Real progress takes action from many individuals, groups, and organizations.
- The more individuals, groups, and organizations that have free access to learning materials like this, the stronger and more inclusive our communities become.
How can I participate in the Unlearning Club?
You will find many answers to this question in the Unlearning Club FAQ (PDF, 384 KB). Do it solo, or gather some friends, coworkers, or family members and unlearn together! If you have further questions, please contact the team at unlearning@phsd.ca.
Tips for engaging with this resource
- You are encouraged to interact with the learning materials in chronological order. The learning materials are designed to build progressively, deepening in complexity and intensity as you advance.
- This work is intended to be done in a group setting. If you do not have a group, ensure you are taking care of your mental, emotion, spiritual, and physical wellness.
- Use what you learn to challenge old habits and make intentional choices every day.
As part of the Unlearning Club process, participants are asked to ground themselves in the following guiding principles:
Note: The Unlearning Club was originally created by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer of British Columbia and adapted, with permission, to fit the local context of Public Health. This document version has been modified for a public audience.
This item was last modified on October 20, 2025