Course Instructor

James Demers (He/Him/His)

As a Senior Strategist & Trainer at CEC, James has educated clients on DEI concepts, gender and sexual diversity, and more. He is known for tackling challenging topics to support clients in their learning journeys. With over 10 years as a professional facilitator and 2SLGBTQIA+ diversity educator, and 16 years as a community builder, James brings depth, clarity, and compassion to every conversation. He has facilitated learning with over 300 teams across government, corporate, academic, non-profit, unionized, and non-unionized sectors—often in rooms where participants may feel uncertain, disengaged, or resistant. He’s particularly skilled in navigating high-stakes and emotionally charged conversations, helping learners explore new perspectives while maintaining a sense of dignity and psychological safety. James’ facilitation practice is grounded in equity, trauma-informed principles, and a deep understanding of group dynamics. He uses a range of methods including circle process, identity-based dialogue, and experiential learning to create inclusive and engaging environments for all learners. James adapts his approach to meeting learners where they are—whether supporting executive teams in strategic reflection, guiding frontline staff through inclusive practices, or navigating tension in intergroup dialogue.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to Over the Rainbow: A Celebration of Gender and Sexual Diversity

    2. Land Acknowledgment

    3. Table of Contents

    1. 2SLGBTQIA+

    2. Terminology

    3. Video - BESE Explains Two-Spirit

    4. Identity

    5. Context

    6. Module 1 - Quiz

    7. Accessibility Transcripts for Module 1

    1. Key Moments in Queer History (Part 1)

    2. Key Moments in Queer History (Part 2)

    3. Key Moments in Queer History (Part 3)

    4. Module 2 - Quiz

    5. Accessibility Transcripts for Module 2

    1. Allyship

    2. Module 3 - Quiz

    3. Accessibility Transcripts for Module 3

    1. Final Assessment

    2. More resources for you

    3. Congrats...you've completed the Over the Rainbow - A Celebration of Gender and Sexual Diversity course!

    4. Before you go...would love your feedback!

    5. Share your course completion on your social channels!

    6. Follow us on social media

    7. Join our email list

About this course

Want more support?

Get this course included with an Equality 360™ subscription

With a Champion or Trailblazer Equality 360 subscription, you get access to our commemorative date e-courses, DEI tools and toolkits, coaching hours, policy templates, microlearning and more!
Equality 360 logo