Our Story.
Creating lasting change together.
In 1995, the Centre for Canadian Disability Studies (CCDS), now known as Eviance, incorporated and officially opened its new head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. CCDS was developed as a knowledge hub, a place for the production of research and knowledge that could advance the disability movement.
We collaborated with our partners at the front of many firsts, including the development of the first Interdisciplinary Master of Disability Studies degree in Canada in partnership with the University of Manitoba, the establishment of Canada’s first Research Chair in Disability Studies in partnership with Royal Bank, the formation of the Disability Information Network, as well as playing an instrumental role in launching Disability Peoples’ International (DPI).
In 1981, our work hit the national stage at the United Nations Year of the Disabled conference and in 2001 we brought the Annual Society for Disability Studies Conference to Winnipeg, welcoming 350 people from 20 different countries. From our roots, we continue to build and bring together community to solve important issues and advance human rights, work that landed us the international Project Zero Award for innovative practices.
In 2018, CCDS became Eviance, a name which reflects the importance of evidence and advancement connected to people’s lives, and with it came an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Winnipeg community, strengthen our efforts on a national scale to bring together and honour diverse knowledges and reflect these knowledges in the ‘e’s that come together to make our new Eviance logo.
Henry Enns was a visionary who saw a better way and had a strong vision and sense of what was right and worked hard to challenge how society viewed individuals with disabilities. He is well known for his work with Disabled Peoples’ International (DPI) and in bringing its offices to Winnipeg, Manitoba and in pioneering the Independent Living Movement in Canada. Grounded in a commitment to the disability community throughout his advocacy career, Henry was instrumental in the development of Eviance and situating it as a key player in creating a knowledge base and innovation in the area of disabilities.
Our logo.
Eviance is a values-driven organization committed to exploring and challenging issues through a structural and systemic intersectional lens. Our researchers and knowledge mobilization staff are trained to conduct their work in a reflexive way that honours diverse knowledges, empowers the disability community and builds capacity for change. Intersectionality and reflexivity, inclusion and equity, human rights, connected work, sustainable solutions, and capacity building frame our commitment to our clients and our field.
