HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO 02-24Report to Council
Report Number: CAO 02-24
Date: March 25, 2024
From: Marisa Carpino
Chief Administrative Officer
Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
- 2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
- File: A-1440-001
Recommendation:
1. That Report CAO 02-24 regarding the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce 2023 Year
End Report and 2024 Work Plan be received for information;
2. That Council approve the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce-led 2024 2nd Annual
Community BBQ in celebration of the International Day for People of African Descent
event, per ADM 040 Committees and Taskforces of Council Policy, and on terms and
conditions satisfactory to the Director, Community Services and the Chief Administrative
Officer;
3. That Council authorize staff to issue a park permit to the Pickering Anti-Black Racism
Taskforce for the use of Esplanade Park, per CUL 070 Community Festivals and Events
Policy, for the 2nd Annual Community BBQ in celebration of the International Day for
People of African Descent; and
4. That Council approve the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce-led 2024 Black Joy
Holiday Market event, per ADM 040 Committees and Taskforces of Council Policy, and
on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director, Community Services and the Chief
Administrative Officer.
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the Pickering
Anti-Black Racism Taskforce’s (PABRT) accomplishments in 2023 and their work plan for
2024. The report also seeks Council’s endorsement of PABRT-led signature events, including
2024 Black Joy Holiday Market event and authorization for staff to issue a park permit for the
use of Esplanade Park for the 2nd Annual Community BBQ in celebration of the International
Day for People of African Descent.
The Committees and Taskforces of Council Policy (ADM 040) requires that the PABRT seek
Council approval to hold public events. Per section 04.03 and 18.01 of ADM 040, this report
includes information about the month in which the event will be held, the purpose of the event,
budget and any other confirmed details.
Additionally, the Community Festivals and Events Policy (CUL 070) outlines the criteria,
guidelines and processes by which requests to host events in City parks are received and
CAO 02-24 March 25, 2024
Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 2
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
considered for approval. Per section 04.01 of CUL 070, as a “Signature Park”, community
event requests for Esplanade Park must be approved by Council.
Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond
to the following Pickering Strategic Plan Priorities: Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe
& Healthy Community; Strengthen Existing & Build New Partnerships; and Foster an Engaged
and Informed Community.
Financial Implications: For 2024, the PABRT has an approved operating budget of
$85,000.00. These funds will be allocated to the action area indicated below. Further details on
these action areas are provided in the discussion section of this report.
Action Area Description Budget
Consultation Strategic visioning around the anti-Black racism initiatives
and impacts in the community
$60,000.00
Community
partnerships
Collaborations with community partners through events,
meetings, and other initiatives
12,500.00
Marketing and
promotions
Supplies and materials to support and promote community
engagements (e.g., signage, literature, reports, printing)
10,000.00
Contingency For unanticipated expenses 2,500.00
TOTAL $85,000.00
Discussion: In 2023, the PABRT achieved many accomplishments through strengthened
community collaborations and engagement initiatives as summarized below. Among these
accomplishments, the PABRT reached a critical milestone with the completion of its first term
and the transition to its second term with 14 appointees (including 11 new members and 3
returning members). Within this year of transition, the PABRT also revised its Terms of
Reference to better reflect its functions and operations and emphasize its mandate in
addressing systemic and institutional forms of anti-Black racism. In preparation for their first full
year of operation as a new taskforce, PABRT members have developed a new work plan for
2024 to build on existing successes and advance their mandate to:
• Enhance the shared experience and opportunities of Black residents.
• Implement tangible and sustainable actions to support the prevention, reduction, and
response to systemic and institutional anti-Black racism in Pickering.
• Foster transparency and accountability in identifying and addressing systemic and
institutional anti-Black racism within Pickering.
• Identify and coordinate opportunities for community engagement.
• Celebrate, conserve, and promote the Black community and Black culture, heritage, and
history.
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Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 3
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
2023 Year End Report (summary of 2023 events and activities)
Date & Location Event Description
February 2, 2023
Robert McLaughlin
Gallery, Oshawa
Regional Black History
Month Celebration,
“Together We Rise:
Excellence Through the
Arts”
In partnership with Region of Durham,
Durham Region Police Services, City of
Pickering & other municipalities
An evening with Black talent, showcasing
artistic displays, live music, performances,
refreshments and a keynote talk from
Cameron Bailey, CEO of the Toronto
International Film Festival
February 4, 2023
J. Clarke
Richardson
Collegiate, Ajax
Black History Month –
16th Annual Durham
Black History Month
Celebration
In partnership with Cultural Expressions
Durham’s longest-running and most
extensive, free Black History Month event,
celebrating the beauty of Black culture and
the diversity of the Black experience in
Durham region featuring a keynote speaker
and networking.
March 27, 2023
City of Pickering
Council Chambers
Appointment of
members for second
term of the PABRT
Appointment of 14 PABRT members
April 2023
Chestnut Hill
Developments
Recreation
Complex,
Pickering
Orientation and Meet &
Greet
City of Pickering staff organized an
information session to provide training to new
members on City policies related to the ADM
040 Committees and Taskforces of Council
Policy and to connect new members and
past members of the PABRT to support the
transition between terms.
June 4, 2023
Arbour Park, Ajax
Pride Parade In partnership with City of Pickering, Town of
Ajax, and Pride Durham
PABRT participated in the parade to
celebrate and demonstrate allyship with
2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
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Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 4
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
Date & Location Event Description
July 1, 2023
Esplanade Park,
Pickering
Canada Day In partnership with City of Pickering
PABRT featured among community booths
and hosted engagement activities
July 15 and
July 22, 2023
Chestnut Hill
Developments
Recreation
Complex,
Pickering
Equity, Diversity &
Inclusion Strategy
Community Working
Group – In-person
workshops
In partnership with City of Pickering
PABRT represented within the EDI Strategy
Community Working Group to inform the
City’s EDI Strategy
August 1, 2023
Audley Recreation
Centre, Ajax
Emancipation Day
Celebration
In partnership with Region of Durham &
municipalities
PABRT featured among community booths
and hosted engagement activities
August 31, 2023
Esplanade Park,
Pickering
Community BBQ – in
celebration of
International Day for
People of African
Descent
In partnership with City of Pickering,
Pickering Public Library, Anti-Black Racism
Working Group (ABRWG)
PABRT hosted a community BBQ for all
community members to learn about the
International Day for People of African
Descent and connect community members to
Black-led service organizations and anti-
racism community groups.
September 7, 2023
Audley Recreation
Centre, Ajax
Community Networking
Dinner
In partnership with Region of Durham, City of
Pickering
A community dinner to welcome and connect
newcomers to Canada, including refugees
and asylum seekers
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Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 5
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
Date & Location Event Description
September 27,
2023
Chestnut Hill
Developments
Recreation
Complex,
Pickering
Community Workshop Facilitated by former PABRT member, Zhora
Adatia, on addressing anti-Black racism in
the community
October 5, 2023 Release of Joint
Statement
Release of joint statement in response to
anti-Black racism in Pickering
October 26, 2023
Pickering Public
Library, Pickering
Participation in City of
Pickering Lunch &
Learn on Black History
in Canada
PABRT members joined City of Pickering
and Pickering Public Library staff to engage
in learning on Black History in Canada.
November 24-26,
2023
Chestnut Hill
Developments
Recreation
Complex,
Pickering
Winter Nights, City
Lights – 2nd Annual
Black Joy Holiday
Market
In partnership with City of Pickering, Durham
Family & Cultural Centre
PABRT partnered with DFCC to lead the
Black Joy Holiday Market within the Winter
Nights, City Lights festival, showcasing local
Black-owned businesses
December 11,
2023
Approval and adoption
of revised Terms of
Reference
Revision of Terms of Reference based on
subcommittee work from past and current
PABRT members and community
consultations
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Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 6
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
Proposed Work Plan for 2024
Action Area Description Deliverables
Consultation Strategic visioning
around the anti-Black
racism initiatives and
impacts in the
community
• Community engagement and consultation with
residents, organizations, and municipal leaders
• Initiate final report with recommendations for
Council to address anti-Black racism and anti-
oppression
Community
partnerships
Collaborations with
community partners
through events,
meetings, and other
initiatives
• Nurture and develop new partnerships with City
of Pickering, Region of Durham, Cultural
Expressions, Durham Family Cultural Centre,
Ifarada, Durham One and other municipalities
and service organizations.
• Development and implementation of signature
events: Annual Community BBQ in celebration of
the International Day for People of African
Descent and Black Joy Holiday Market
• Continued partnership in community events in
support of Black History Month (Together We
Rise, 17th Annual Black History Month
Celebration), Emancipation Day and City of
Pickering events (Artfest, Canada Day, Cultural
Expressions)
Marketing
and
promotions
Supplies and
materials to support
and promote
community
engagements
• Event signage, educational resources, and other
promotional and printed materials
• Event supplies for activations at community
events and pop-up booths
Per section 04.03 and 11.01 of the Committees and Taskforces of Council Policy (ADM 040),
“taskforces must seek Council approval to hold an event and each request to Council must
include the complete details of the event (e.g., budget, approximate number of staff required,
month the event would be held in, and purpose of the event).” The policy also requires that the
proposed event is in accordance with the Terms of Reference and mandate of the group. As
such, relevant details for PABRT-led events noted under “Community Partnerships” are
provided below:
2nd Annual Community BBQ for the International Day for People of African Descent
Date: August 31, 2024
Location: Esplanade Park
Budget allocation: $5,000.00
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Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 7
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
Description: The International Day for People of African Descent commemorates the adoption
of the first declaration of the rights of people of African descent on August 31,1920, in New
York. In celebration of this historic milestone, the PABRT in partnership with the City of
Pickering will host a community gathering in Esplanade Park. The event will provide a platform
for anti-Black racism community groups and Black-led service organizations to network and
engage with community members around programs, service and other initiatives. It will also be
used to advance PABRT’s strategic visioning initiative.
3rd Annual Black Joy Holiday Market
Date: November 15-17, 2024
Location: Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex
Budget allocation: $5,000.00
Description: In collaboration with the Durham Family and Cultural Centre (DFCC), PABRT will
host its third annual Black Joy Holiday Market as a holiday pop-up market that showcases
local Black-owned businesses. Following last year’s success, the event will be integrated into
the existing “Winter Nights, City Lights” community festival hosted by the City on November 15
to 16, 2024 (5:30 pm – 8:30 pm) and extended for one additional day on November 17, 2024
(11:00 am – 5:00 pm). This event will coincide with a holiday food basket drive coordinated by
the DFCC to address food insecurity, alleviate financial hardship, and promote Black culture
through the provision of culturally relevant items. The selection of the Afro-diasporic food
basket recipients will be achieved by community nomination through the following networks:
The Black Queens of Durham, Black Durham Region Support, Black Durham Community
Support, Black Event Connections, Black Moms Connection, and Black Parents Connect
Durham, identified on social media channels. Nominations will be collected and reviewed to
ensure qualification and basket distribution will be done on a first-come, first-served basis to
qualified families through pick up at the DFCC office or delivered by volunteers to families with
limited access to transportation.
City of Pickering staff from applicable departments support the events, in principle, subject to
various event requirements being met by the PABRT during the event planning process. The
requirements may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• permit for rental facility (if applicable)
• proof of liability insurance (if applicable)
• rentals of event equipment and supplies
• submission of site plan and emergency response plan
• pre-registration that does not exceed capacity
• adherence to the City’s Emergency Weather Standard Operating Procedure
• hiring of site security and police officers to monitor event operations (if applicable)
At this time, City staff are requesting Council authorization for the 2024 PABRT-led initiatives
identified in this report.
CAO 02-24 March 25, 2024
Subject: Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Page 8
2023 Year End Report and 2024 Work Plan
Attachments: None.
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Jaclyn San Antonio Mark Guinto
Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division Head, Public Affairs, Corporate
Communications
JSA
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Original Signed By:Original Signed By:
Original Signed By: