HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 9, 2010
City o0 Minutes
Pickering Advisory Committee
_ on Race Relations & Equity
PI KERI September 9, 2010
7:00 pm
Pickering Civic Complex, Main Committee Meeting Room
Attendees: Councillor David Pickles, Chair
Sethu Madhavan, Community Appointee
Devinder Kaur Panesar, Community Appointee
Constable Keith Richards, Durham Regional Police
Anusheh Fawad, Pine Ridge Secondary School [YOU]nity
Renee Premdas [YOU]nity
Lalita Persaud [YOU]nity
Marisa Carpino, City of Pickering
Linda Roberts, Recording Secretary
Absent: Raymond George Facey, Community Appointee
Steve Holt, Community Appointee
Kirk Mark, Community Appointee
Tanya Taylor, Pickering Public Library
Margaret Lazarus, Altona Forest Public School
Alma Sandoval, Hispanic Canadian Alliance of Ontario
Fred Gibson, Pickering Carib Canadian Cultural Association
Philip Howard, Durham District School Board
Sylvie Morel-Foster, Durham Catholic District School Board
Item / Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items /Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
1.0 Welcome All
M. Carpino provided a brief overview of the Race Relations
Committee' for the benefit of the new [YOU]nity members
resent. Introductions were made around the table.
2.0 Review of Action Items All
M. Carpino reviewed the June action items and noted that the
statement had been confirmed for the writing contest. She
also provided an overview of the program.
3.0 Update: In Your Words & Expressions Contest All
M. Carpino provided an overview on the progress to date and
passed around the flyer which is being distributed which
provides a description and guidelines for the program. She
also provided the Committee with a bound copy of the book
which will be distributed to all schools. She noted that she
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had been informed that the School Board offices no longer
accept large packages which could create a problem for the
distribution of the books. Councillor Pickles noted funds were
available to possibly courier them or forward them through
the mail.
M. Carpino noted the letters which were distributed to the
school superintendents as well as the flyers last year went
over very well. She noted it was difficult to generate interest
among high school'students and [YOU]nity offered to assist
in this'area.
M. Carpino also indicated that the timelines worked out very
well last year with the December 1 st deadline for
submissions.
4.0 Update:' YOU nit :2010, Activities Review
A. Fawad provided a brief overview of the 2010 activities of
the [YOU]nity subcommittee, noting they would be doing the
Coffee House and March Break Diversity Camp again. He
informed the Committee they were planning to incorporate a
couple of new events for next year, Black History Month and
Taste of Pickering, to showcase Pickering's diversity through
various restaurants throughout the City. It was suggested
that [YOU]nity collaborate with the Pickering Library on Black
History Month, as they already have a program on this. It
was also suggested the Taste of Pickering could be
partnered with the Library as well or a charity.
Possible timeframes for the events as follows;
• November - Coffee House
• February - Black History Month
• March - March Break Diversity Camp
• May - Taste of Pickering
Discussion ensued with respect to the Coffee House event.
M. Carpino questioned whether a larger venue would be M. Carpino to action
needed for next time and offered to look into the possibility of
using the Council Chambers.
With respect to the March Break Diversity Camp, M. Carpino
noted the dates were already booked through the Library for M. Carpino to action
March 12th and 13th. M. Carpino will provide [YOU]nity with
the new contact person at the Library. She also noted she
could provide assistance with promotion through the
Community Page ads and the family calendar, but would
require the information 3 weeks in advance.
M. Carpino informed the committee funds for the camp could
be available in advance of the event once a budget has been
submitted to her.
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A. Fawad informed the Committee they had received a lot of
interest from Grade 8 students to join [YOU]nity and will
follow up through email.
5.0 Other Business
5.1) M. Carpino advised the Committee that the citizen
appointments would be up at the end of November this year.
Due to the elections being held on October 25th, this will be the
last meeting for Race Relations for this year. Anyone wishing
to remain on the Committee will need to reapply.
5.2) Councillor Pickles expressed his appreciation and thanked
all members and volunteers for their efforts on the Committee
and participation in all initiatives.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:10 pm
Copy: City Clerk
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