HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 12, 2012
qty 00 Minutes/Meeting Summary
Advisory Committee on Diversity
i i Thursday, January 12, 2012
PI KERIN 7:00 pm
Pickering Civic Complex, Main Committee Room
Attendees: Kirk Mark, Chair
Devinder Panesar, Community Appointee
Jacob Yacoumidis, Community Appointee
Preet Panesar, Dunbarton High School
Christy Harper, Pickering Public Library
Jody Morris, City of Pickering
L. Roberts, Recording Secretary
Absent: Kevin Ashe, Councillor, Ward 1
Carlisle Miller, Community Appointee
Catherine Reidt, Co-Chair
Margaret Lazarus, Valley Farm Public School
Neha Mohan, VP, (YOU)nity, Pine Ridge High School
Fred Gibson, Pickering Carib Canadian Cultural Association
Alma Sandoval, Hispanic Canadian Alliance of Ontario
Keith Richards, DRPS
Misha Biswas, President, (YOU)nity, Pine Ridge High School
Alysha Singh, Secretary of YOU)nity, Pine Ridge High School
Item/ Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items/Status
Ref # (summary of discussion) (include deadline as
appropriate)
1.0 Welcome & Introductions Kirk Mark
K. Mark welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions
were made around the table for the benefit of guests resent.
2.0 Delegations
J. Morris introduced guest speakers Cody Morrison, Bryan
Hansraj and Principal Hoi from Pine Ridge Secondary School.
Cody Morrison appeared before the Committee and through the
aid of a power point presentation provided information on their
"I Am Who I Am" campaign which they launched on November
14, 2011. He provided an overview of their strategies and
goals as noted below;
• to raise awareness of muscular dystrophy
• support cancer research
• educate on being street smart
• acceptance - inclusive community
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• currently 19 schools involved
Mr. Morrison also noted their fundraising initiatives which
include the sale of t-shirts, wrist bands and green t-shirt days
held within the school. They have now surpassed their goal of
raising $10,000 and plan to use these funds to aid with the
purchase of wheelchairs and breathing apparatus through the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.
He noted a number of events they would be participating in in
conjuction with Black History Month.
J. Morris invited the organization to participate in the Heritage
Day activities to be held on February 25th at Pickering Town J. Morris to action
Centre. She also noted she would pass their information along
to [YOU]nity for possible participation in the March Break Camp.
as well.
K. Mark invited them to participate on the Diversity Committee
by having a representative from their organization attend
meetings.
3.0 Nomination and Election of Chair
K. Mark passed the Chair over to J. Morris for the purpose of
electing a Chair of the Committee.
Moved by J. Yacoumidis
Seconded by D. Panesar
That K. Mark be nominated for the position of Chair of the.
Advisory Committee on Diversity.
K. Mark accepted the nomination and the decision was Carried
Unanimously.
K. Mark resumed the Chair.
4.0 Agendas & Minutes
Approval of agenda
Moved by C. Harper
Seconded by J. Yacoumidis
Carried
Moved by J. Yacoumidis
Seconded by D. Panesar
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That the minutes of the December 8, 2011 meeting of the
Diversity Committee be approved.
Carried
Business arising from the minutes
J. Morris noted that the suggested revisions had been made to
the 2012 workplan/2011 report. It is now complete and will be
going forward to Council on January 23~d with K. Mark
presenting as a delegation.
Discussion ensued with respect to choosing wording to expand
on the name "Heritage Day"
Moved by C. Harper
Seconded by J. Yacoumidis
That the name "Heritage Day - Diversity Comes Alive" be
accepted.
Carried
5.0 Correspondence
5.1) DiverseCity
Correspondence was received from DiverseCity outlining their
findings and recommendations from their report "The Diversity
Gap: The Electoral Under-Representation of Visible Minorities".
L. Roberts noted the letter contained a website with further
information which she will email to the members. L. Roberts to action
6.0 New Business
6.1) Event Updates
Heritage Day
J. Morris advised everything was set to go for Heritage Day.
The letters of invitation would be going out to dignitaries this
week as well as the confirmation letters and list of performers.
Race Relations Forum
J. Morris noted 100 written submissions had been received,
mostly comprised of students from grades 5 through 8. These
packages have been provided to the judges and a meeting has
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been scheduled for February 6 to judge the work. Once this
has been completed, the winners will be notified and invitations
will be sent out.
J. Morris advised the Committee that she had received a call
back from Honourable David Onley's office and was hoping to
have him confirmed as the guest speaker for the forum later this
week.
J. Morris provided Committee members with copies of a
calendar she had prepared outlining the Committee's upcoming
events as well as proclamations.
Discussion took place with respect to having delegations attend
the meetings. It was noted this should be decided first at a. J. Morris to action
committee meeting with each delegation being allotted ten
minutes to address the Committee.
J. Morris noted she would follow up to obtain additional details J. Morris to action
on the March Break Camp and also confirm the dates have
been booked with the Pickering Library.
J. Morris handed out copies of the research proposal which had
been prepared by Durham College for the Diversity Committee.
She noted a second report would be coming and she will
forward this out to the members once received. This will enable
members to review it prior to the February meeting.
6.0 Ad'ournment Kirk Mark
The next meeting will be held on February 9, 2012
Meeting Adjourned: 8:25 pm
Copy: City Clerk
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