HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 2, 2024 Page 1 of 6
Minutes/Meeting Summary
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
May 2, 2024
Electronic Meeting - 7:00 pm
Attendees: D. Dill Z. Donaldson
A. Fraser
O. Grignon P. Martin V. ShawK. Hanson
D. David
C. Canzius S. Mascoll D. YewWoon, Community Engagement Coordinator, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison)
A. MacGillivray, Council & Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: B. Loiseau K. Petrolo
Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome and Call to Order
O. Grignon called the meeting to order. D. David read the Land Acknowledgement.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by S. Mascoll Seconded by P. Martin That the May 2, 2024 Meeting agenda of the
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved. Carried
3. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
4. Approval of Minutes
Moved by A. Fraser Seconded by V. Shaw
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Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate)
That the April 4, 2024 Meeting Minutes of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved.
Carried
5. Presentations
5.1 Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Conservator, Community Services Re: Roots to Rebellion Exhibit Updates
Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Conservator, Community
Services provided an update regarding the Roots to Rebellion Exhibit at Pickering Museum Village and advised that there have been delays on the construction of the buildings. She provided an
overview of various elements and activities that will be part of the Exhibit and indicated that it is tentatively scheduled to open in July 2024. E. Tayles-Armstrong invited Taskforce Members to visit the Exhibit upon opening and thanked the
Taskforce for its support and advice throughout the process. A question and answer period ensued between the Taskforce and Ellen Tales-Armstrong
regarding whether there are shuttle buses being considered to bring people from City Centre to and from the Exhibit. E. Tayles-Armstrong indicated that there are
options being explored to implement a shuttle from the GO Station at Highway 7 and Brock Road, and expressed that she would share the idea of a City Centre shuttle to the events team. She concluded her remarks speaking to the
positive feedback received regarding the Exhibit on social media.
6. Delegations
There were no delegations.
7. General Business 7.1 Executive Updates S. Mascoll provided an update regarding the Taskforce’s finances including:
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Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate)
• the importance of submitting any outstanding invoices to the City no later
than mid-November;
• the approximately $4,000 - $5,000 left that was left in last year’s budget;
• the approved operating budget of $85,000.000, segmented into the following buckets: o $66,000.00 for action areas around consultation;
o $12,500.00 for community partnerships; o $10,000.00 for marketing and promotions; and, o $2,500.00 as a contingency fund. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce Members regarding updates on the Taskforce’s finances being provided on an as needed basis and that S. Mascoll would be willing to share a
detailed overview of the finances for the Taskforce to reference. J. San Antonio clarified that Member stipends were accounted separately from the
Taskforce’s operating budget and spoke to invoices from November 2023 being related to the Black Joy Holiday Market event.
7.2 Subcommittee Updates
Consultation and Co-design Subcommittee
K. Hanson indicated that they were continuing to work with the City to finalize details regarding the Consultation and Co-design project.
Community Partnerships Subcommittee
A. Fraser provided updates to the Taskforce including:
• plans for the Taskforce to host a booth
at the Kujenga Wellness Fair on May
26, 2024 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; and,
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Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate)
• discussions with Durham Family Cultural Centre (DFCC), Ifarada
Institute, and Durham One on their
involvement in the Taskforce’s BBQ Event planned for August 31, 2024.
Marketing and Promotions Subcommittee
O. Grignon indicated that there were no
significant updates and that there was enough
promotional materials for the Taskforce’s involvement in the Kujenga Wellness Fair Event on May 26, 2024.
7.3 EDI Strategy Update
J. SanAntonio provided an update regarding the City’s EDI Strategy and spoke to the final strategy going before the Executive Committee on May 6, 2024 and to Council on May 27,
2024 for consideration.
8. Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
9. Other Business 9.1 Celebrating PRIDE
J. San Antonio provided an update regarding the City’s past and planned support for community PRIDE initiatives.
O. Grignon spoke to the importance of allyship
and solidarity and indicated that she would encourage Taskforce Members to participate in the events when possible.
9.2 EDI Annual Report
J. San Antonio and D. Yew Woon provided an
overview of the City’s 2023 Annual EDI Report highlighting the Taskforce’s work in 2023 as well as other EDI initiatives in the City. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce Members
regarding the benefit of taking photos at initiatives and events to showcase the work of
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Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate)
the Taskforce and the Annual Report being available to the public on the City’s website.
9.3 Incident of Racist Vandalism
D. Donovan spoke to an incident that was reported to him of community members having their property vandalized with racist rhetoric. He expressed concern regarding the incident and solicited the Taskforce for ideas on how they
could best support those impacted.
Discussion ensued with the Taskforce discussing:
• the importance of the Consultation and
Co-design project to hear from the
community and help develop policy and processes to respond to racist incidents;
• whether the City has processes in place to
hear from or support those impacted by
racist incidents;
• concerns with insufficient response from police to racist incidents;
• whether a group could be formed to combat anti-Asian racism;
• the Taskforce and City’s past responses
to incidents of hate or racism reported in
the community;
• the Taskforce’s ability to bring recommendations to Council’s attention;
• the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice’s online tool for reporting anti-Asian hate incidents;
• what City staff or resources could play a
role in addressing these incidents;
• how partnerships between the police and other community partnerships can assist
in addressing these incidents;
• the Policing Subcommittee that existed in the past on the Taskforce;
• the invitation to the Taskforce from the
Region of Durham to be involved in a Municipal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium;
• the value of having a way to document
and share these incidents with the City and the broader community;
D. Dill indicated that he would follow up with the family impacted to see if they
wish to share their experience with the Taskforce.
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Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate)
• whether a subcommittee could commit to looking at this and collect information in
advance of the broader consultation and
co-design work; and,
• the importance of the Taskforce taking a break in the summer to maintain good
mental health.
10. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2024 at 7:00 pm in an electronic format.
11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:19 pm