HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2, 2006
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Meeting Summary
Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity
Thursday, November 2,2006
7:00 pm
Main Committee Room
Attendees
Councillor David Pickles, Chair
Fred Gibson, PCCCA
Kirk Mark, Community Appointe~
Jacqueline Moriarty, Community Appointee
Margaret Lazarus, Valley Farm P.S.
Ansar Siddiqui, Pine Ridge S.S.
Sharon Singh, Pine Ridge S.S.
Mariyah Gonzales, Dunbarton H.S.
Adrian Rampersad, Dunbarton H.S.
Sibhan Saravanamuttu, Dunbarton H.S.
Marisa Carpino, City of Pickering
Item /
Ref #
1.
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Welcome & Introductions
A. Introductions
· Councillor Pickles provided a warm welcome to our new
student representatives. Councillor Pickles provided an
overview of the committee.
· Existing committee members introduced themselves and
spoke of their experiences on the committee
· Marisa Carpino provided packages about the committee to
the each new student representatives and reviewed the
material with them
David Pickles
8. Councillor Pickles explained the survey to the new committee
members.
· Important to have cultural groups that have a say as to how
we collect the survey information,
· The plan is to have two committee members go out to
organizations to administer the survey
· Survey will assess trends in the City
· Then we can give advice to Council to better achieve
ob'ectives set out on the committee's terms of reference
Survey to be
administered
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Item /
Ref#
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
. Fred Gibson recommends that the make up of City staff
reflect this diverse community
. Marisa Carpino to provide copy of draft survey questions
C. End of term report
. Will help judge achievements of committee against its
mandate
. Councillor Pickles will submit it by the end of the year
Kirk Mark asked students what issues arise at school that speak to
barriers to education. Responses of student representatives
included:
. Faculty want an equal distribution of recognition of different
cultures
. Some students want the same students (already involved in
diversity groups) to initiate new groups but they won't do it
themselves. (ie. start a Hindu group at school)
. Not a lot of job skills training for students
Councillor Pickles asked students what their expectations are of
the committee
. They want to provide the youth perspective
. They want to bring information back to our schools
. They want to make students aware of what's going on in the
community
. They recommend that the Advisory Committee participate
with MCOD (Multi Cultural organization of Durham) for their
annual conference
Kirk Mark asked students about the democracy of voting. Their
responses included:
. There is not much awareness among students
. Recommend that City staff and/or candidate come to
schools to talk about why voting is important.
. School initiatives are needed to raise awareness
Action Items /
Status
(include deadline as
aoorooriate)
1
I
Marisa Carpino to
provide to students.
End Term report to
be submitted to
Council
Councillor Pickles recommends we add to the survey: Marisa to add
. Do the members of your organization participate in Federal, question to survey
Provincial & Municipal elections?
.
2.
Essay Writina Contest
Marisa Carpino provided overview of essay writing contest
. Committee confirmed this year's statement "I can make a
difference in my community by ..."
. Include new guidelines to make responses about diversity
Marisa Carpino
Marisa Carpino to
work with Board
reps. to launch this
contest
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Item / Details & Discussion & Conclusion Action Items /
Ref # (summary of discussion) Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
and equity
. Marisa Carpino was asked to look at changing deadline for
entries to early February
. Kirk Mark recommends speaker Lawrence Hill, the author
for the March Forum
3. Heritaae Day Event All
Marisa Carpino provided overview of event Student to
. Marisa Carpino asked students for recommendations of recommend student
groups for booths/performances . participants
. Councillor Pickles recommends that we have a backdrop to
buffer the sound from the stage. Businesses complained Marisa Carpino to
about the noise last year arranQe
4. Other Business . All
Councillor Pickles conveyed great appreciation to the members of
this Committee's term
. Councillor Pickles proposed that Council go to schools and
visit grade 5 & 10 during students civic curriculum
Kirk Mark recommends that we publish the essays from the essay
writinQ contest
5. Adjournment .. . David Pickles
Councillor Pickles reminded community appointees that they will
receive an invitation to apply as community appointees for the next
4 year term.
Marisa Carpino advised that, as per the City Clerk, community
appointees will be selected by January 15, 2007 and there will be
an orientation for all members of the committee on January 16,
2007.
Next meeting of the new Advisory Committee on Race Relations &
Equity will be 7 pm on Thursday, February 1, 2007.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:00 pm
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
City Clerk
Division Head, Culture & Recreation
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