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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 24, 1999MINUTES A meeting of the Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations and Equity was held in the Pickering Civic Complex on Wednesday, March 24th, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. Present: Jane Kiyonaga, Durham Catholic District School Board Philip Matsushita, Pine Ridge Secondary School Gary Ranalli, Pine Ridge Secondary School Lewis Williams, Durham Board of Education Norm Powers, Durham Board of Education Fred Gibson, Pickering Carib Canadian Cultural Assoc. . Tanya Gulliver, Social Development Council of Ajax- Pickering Shaun Cameron, Pine Ridge Secondary School Krystle Holley, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Monika Jensen, Community Appointee Mama) Pannu, Dunbarton High School Rumnik Pannu, Dunbarton High School Reshma Ramjattan, Dunbarton High School Steve Reynolds, Director of Culture & Recreation Valerie Jones, Employment Services Co- ordinator Debbie Kearns, Committee Co- ordinator Regrets: Councillor David Ryan Jill Foster Mobeen Khaja 1. 1999 Race Relations Forum Subcommittee Report Philip Matsushita distributed and discussed the minutes of the March 11th, 1999 Sub - Committee Meeting. Wednesday, May 12, 1999 7:00 -9:00 p.m. was confirmed as the date and time of this event. A brief discussion took place concerning the format of the program and it was suggested and consensus received that an interactive game be included. The Ambassador's Game was suggested as the most feasible with timing and logistics still to be finalized. Monica Jensen stated that debriefing is necessary and should be undertaken with the group as a whole. The make -up of the panel was discussed. Suggestions were put forward including: youth panel only, youth and adult panel or youth from Pickering along with youth from outside Pickering. The budget amount for this event was questioned. Steve Reynolds will confirm amount. -2- Keynote Speakers were suggested and the Committee Members agreed that the individuals suggested be pursued. 2. Critical path Race Relations Summit Report Tanya Gulliver discussed briefly the Critical Path Race Relations Summit Report. (copy attached) Tanya advised that $100,000 funding has been received to hire eight students. Six have been hired, looking for two more. Tanya advised that they have the required equipment, furniture, etc., but no space. She requested assistance in finding the needed space. Tanya also advised that the Annual General Meeting is scheduled for April 15, tickets are $15.00 each. The International Carnival Night has been scheduled for April 17th, tickets are $20.00 each. 3. Next Steps Strategic Planning Process Gary Ranalli distributed information from the last meeting. (copies attached) The Strategic Planning Process continued. 4. New Business a. The Committee were advised of the 2nd Youth Antiracism Rally to be held in the Civic Square, Oshawa City Hall on Saturday, March 27, 1999 at 12 noon. This event is being hosted by the EDEN Youth Committee. 5. Next Meeting April 13th, 1999, 7:00 p.m., in the Civic Complex, Committee Room. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Town of Pickering Race Relations Forum Sub-Committee Meeting Minutes of the Thursday March 11, 1999 Meeting 4:30-6:00 p.m. Overview This was the first meeting of the sub-committee meeting to plan for the May 1999 forum event. The meeting was preceded by an interview with Susan O'Neill, reporter for the Pickering News Advertiser. Susan was briefed on two topics: the December"What is Equity" project and the upcoming May forum. She was provided with an overview of the forum's purpose, the various formats which were used in the past, and the student's perspective as to why they think the forum is important. Forum Discussion Topics Time and Date: there was discussion on whether the event should be a one-day, multi- day, or weekend event. To keep it manageable and supervised, and to facilitate parents, the one-evening format was preferred. Preferred date: Wednesday May 12, 1999 7:00-9:00 p.m. Advertising: Tanya indicated that 10 youths will be hired by March 22 through the Critical Path Project. These youths will be working on 3 projects (including the Pickering . Forum). They may also be part of a theatre/drama group who will be visiting different schools; maybe the forum could incorporate their talents. The youth may also be used for to distribute posters and flyers for the forum. Target audience: discussion was raised if our intended audience is primarily elementary or secondary students, or both. New Format: Jane indicated that previous forums involved dialogue, showcasing, and presentations, but no interactive activities. This idea was well received by the sub- committee. Various interactive games such as Bafa-Bafa were discussed. These normally take 2 or more hours to conduct mainly because of the debriefing time required at the end of the activity. The Ambassador's Game simulation may be most appropriate. A further idea was to have school-based assemblies where students could participate in various interactive game activities. These students would later attend the Forum as a culminating event. Panel Discussion: this idea should be continued but in a modified format from last year. This will be discussed at a later date. Keynote Speaker: several suggestions were raised. Kristy will investigate the possibility of obtaining Silken Laumann and Mike"Pinball" Clemens. Presentations: possible activities include singing, skits, dances and literature readings. A suggestion was made to have more"facts" read aloud for emphasis and effect (eg. The% of literate women in Country A is x%) Budget: Sharon will investigate the budget available for this forum Other issues to consider but not discussed at this time: emcees Readings (eg. Last year) Booklet of students' work Other.... Tentative Format • Introduction, Welcome Presentations(2 or 3) Interactive Simulation: Ambassador's Game (International Olympics) Debriefing and Discussion Break (15 minutes) Keynote Speaker Presentations (2 or 3) Panel Discussion Presentations (2 or 3) Closing Remarks Date of Next Meeting To be discussed at the next Town of Pickering Race Relations Committee meeting Wednesday March 24, 1999. Present: Special Guest: Susan O'Neill, Shawn Cameron, Jill Foster(regrets), Tanya Gulliver, Beth Hiorns, Kristy Holt, Jane Kiyonaga, Phil Matsushita, Sharon Miller, Manraj Pannu, Rumnik Pannu, Pritty Patel foruml.doc • THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD MEET This game focuses on our response to cultural differences. Divide the children into two equal groups, no more than fourteen participants altogether. Give the first group the welcoming committee's (hosts' ) scenario to read. Tell them you will return to answer their questions. Go to the second group ( in another room or area) with the scenario for the visiting athletes. Instruct them together. Is it a good idea to have them practice their roles for a moment after you answer their questions and while you return to the first group. If you can have juice and cookies as props this does help children get involved in their roles. Some of them may have only a vague notion of what an 'official reception' might be like. When ready have the visiting athletes arrive. The party should not last longer than ten minutes. End the party and start the follow-up discussion. First focus on the group of hosts and ask how they felt in their roles. Was it easy? How did you respond to the other? Did the visitors respond readily to their efforts? Were they fun to talk to? What did they learn? Then turn to the visitors. Were they made to feel comfortable in this country? Did they feel welcome? What were the charges in the behaviour of the hosts? Were there any difficulties? Would they like to live here? If not, why not? Discuss fully. Explain that the exercise was a small example of the difficulties in intercultural communication between individuals. We very naturally look at other cultures through our own cultural glasses - based on the values, attitudes and behaviours we've learned here. The difficulty lies in the fact that people in other cultures are looking at themselves and others through their own glasses - based on their values, attitudes and behaviours. What does this mean in the classroom: In terms of the teachers' responsibility? The students' responsibility? ** N.B. It is important to distinguish between non-verbal behavioural differences and value differences. The coordiantor's responsibility is to let the children discover how newcomers may feel when coming here and why. Some of the participants may recall how they or their families felt when they did arrive. Once when we had an opportunity to video-tape the session, children were extremely surprised when confronted on the screen with their own non-verbal behaviour. cont' d (a) You are (a) young sprinter(s) from TABOR, visiting this country for the first time. You have been told before leaving that your country would be judged abroad by the way you behave, so you have to be very polite at all times. In your country, it is not polite to look directly at people when talking to them. During this party you look straight down on the floor when talking to your hosts. (b) You are (a) high jumper(s) from IBIDA, and you are coming here for the first time. You speak English very well. In IBIDA people are very friendly with each other. They stand very close to the person they are talking to. You are trying to be very friendly to make a good impression and remember to stand really close to the person you will be talking to at the forthcoming party. (c) You are on the relay team from MONTISI. You are very proud to have been chosen to run in this international event and you are anxious to be very polite. In MONTISI people touch each other a lot. They hold their partner's hand while talking to him or her, or touch each other on the shoulder or arm. You want your hosts to think well of you, so you touch them all the time. (d) You are (an) athlete(s) from SYLVANIA. : In your country it is an old tradition to never interrupt people. This is to show that you are polite and listening to what is being said. You go so far in SYLVANIA as to wait for 15 seconds before answering another person's questions to show him or her that you are carefully considering it. So you try to be extra polite and count to 15 (by yourself) before speaking to your host. (e) You are a long distance runner from DANESTA. In your country, an outgoing and friendly person speaks loudly and uses his/her hands a great deal. In addition, it is considered polite to begin speaking before the other person has completed a sentence to show that you are really listening. Senario: Welcoming Committee (Hosts) You are a group of young athletes who have been chosen by your government to represent your country and to welcome the visiting athletes from a number of foreign countries. 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CD 0 AD O O 0 a. 0 P" , O a4 a N o A7 i • ' ' AREAS OF FOCUS Demography/Community Diversity - c-.----Aa --L � -r) Mission Statement: The Town of Pickering values human diversity as a strength in the community and is committed to recognizing the positive contribution of each individual and group.' For this reason the committee will anticipate and respond to the needs of the changing ethnic, racial and cultural composition of the community.2 Racial Incidents/Antiracism/Race Relations/ Strategies and Initiatives Mission Statement: Whereas the Town of Pickering has explicitly affirmed it's commitment to safeguard the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code and has expressed it's rejection of any harassment or active discrimination, as well as behaviour which insults, degrades, or stereotypes any person because of ancestry, colour, citizenship, creed, ethnic origin,place of origin, religious affiliation or race', the committee will promote attitudinal change towards systemic racism and discrimination in the community and promote and foster respect, understanding, communication and cooperation, and equitable treatment among all citizens.2 I 1, Mission Statement: The Town of Pickering has made a commitment in it Race Relations Policy to promote non-discriminatory policies and practices and to assist institutions, organizations, agencies and groups in their endeavours to promote racial and ethnic harmony.' The committee, correspondingly, has been formed to acknowledge a municipal role in providing leadership and setting an example to the community through cultural and race relations policies and programs.2 ;immunity Relations/Network/3 .mmunity Partnerships/ immunity Input Mission Statement: Whereas the Town of Pickering recognizes that community awareness and involvement are important to the success of it's Race Relations Policy', the committee, in keeping with the purposes for which it has been formed, will promote full and equal access to and provide the opportunity for participation of all citizens in the social, cultural, economic and political affairs of the community.2 i Municipal Policies, Programs and Practices/ Report Mission Statement: In order to carry out its mandate, the committee will give guidance and advise the municipality and, through the Mayor, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Pickering, on matters involving race relations and equity issues.3 ' Appreciating Differences, Town of Pickering Race Relations Policy. 2 The Mandate of the Committee 3The Terms of Reference of the Committee i 2 1. Objectives To inform the public of the policies, programs and activities of the township to achieve lJ ethnocultural equity and to promote respect and understanding among its diverse cultural communities. To analyze and project trends based on the demographic statistics of the Town's population including languages spoken, sizes of ethnic, racial or cultural groups, immigration trends and settlement patterns and other relevant socio-economic data. /� To receive and review data regarding incidents of prejudice, racism or conflicts of a racial Unature. 0 To network with social service agencies, ethnocultural groups and organizations interested in promoting race relations in the community. 5 To develop and recommend short and long term anti-racist strategies and cross-cultural communications initiatives. f To review policies, practices and programs of the municipality and to recommend adjustments or v new initiatives 0 To submit to Council an annual written report. 1 l± ;; I# •