HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 1, 2007
Cilq 0# Minutes
PICKERING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON RACE RELATIONS & EQUITY
November 1, 2007
7:00 pm
Main Committee Room
Attendees: Marisa Carpino, City of Pickering, Co-Chair
Sethu Madhavan, Community Appointee
Kirk Mark, Community Appointee
Cathy Grant, Pickering Public Library
Philip Howard, Durham District School Board
Fred Gibson, Pickering Carib Canadian Cultural Association
Mariyah Gonzales, Dunbarton High School
Margaret Lazarus, Valley Farm Public School
Siobhan Saravanamutto, Dunbarton High School
Sharon Singh, Pine Ridge Secondary School
Marcia Dixon, Pickering Resident
Linda Roberts (Recording Secretary)
Regrets: Councillor David Pickles, Chair
Tanya Malika Foster, Community Appointee
Adrian Rampersad, Dunbarton High School
Joanne Guindon, Durham Catholic District School Board
Ansar Siddiqui, Pine Ridge Secondary School
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
of
Action Items I Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
roval of Business and Minutes
Marisa went through the action items from the previous
meeting. Philip confirmed that everything was fine with
the photos and info for the contest and that the
information had been forwarded on to the internal
magazine. Discussion ensued on how to present the
annual report. Linda advised the Committee that it could
be done as a written report, or a formal presentation. A
formal presentation would be done as a delegation to
Council with a maximum of ten minutes allowed. The
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timeframe for this would be anytime between January and
March of 2008. The Committee recommended that we do
a written report as well as a formal presentation.
Siobhan and Mariyah will bring ideas for youth website to
the December meeting.
Minutes of the October 4th, 2007 meeting of Race
Relations were approved.
Marisa .Ca
Marisa provided an update on the Heritage Day Event for
2008. The location is the Pickerin~1 Town Centre and they
may be undergoing some reconstruction which will include
the centre court area. She indicatEld they will not confirm
a timetable on the construction until December.
Discussion ensued with respect to the event:
. Should we defer for one year
. Space is always a challengEl, there are not a lot of
options, mall provides traffic
. This event is established, has been held for many
years, may be OK to defer for one year
. Possibly concentrate efforts into the March Break
programs and introduce in place of this for next
year.
. Another suitable location could come up
. Deal with changes when they happen
As Tanya Foster was unavailable for an update, Cathy
suggested meeting with Mariyah and Siobhan to discuss
programs. Discussion ensued with respect to Harmony
Links. Cathy provided background information on the 8
week program and briefly outlined what the organization
does. Siobhan mentioned they are running this program
at their school. It was suggested the Committee could
take ideas from this and incorporate them into their own
program. It was suggested we could possibly have the
students who have taken part in thi!s program come out
and provide assistance during the March Break programs.
The Committee could use Harmony Links as a point of
reference, develop from this and bE~ youth driven.
Marisa to let us know in
December if VEmue is Ok
Cathy, Mariyah and
Siobhan to meet and
provide an update at the
next meeting
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The Star program was also mentioned. This involves
grades 7 - 10 at no cost.
I
I The program developed by the Committee would run at
the Library. The length of time is dependent on the
program.
6.0
StudentWritin
Marisa provided an update on the student writing contest.
She reported everything is going well. It was questioned
whether French submissions could be judged, and how
many. Philip advised there are several French immersion
schools which could be interested. Does the judging team
have the capacity to judge large numbers of entries.
I It was suggested splitting the judging into age categories.
I
Members asked if any members of the Committee would
be attending an area meeting at the schools to promote
the contest. Marisa confirmed that Councillor Pickles had
asked for the list again to do follow up calls to the schools.
Marisa to confirm how
many French entries
could be judged and will
email Philip
Siobhan informed the Committee that Forest Brook
Community Church in Ajax held a multi-faith discussion
with representatives from various cultural groups in
attendance. Each speaker was given 20 minutes to
speak. The turnout was very good.
Mariyah and Siobhan asked if they could get more youth
involved with the Race Relations Committee. They could
provide more support with the March break programs.
Siobhan indicated a lot of potential at her school as well
as others.
Discussed a Youth Booth for Heritage Day. Sub
committee to work on this, possibly hold meetings here in
the Main Committee Room.
Marisa endorsed and will
confer with Councillor
Pickles
8:00 pm
Next Meeting: Thursday, December 6,2007 at 7:00 pm in
the Main Committee Room
Copy: City Clerk
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