HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 3, 2022
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Pickering Anti Black Racism Taskforce
February 3, 2022
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: Z. Adatia
A. Davis
C. Farinha
O. Grignon
F. Heath
N. Sinclair
S. Karwowski, Director, Finance & Treasurer
K. Roberts, Coordinator, Community Partnerships
A. Gallagher, Audience Development Officer
C. Addo-Bekoe, Manager, People and Culture, Pickering Public Library (Staff
Liaison)
J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison)
A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: K. Noronha
D. Governor
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome and Call to Order
J. San Antonio welcomed everyone to the meeting
and called the meeting to order.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by O. Grignon
Seconded by N. Sinclair
That the agenda for the February 3, 2022 meeting of
the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be
approved.
Carried
3. Disclosure of Interest
No disclosures of interest were noted.
4. Approval of Minutes – January 11, 2022
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Moved by N. Sinclair
Seconded by F. Heath
That the Minutes of the January 11, 2022 meeting of
the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be
approved.
Carried
5. Delegations
5.1 Krystal Roberts, Coordinator, Community
Partnerships; and Amanda Gallagher, Audience
Development Officer
City of Pickering
Re: City initiatives and collaboration
opportunities
K. Roberts, Coordinator, Community Partnerships,
spoke to opportunities that the Taskforce could
collaborate on, including Artfest, Canada Day, and
Cultural Fusion.
A question and answer period ensued between K.
Roberts and members regarding the availability of the
gazebo in Esplanade Park for events and the artist
submission deadline for these events.
Members requested that Staff share an updated list
of events that PABRT could be engaged on.
A. Gallagher, Audience Development Officer,
provided information on new programming and
initiatives at the Pickering Village Museum including a
new exhibit on Pickering’s Black history, and a new
tourism route to feature Pickering’s Black heritage.
Members expressed they would like to be involved
but expressed concern given the current low
membership of the Taskforce.
Members asked for regular updates on such
initiatives moving forward.
5.2 Esther Forde, Curator
Cultural Expressions Art Gallery
Re: Black History Month celebration
opportunities
E. Forde, Curator, Cultural Expressions Art Gallery,
presented information regarding the
K. Roberts to provide an
updated list to J. San
Antonio to provide to the
Taskforce.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
2022 Black History Month Celebration.
Discussion ensued on the Taskforce’s intent to be
involved in this event next year, and the sourcing of
artists for a Black space at Artfest.
6. General Business
6.1 Update from Finance Department
S. Karwowski provided an update to the Taskforce
regarding a new Smart Check process to receive and
process invoices in a timely manner.
Discussion ensued between members and staff
regarding concerns around outstanding payments to
Taskforce vendors, and how to make the invoicing
process easier to navigate and accessible to young
or new vendors.
S. Karwowski noted that Staff would connect with J.
San Antonio to explore opportunities for process
improvements.
6.2 PABRT Appointments
O. Grignon and members provided an update on the
appointment of new Taskforce members.
6.3 Nuit Noir planning
O. Grignon provided information about the Nuit Noir
event, and suggested that the event be tabled until
September due to the magnitude of the event and
that the Taskforce focus on creating spaces for Black
artists in the meantime at other events.
A discussion ensued around the City needing to
resolve the issues around the invoicing process
before sourcing new vendors, and expressed
frustration around the Taskforce not being involved
earlier in the City’s event planning process.
6.4 Environmental scan for new Pickering
developments
O. Grignon and F. Heath to
send summary information
from the selection process to
J. San Antonio for the
Council Report compilation.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
Members discussed Community Benefit Agreements
and how the Taskforce could explore what this would
look like in the City of Pickering.
Members discussed barriers for visible minorities
accessing skilled trades and jobs and agreement
stipulations that could include construction
companies showing their plans to hire more visible
minorities.
Mayor Ryan informed the Taskforce that Durham
College is undertaking an expansion of the skilled
trades program and that the Taskforce should
connect with them.
J. San Antonio recommended that the Taskforce
have some preliminary discussions and brainstorming
on this item, and then present it at the next meeting
where new members will be present.
J. San Antonio also informed the Taskforce that she
will work with Mayor Ryan to ensure that the
connection with Durham College skilled trades
program is facilitated.
6.5 Quarterly Newsletter
Members discussed the idea of a quarterly newsletter
as another tool to reach to community.
J. San Antonio suggested that this item be brought to
the meeting with the City’s Corporate
Communications team on February 4, 2022.
6.7 Work plan update
Members agreed to table this item until the next
Taskforce meeting.
7. Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence.
8. Other Business
8.1 Social Media
Members presented the idea of hiring a
Communications Coordinator for the Taskforce to
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
monitor the social media accounts, publish a
newsletter, and raise the Taskforce’s profile in the
community.
Members discussed the feasibility of hiring a
Communication Coordinator and associated costs.
8.2 Podcast Series
Members discussed the idea of the Taskforce starting
a podcast that could feature Black voices and help
engage youth and adults on issues of interest in the
community.
J. San Antonio suggested that this item be brought to
the meeting with the City’s Corporate
Communications team on February 4, 2022.
8.3 City’s EDI Strategy & Black History Month
Initiatives.
J. San Antonio provided an update on the City’s EDI
strategy and engagements around Black History
Month.
8.4 Reaching out to other organizations in the
community
Members discussed the need to reach out to other
community organizations and partners to let them
know about the Taskforce and its work.
9. Next Meeting – March 3, 2022
10. Adjournment.
Moved by N. Sinclair
Seconded by F. Heath
That the meeting be adjourned.
Carried.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:09 pm