HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 1, 2023
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Minutes/Meeting Summary
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce
June 1, 2023
Electronic Meeting
7:00 pm
Attendees: D. David
D. Dill
Z. Donaldson
A. Fraser
O. Grignon
K. Hanson
B. Loiseau
S. Mascoll
K. Petrolo
V. Shaw
Z. Adatia (Guest)
J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison)
C. Addo-Bekoe, Manager, People and Culture, Pickering Public Library (Staff
Liaison)
D. YewWoon, Community Engagement Coordinator, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
A. MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary)
Absent: Mayor K. Ashe
C. Canzius
P. Martin
C. Russell
K. Smith
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
1. Welcome and Call to Order
O. Grignon welcomed everyone to the meeting and
called the meeting to order.
J. San Antonio provided information regarding the
Durham Annual Pride Parade and invited Taskforce
Members to participate.
2. Review and Approval of Agenda
Moved by S. Mascoll
Seconded by D. Dill
Page 2 of 8
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
That the June 1, 2023 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 V. Shaw
Seconded by D. Dill
That the May 11, 2023 Meeting Minutes of the
Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be
approved.
Carried
5. Presentations
5.1 Zhora Adatia
Re: Confronting Anti-Black Racism
Workshop Proposal
The Taskforce took turns sharing what they love
about Pickering.
Zhora Adatia made a presentation regarding a
proposal for a Confronting Anti-Black Racism
Workshop.
Discussion ensued with Taskforce Members
regarding:
• this initiative being an opportunity to team
build;
• concerns around the timing of the
initiative given the Taskforce just formed;
and,
• the importance of this initiative for the
Taskforce’s public engagement and
messaging.
Moved by Z. Donaldson
Seconded by D. David
1. That the Taskforce proceed with the Confronting
Anti-Black Racism Workshop; and,
Z. Donaldson and D. David
volunteered to be a part of
the needs assessment for
the Confronting Anti-Black
Racism Workshop.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
2. That two Members of Taskforce be a part of the
initial needs assessment.
Carried
Moved by V. Shaw
Seconded by K. Smith
That Zhora Adatia be provided a payment in the
amount of $100.00 for her services related to the
Confronting Anti-Black Racism Workshop.
Carried
Taskforce Members inquired as to how this work will
be undertaken and it was clarified that Z. Donaldson
and D. David will be reviewing the content of the
Confronting Anti-Black Racism Workshop.
6. Delegations
There were no delegations.
7. General Business
7.3 Review Terms of Reference and Areas of
Revision
O. Grignon spoke to the Review of the Terms of
Reference and solicited two Taskforce Members
to volunteer to review the Terms of Reference
and bring forward a draft to the Taskforce at the
September Taskforce Meeting.
7.4 Volunteers for Communications, Social Media,
Marketing & Budget
O. Grignon provided a background of the social
platforms that the Taskforce is on and indicated
that the Taskforce is looking for Members to lead
the Communications, Social Media, and
Marketing efforts.
O. Grignon indicated that P. Martin expressed
interest in co-leading Communications, Social
Media, and Marketing, and Z. Donaldson also
volunteered to co-lead this area as well.
D. Dill and S. Mascoll
volunteered to review the
Terms of Reference.
O. Grignon to forward
additional information around
previous social media
initiatives to P. Martin and Z.
Donaldson, and it was
suggested that P. Martin and
Z. Donaldson meet with
Shauna Muir, Supervisor,
Public Affairs & Corporate
Communications.
Page 4 of 8
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
The Taskforce discussed taking photos for the
Taskforce’s social media channels at the
upcoming Pride Parade Event.
O. Grignon provided an overview of the
Taskforce’s past experience with a digital
marketer to manage the social media channels,
and explained the need to fund and acquire a
digital marketer for managing the Taskforce’s
social media.
The Taskforce engaged in discussion regarding:
• whether the Communications Team
should first provide a budget proposal
before providing funds;
• the urgency to fund Communications,
Social Media, Marketing given low
inventories of marketing materials prior to
the summer recess;
• the opportunity to potentially obtain
marketing material at low cost through D.
Dill’s marketing company;
• whether the Taskforce should consider
approving a budget for Communications,
Social Media, Marketing for the duration
of the summer, rather than the remainder
of the year;
• clarification that the approved budget
would be for acquiring a digital marketer
and obtaining marketing materials;
• the expected timeline of contracting a
digital marketer prior to September 2023;
• ensuring that there is a marketing plan
and whether marketing materials can be
budgeted quarterly;
• whether a student or intern could be
considered for the Taskforce’s digital
marketer role;
• whether dry fit shirts can be considered if
the Taskforce is considering branded
shirts; and,
• the anticipated hiring of the digital
marketer before September 2023.
Moved by K. Petrolo
Seconded by D. David
Page 5 of 8
Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
That the Taskforce grant up to $6,500.00 for
Communications, Social Media, and Marketing
from June – September 2023.
Carried
7.1 Review of Executive Roles and
Responsibilities
O. Grignon solicited the Taskforce as to whether
they wish to review the Executive Roles and
Responsibilities. The Taskforce agreed to review
this item in more detail in September.
The Taskforce agreed to continue rotating the
role of Meeting Chair. O. Grignon indicated that
the Taskforce will be solicited over the summer
for someone to volunteer to Chair the next
meeting.
7.2 Stakeholder Representation
O. Grignon spoke to the current makeup of the
Taskforce Membership being residents, and
solicited the Taskforce as to whether they would
like representation from stakeholder or
community organizations on the Taskforce.
A. MacGillivray provided clarity as to how the
Taskforce could add Stakeholder Organizations
that they would like to sit on the Taskforce
regularly, and suggested that the Taskforce have
preliminary conversations with any stakeholder
that they may be considering adding to their
Terms of Reference.
The Taskforce indicated that they would give this
more thought over the summer and have a
detailed conversation at the September Meeting.
EDI Strategy - Community Working Group –
Request for a Volunteer
O. Grignon solicited the Taskforce for a Member
to volunteer to represent the Taskforce on the
City’s EDI Strategy - Community Working Group.
D. Dill, S. Mascoll, and V.
Shaw expressed interest in
attending the EDI Strategy -
Community Working Group,
and that they will
discuss/coordinate which
one Member will attend each
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
J. San Antonio provided an overview of the
tentative details of the EDI Strategy - Community
Working Group.
Discussion ensued with Taskforce Members
regarding the dates not being confirmed yet and
whether the Taskforce could select an alternate
Member that could attend, should the primary
Member not be available.
7.5 Upcoming Events, Planning and Budget
Canada Day Event
O. Grignon provided an overview of the
Taskforce’s involvement in the City’s upcoming
Canada Day Event. O. Grignon solicited whether
any Members would commit to taking the lead on
coordinating the Taskforces involvement in
Canada Day, including attending a Planning
Meeting during the week of June 5, 2023,
planning a children’s activity, scheduling Members
to attend the event etc.
O. Grignon also explained the photo frame
children’s activity idea and described the
anticipated costs associated with the activity.
Moved by B. Loiseau
Seconded by D. David
That the Taskforce grant up to $1,500.00 to the
Canada Day children’s activity.
Carried.
Emancipation Day Event
D. YewWoon provided a brief update noting that
the Event is still in the early planning stages and
that there is an opportunity for the Taskforce to be
involved having a table at the event. O. Grignon
solicited Members for a lead on coordinating
details with the Region of Durham and scheduling
Members to participate in this Event.
Discussion ensued with the Taskforce regarding
the anticipated date of the Event being August 1,
2023 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
session once the dates are
confirmed.
K. Petrolo volunteered to
help with coordinating the
Canada Day Event, noting
that she will be unable to
attend the Planning Meeting
during the week of June 5,
2023, and that she is not
available to attend the event
on July 1, 2023. O. Grignon
indicated that she may be
able to attend the Planning
Meeting in the event Keisha
Smith cannot attend.
D. YewWoon to follow up
with the Taskforce to inform
them when the planning
meeting for the
Emancipation Day event will
be and whether someone
from the Taskforce can
attend.
V. Shaw indicated that they
would help with coordinating
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
International Decade for People of African
Descent / ABR Identifier Event in
collaboration with Pickering Public Library
O. Grignon provided a brief overview of the Event
and that the Taskforce will be bringing forward a
Report to Council for approval for this Event. She
indicated that her and J. San Antonio were
meeting on June 2, 2023 to begin drafting the
Report to Council and that there will be future
meetings to plan the details of this Event.
details with the Region of
Durham and scheduling
Members to participate in the
Emancipation Day Event.
B. Loiseau and D. David
indicated that they would
help with the International
Decade for People of African
Descent / ABR Identifier
Event.
8. Correspondence
8.1 'Very hurtful, scary ... traumatizing:' Ajax man
decries anti-Black racist posters, letters in
Ajax, Pickering
O. Grignon explained that this article was sent to
Councillor Brenner by a Black-identifying resident
and provided an overview of the incident.
Discussion ensued with the Taskforce
discussing:
• the response by the Mayor of the Town of
Ajax;
• whether the DDSB has sent any letters out
or taken any action regarding the matter;
• whether the Taskforce could consider an
education campaign to promote awareness
of the issue;
• the perceived emptiness of the standard
responses to these types of incidents;
• what the scope of the Taskforce’s response
should be;
• the Taskforce not taking on the role of
spokesperson for the City on these matters;
• whether there is a process for the City to
handle similar situations in the community in
the future;
• the role for the Taskforce to provide advice
to Council;
• the opportunity to include working on a City
process to handle situations like this in the
Taskforce’s Work Plan.
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Item/
Ref #
Details & Discussion & Conclusion
(summary of discussion)
Action Items/Status
(include deadline as
appropriate)
9. Other Business
Pride and Inclusion
O. Grignon spoke to the importance of fostering
inclusion in the community and encouraged Members
of the Taskforce to attend the Pride Parade Event.
City of Pickering EDI Strategy - Survey
J. San Antonio provided information regarding the
survey now available to the community regarding the
City’s EDI Strategy on the Pickering Lets Talk
platform.
10. Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for September 14,
2023 at 7:00pm.
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Adjourned: 8:49 pm