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Home My WebLink AboutNovember 2, 2023Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Agenda November 2, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting - 7:00 pm Main Committee Room Chair: O. Grignon For information related to accessibility requirements please contact: Committee Coordinator 905.420.4611 clerks@pickering.ca Members of the public may observe the meeting proceedings by viewing the livestream. Page 1.Welcome and Call to Order O. Grignon 2.Review and Approval of Agenda O. Grignon 3.Disclosure of Interest O. Grignon 4.Approval of Minutes 4.1 October 12, 2023 1 5.Presentations 5.1 Shailene Panylo, Diversity Initiatives & Community Engagement (DICE) Lead, Durham Children’s Aid Society Re: Initiatives at Durham Children’s Aid Society 6.Delegations 7.General Business 7.1 O. Grignon 8 7.2 D. Dill 7.3 O. Grignon 7.4 Draft 2024 Meeting Schedule and Format Terms of Reference Work Plan Events Updates -Black Joy Holiday Market-Black History in Canada Workshop O. Grignon 7.5 PABRT booth & display enhancement proposal C. Canzius 8.Correspondence 9.Other Business Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Agenda November 2, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting - 7:00 pm Main Committee Room Chair: O. Grignon For information related to accessibility requirements please contact: Committee Coordinator 905.420.4611 clerks@pickering.ca 10.Next Meeting 11.Adjournment Page 1 of 7 Minutes/Meeting Summary Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce October 12, 2023 Hybrid Electronic Meeting 7:00 pm Attendees: C. Canzius A. Fraser O. GrignonB. LoiseauP.MartinS. Mascoll V. Shaw K. HansonMayor K. AsheH.Mohammed, Policy Coordinator, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Division,Region of Durham J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (Staff Liaison)C.Addo-Bekoe, Manager, People and Culture (Staff Liaison)D.YewWoon, Community Engagement Coordinator, Equity, Diversity & InclusionA.MacGillivray, Committee Coordinator (Recording Secretary) Absent: D. DavidD. DillZ. DonaldsonC. Russell K. Petrolo 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. C. Canzius read the Land Acknowledgement. 2. Review and Approval of Agenda Moved by P. Martin Seconded by C. Canzius That the October 12, 2023 Meeting agenda of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved. - 1 - Page 2 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Carried 3. Disclosure of Interest No disclosures of interest were noted. 4. Approval of Minutes Moved by V. Shaw Seconded by A. Fraser That the September 14, 2023 Meeting Minutes of the Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce be approved. Carried 5. Presentations 5.1 Elaine Knox, Community Safety & Well-Being Advisor Re: Community Safety & Well-Being Plan E. Knox, Community Safety & Well-BeingAdvisor, through the aid of a PDF presentation,provided an overview of the City’s DraftCommunity Safety & Well-Being Plan and solicited the Taskforce for feedback. Discussion ensued with Taskforce Members regarding: •how the Community Safety & Well-Being priorities were determined; •whether there were any other initiatives orpriorities that were identified in theCommunity Survey; •clarification that the priorities in the DraftCommunity Safety & Well-Being Plan are notbased on ranked order of significance fromthe Community Survey; and, •clarification around the timeline of the Cityfinalizing and implementing the CommunitySafety & Well-Being Plan. 5.2 Hanna Mohammed, Policy Coordinator, Diversity and Inclusion, Region of Durham Re: Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce Work Plan H. Mohammed, Policy Coordinator, Diversity and Inclusion, Region of Durham, through the aid of a PDF presentation, provided an overview of the - 2 - Page 3 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) Durham Region Anti-Racism Taskforce and their Work Plan. Discussion ensued with Taskforce Members regarding the potential for the Taskforce to collaborate with DRART in the future and how often the DRART meets. 6. Delegations There were no delegations. 7. General Business 7.1 Terms of Reference O. Grignon reminded the Taskforce that theTerms of Reference was sent out by email on September 27, 2023 and that members have the opportunity to edit or add comments to thedocument. S. Mascoll indicated that there was no feedbackon the document as of yet, and that a more comprehensive document can be provided at the next meeting following any further feedbackreceived over the next month. 7.2 Events Update Confronting Anti-Black Racism Workshop O. Grignon provided an update regarding the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Workshopinitiative including: •clarification of the definition of anti-Black racism; •the element of dehumanization resultingfrom anti-Black racism; •the importance of understanding the difference between intent and impact ofwords and actions; •what the Taskforce can do to dismantle anti-Black racism; •what resources are required, and whatobstacles exist to dismantling anti-Blackracism; •the importance of considering visibility andimpact of Taskforce initiatives; and, - 3 - Page 4 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) •common themes of communication, youthengagement, and collaboration across initiative ideas. O. Grignon solicited the Taskforce as towhether they would like to strike a workinggroup to formulate a Work Plan. Discussion ensued amongst members regarding whether this Working Group should be formed after the Terms of Reference document is finalized. Black Joy Holiday Market (Winter Nights, City Lights) O. Grignon provided an update regarding theBlack Joy Holiday Market (Winter Nights, City Lights) Event and solicited the Taskforce as towhether they would like to support the eventgoing on from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Sunday,November 26, 2023. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce Members regarding: •the amount of members that were involvedin last year’s Black Joy Holiday event; •clarity around what the Taskforce’ssupport would look like for this event; and, •clarity around the days and times that theTaskforce is being solicited for support in this event. O. Grignon showed social media postsshowcasing the 2022 Black Joy Holiday Eventas well as the food baskets that were prepared. Discussion continued amongst Taskforce Members regarding the family-friendly nature of the event, and opportunities to network and engage with the community. Moved by P. Martin Seconded by K. Hanson S. Mascoll indicated that herand D. Dill will send areminder to members toprovide feedback on the Terms of Reference. O. Grignon to send an emailto members to solicit whomay be interested in being a part of the Work PlanWorking Group. J. San Antonio will submit aReport to Council for theupcoming October 23, 2023 - 4 - Page 5 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) That the Taskforce move forward with the Black Joy Holiday Market Event being expanded over 3 days, to include November 26, 2023. Carried 7.3 Media Release of PABRT Statement/Letter O. Grignon provided background contextregarding the “modern day slave” comment madeby Councillor Robinson. C. Canzius read PABRT’s Statement/Letter inresponse. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce Members regarding: •the contributions of various Taskforcemembers to the statement and response; •the Taskforce’s interview with Global News onthis matter; •the importance of addressing these kinds ofsituations in the community; •the importance of leaders needing to represent all of their constituents; and, •the importance of education in addressingthese incidents. J. San Antonio, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and C. Addo-Bekoe, Manager,People and Culture spoke to the City’s EDIStrategy that is being developed and educationbeing a key component. They indicated that feedback from the community and the Taskforce is welcome. Mayor K. Ashe thanked the Taskforce for the work that they do and indicated his support for O. Grignon after her experience delegating at the September 23, 2023 Council Meeting. He thanked City staff and the corporation as a whole for their continued support of the Taskforce and indicated that there was a lot of learning to do. Mayor K. Ashe expressed that input is welcome from the community and Taskforce as to how to make the community a better place, and indicated that if Council Meeting to request approval of the Black Joy Holiday Market Event. - 5 - Page 6 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) there is anything that the City or the Mayor’s Office could do, that the Taskforce can reach out. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce members regarding: •the anticipated implementation of the City’sEDI Strategy in 2024, and that educationcomponents would be incorporated as part of the implementation; •the format and specifics of the training havingnot been finalized as of yet; •the inability to mandate Members of Councilto undergo training unless it is legislated; •whether there was an opportunity to examinepolicies and procedures around what trainings are required of Members of Council; •wanting to ensure the EDI Strategy isintentional and impactful rather thanperformative; •the exploration of various methods andmodels to embed and implement continuousEDI education within the City; •the expected engagement with the community on the City’s EDI Strategy on a continuousbasis; and, •concerns around the inability to require Members of Council undertake EDI training. 8. Correspondence There was no correspondence. 9. Other Business 9.1 Shooting Incident at Pickering Casino Resort A. Fraser spoke to the shooting incident that had recently occurred at the Pickering Casino Resort, andwhether further information has been provided to theCity or Taskforce regarding the incident. Mayor Ashe indicated that he was briefed on the incident and provided the Taskforce a brief overview of the incident and indicated that it was still under investigation. He also highlighted the crowdfunding efforts underway in support of the victim’s family. - 6 - Page 7 of 7 Item/ Ref # Details & Discussion & Conclusion (summary of discussion) Action Items/Status (include deadline as appropriate) 9.2 Meeting Format O. Grignon solicited the Taskforce as to whetherthey wish to continue conducting meetings in Hybrid format, or whether they would like to moveto virtual meetings. Discussion ensued amongst Taskforce members regarding whether they could alternate between Hybrid and Electronic format and that a further discussion can be had when the 2024 Meeting Schedule is considered at the November 2, 2023 Meeting. 9.3 Black Community Mixtapes TV Series P. Martin informed the Taskforce of the TV show Black Community Mixtapes which documents thehistory and stories of Black Canadians. He notedthat the show airs on Sundays on CityTV, andmentioned that the Taskforce could perhapsconsider exploring a community watch group and archiving this material for the library. 9.4 Anti-Black Racism in Canada Course P. Martin spoke to the Anti-Racism CertificateCourse that he is involved in authoring atCentennial College. Paul Martin to send Taskforce Members more information regarding the TV show. 10. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for November 2, 2023 at 7:00pm. 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned. Meeting Adjourned: 8:56 pm - 7 - Pickering Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Draft 2024 Meeting Schedule January 4, 2024 – 7:00 pm February 1, 2024 – 7:00 pm March 7, 2024 – 7:00 pm April 4, 2024 – 7:00 pm May 2, 2024 – 7:00 pm June 6, 2024 – 7:00 pm September 12, 2024 – 7:00 pm October 3, 2024 – 7:00 pm November 7, 2024 – 7:00 pm - 8 -