EIGHTH MEETING OF THE

RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR 2008

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Ontario Room, Markham Civic Centre

Monday, October 6, 2008 – 7:30 p.m.

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE: Committee Regional Councillor T. Wong Jobson Easow, Chair Rochelle Bowmile, Vice Chair Vilvan Gunasingham Aisha Manji Winnie Wales Javaid Khan Kevin Koo Staff Laura Gold, Committee Clerk Nadine Daley, Manager of Human Resources

Regrets Heather Christian-Simmonds Councillor L. Kanapathi June Veecock Theresa Coulter Sharon Laing, Director of Human Resource

The eighth meeting of Markham Race Relations Committee convened at 7:30 PM with Jobson Easow presiding as Chair.

1. CHAIRS OPENING REMARKS

Mr. Jobson Easow, Chair, welcomed the Committee to the Eighth Race Relations Committee meeting of 2008. He welcomed Nadine Daley, Manager of Human Resources, who was in attendance to provide an update on the Town’s diversity initiative.

2. MINUTES OF THE JUNE 2, 2008 AND SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 RACE RELATION COMMITTEE

June 2, 2008

Moved by: Vilvan Gunasingham

Seconded by: Rachelle Bowmile

That the minutes of the June 2, 2008 Race Relations Committee be adopted.

September 8, 2008

The attendance of the September 8, 2008 Markham Race Relations Committee Minutes was corrected by listing Regional Councillor Wong under regrets.

Moved by: Vilvan Gunasingham

Seconded by: Aisha Manji

That the minutes of the September 8, 2008 Race Relations Committee be adopted as amended.

3. CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

Vilvan Gunasingham, Committee Member, requested that the following items be added to future Race Relations Committee Agendas:

• Town of Markham HR Update
• A. Diversity update
• B. Vision update

4. NEW BUSINESSS

The Committee discussed changing the meeting time from 7:30 PM to 7:00 PM. In the spirit of compromise the Committee agreed to change the meeting time to 7:15 PM.

5. DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

The Committee thanked Ms. Daley for providing the Committee with an update on the Town’s diversity initiative. Ms. Daley advised the Committee of the Town’s partnership with Career Bridge, and Ability Edge. She explained that Career Bridge offers internships for foreign trained immigrants, and Ability Edge offers internships for educated individuals with a disability. She advised that 29% of the interns that the Town employs obtain permanent employment with the Town. She showed the Committee the website for Career Bridge and Ability Edge, explaining a database is used to link applicant skills with job postings, noting applicants are provided with a mentor upon receiving an internship opportunity.

Rochelle Bowman, Vice Chair, inquired about the promotion of these internships. Ms. Daley believed the Career Bridge and Ability Edge internship programs were promoted predominantly by word of mouth. Ms. Bowman inquired what the Town’s role is with respect to hosting the internship. Ms. Daley explained that Ability Edge provides funding for 6 months (which the Town may top up) and that the Town provides the intern with a formal position for 6 months.

Mr.Gunasingham asked if Ability Edge internships were filled principally with graduates (with a disability) of Canadian post secondary institutions. Ms. Daley believed that the Ability Edge focused on graduates with a disability educated in Canada.

Ms. Daley advised that the Town was partnering with the York Region Municipal Coalition – Character Community. She advised that the Town had reached out to the York Region Police to learn more about its marketing and recruitment policies, as it has been extremely successful in these areas. She informed the Committee that the Town was adopting the Ontario Healthy Communities definition of inclusively, which she described as experiencing both the feeling and reality of belonging.

Ms. Daley advised that by the end of 2008 the Town will have completed the data gathering/ research stage of the Diversity Initiative and will be entering the implementation stage in the first quarter of 2009. She explained the Town has been taking small, but meaningful steps (towards achieving its diversity goals) in order to keep a high energy level among Town Staff. Mr. Easow inquired when the Diversity Plan would be complete. Ms. Daley believed it would be completed in 2009 and explained that a third party auditor was hired to track the Town’s progress with respect to the timelines stipulated by the Diversity Initiative.

6. SUB COMMITTEE UPDATES

6. A. Event Sub Committee Update

The Committee discussed the 2009 Many Faces of Markham event. Ms. Rochelle Bowman, Vice Chair, was appointed to position of Co-Chair of the Event Sub-Committee. Ms. Bowman was requested to determine if a date had been selected for the 2009 Many Faces of Markham event, and if Markham Theatre had been booked. Mr. Easow and Ms. Bowman agreed to work together to appoint the other Co-Chair of the Event Sub-Committee. The first Event Sub-Committee meeting was scheduled for October 22, 2008 at 7:30 PM in the Ontario Room. It was estimated that Committee Members spent about 40 hours of volunteer work planning and executing the event in previous years.

6. B. Policy Sub-Committee

The Committee was advised that Mr. Easow and Mr. Gunasingham made a deputation to the General Committee on September 8, 2008 recommending that the Town of Markham join the UNESCO Coalition Against Racism and Discrimination. Council referred this matter to staff, requesting that they conduct further research on what it would entail for the Town to join the Coalition with respect to the financial implications, and the amount of manpower it would involve. Staff were directed to report back to Council on this matter, noting that Staff were not provided with a specific timeline.

7. NEW BUSINESS

7. A. Multi Cultural Dates

The Committee reviewed the 2009 multi cultural dates and requested the following changes or additions be made:

List the Chinese New Year and Asian Heritage Month under other (rather then as Buddhist holidays);

Add Tamil Pongal - Jan. 14, 2009

Add Tamil New Year - April 13, 2009

Add Simhat Torah - October 11, 2009 (Jewish)

Add Moon Festival - October 3, 2009 (Chinese)

7. B. CHRISTMAS PARTY/ DECEMBER MEETING

The Committee agreed to have a Christmas Party on December 1, 2008 (instead of having the regularly scheduled meeting) at 7:00 PM at Markham restaurant yet to be confirmed. Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, will send out an email with a list of restaurants that supported the Town’s United Way Campaign.

7. C. Absenteeism

Ms. Gold will email members that have not attended for three consecutive meetings to inquire if they are still interested in being Committee Members of the Race Relations Committee.

8. NEXT MEETING DATE

The next meeting of the Race Relations Committee will be held on November 3, 2008 at 7:15 PM.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The eighth meeting of the Race Relations Committee adjourned at 8:50 PM