FIFTH MEETING OF THE

RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR 2009

TOWN OF MARKHAM

 

Ontario Room, Markham Civic Centre

Monday, September 14, 2009
7:15 PM – 9:00 PM

 

MINUTES

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

Committee

Councillor L. Kanapathi

Jobson Easow, Chair

Aisha Manji

Winnie Wales

Vilvan Gunasingham

Staff

Laura Gold, Committee Clerk

Nadine Daley, Manager of Human Resources

Cheryl McConney-Wilson, Diversity Specialist

 

 

 

Regrets

Rochelle Bowmile, Vice Chair

Sharon Laing, Director of Human Resource

Kevin Koo

Theresa Coulter
Javaid Khan

 

 

The Race Relations Committee meeting was called to order at 7:24 PM with Jobson Easow presiding as Chair.

 

1.         CHAIRS OPENING REMARKS

 

The Chair welcomed the Committee back from the summer break.  The Committee welcomed Cheryl McConney-Wilson, Diversity Specialist, to the Race Relations Committee.

 

2.         MINUTES OF THE RACE RELATIONS COMMITTEE

 

Moved by Vilvan Gunasingham

Seconded by Winnie Wales

 

That the minutes of the June 1, 2009 Race Relations Committee be adopted as presented.

 

CARRIED

 

3.         PASSING AWAY OF REGIONAL COUNCILLOR TONY WONG

 

The Committee expressed its deepest sorrow with respect to the passing away of Regional Councillor Tony Wong.  Members discussed his commitment to the Race Relations Committee, noting it was one of his favourite Committee’s and that he rarely missed a meeting.  The Committee spoke about his dedication to the Many Faces of Markham event, and his ambition to each year raise the standard of the event and make it a celebrated event of Markham.  The Committee expressed their deepest Condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Regional Councillor Tony Wong.  Members noted that Regional Councillor Tony Wong will be missed by the Race Relations Committee.

 

 

4.         CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA.

 

There were no changes or addition to the agenda.

 

 

5.         MARKHAM HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE

 

5. A.    DIVERSITY UPDATE

 

Ms. Nadine Daley, Manager of Human Resources introduced Ms. Cheryl McConney-Wilson the Town’s new Diversity Specialist.  The Committee was advised that Ms. McConney-Wilson has more than seven years of progressive experience in the area of Diversity and Equity in both the public and private sectors, with her most recent experience being from Ryerson University where she held the position of Senior Diversity Consultant.  Ms. Daley thanked Councillor Logan Kanapathi, and Vilvan Gunasingham for their help with the recruitment of the Diversity Specialist.

 

Ms. Daley reported that the Town continued to hold diversity focus groups over the summer months.  She advised that the focus group noted transportation and accessibility as key issues within the Town.  Reporting that the type of accessibility issues identified were with respect to enabling people to participate, for example the tone of language used in materials provided to the community (rather than accessibility issues regarding accessing a building).  She also provided the example of the “festival of lights” event, noting the name may communicate that the event is for certain stakeholders and not for others. 

 

Ms. Daley advised that the Town was very close to presenting the final draft of the Diversity Plan.  She advised that the UNESCO guidelines and the Building Markham’s Future Together strategy are tied/ cross referenced to the recommendations provided in the Diversity Plan.  M. Daley reported that the Town has officially established a Seniors Advisory Committee, which is tied to the Town’s diversity initiative, noting the Committee probably will not be active for another year.

 

 

 

The Committee was advised that there will be a York Region Film Festival (this will be the first film festival in York Region), which will feature stories of people living in York Region.  The films will be produced by people living in York Region.  The Diversity Specialist advised this year’s festival would focus on youth, but noted this was still to be confirmed.

 

5. B.    VISION UPDATE

 

The Committee inquired if there was a vision statement update (with respect to the Diversity Plan).  Ms. Daley advised that the vision statement will be finalized with the Diversity Plan.  Ms. Daley reported that a presentation of the Diversity Plan is slated to go to the General Committee on October 26, 2009, noting that the Plan will first be presented to the Inclusively Advisory Committee, Senior Management, the Accessibility Committee, and the Race Relations Committee for their review and comments.  She advised that the Diversity Plan was being created in a format that is easy to follow, and that can be easily dissected.

 

6.         SUB COMMITTEE UPDATES

 

6. A.    EVENT SUB-COMMITTEE

 

The Committee was advised that the 2010 Many Faces of Markham event was to be held on March 27, 2010.  The following Members were selected to Co-Chair the event:

 

 

The following Members joined the Event Sub-Committee:

 

 

The Committee agreed that the keynote speaker should appeal to youth.  The Committee was requested to email Laura Gold, Committee Clerk, ideas for a guest speaker, and ideas for the theme of the 12th annual Many Faces of Markham event.  The Members provided the following suggestions for the keynote speaker: 1) Robert Munsch, Children’s Author; 2) Reading Rangers, YTV; and 3) a Storyteller.  It was recommended that Members wear different cultural costumes on the day of the event to celebrate the diversity of Markham.

There was also discussion about having cultural booths, and attracting more media attention to the 2010 Many Faces of Markham Event.

 

 

The Committee Clerk was requested to email the Committee a list of suggestions for the 2010 Many Faces of Markham Event noted from the 2009 Event Sub-Committee.

 

The Committee Clerk was also requested to ask the Mayor’s Youth Taskforce for ideas for a keynote speaker that would appeal to youth.  She was also requested to ask for 2 volunteers from the Mayor’s Youth Taskforce to be the Masters of Ceremonies for the event.

 

The next meeting of the Event Sub-Committee will be on October 5, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ontario Room prior to the regularly scheduled Race Relation Committee.

 

6. B.    POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE

 

The Policy Sub-Committee had no business to report.

 

The Chair requested that the Committee Clerk invite John Ryerson, Director of Culture, to the November 2, 2009 Race Relations Committee meeting.

 

 

7.         NEW BUSINESS

 

There was a brief discussion regarding the Committee Membership, and the need for new members.  Councillor Logan Kanapathi advised that he was in the process of conducting interviews with interested applicants.

 

8.         NEXT MEETING DATE

 

The next meeting of the Race Relations Committee will be held on October 5, 2009.

 

9.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The fifth meeting of the Race Relations Committee adjourned at 8:30 PM.