Council Meeting Supplemental Materials
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Corporation of the Town of Ajax COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Electronic Meeting 65 Harwood Avenue South SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS Alternative formats available upon request by contacting: [email protected] or 905-619-2529 ext. 3347 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Electronic Meeting: Due to the COVID-19 emergency and requirements for physical distancing, in-person attendance is not permitted at this meeting of Council. This meeting will be live streamed for viewing at ajax.ca/live. Electronic participation is permitted pursuant to Council's Procedure By-law Online Agendas Anything in blue denotes an attachment/link. By clicking the links on the agenda page, you can jump directly to that section of the agenda. 5. Delegations and Presentations 5.1 Presentation: Ajax Anti-Black Racsim (AABR) Task Force Update Mariska Thomas, Chair and Dane Lawrence, Vice-Chair, AABR Task Force 5.2 Presentation: PARA Marine Search & Rescue: 2021 Community, Government & Corporate Awareness Colin Thomson, Commodore and Clint Scott, Community Development, PARA Marine SAR 5.3 Presentation: Economic Development Action Plan Lauren Millier, MDB Insights 6. Correspondence 6.17 Ontario’s Big City Mayors – COVID Business Restrictions ~Rules of procedure suspended to add an item of correspondence Ajax Anti-Black Racism Taskforce Update Council Presentation March 22, 2021 Presented by Mariska Thomas (Chair) & Dane Lawrence (Vice-Chair) 2 1 United Nation International Decade for People of African Descent Goal 1: To Encourage the Town of Ajax council, staff, management and community to learn, acknowledge and participate in the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. The members who worked on this goal are: Sonia Ellis-Seguin, Nickidia Thompson & Danielle James 3 2 What is the UN Declaration of the Decade of People of African Descent? • Around 200 million people, who identify themselves as being of African descent, live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world outside of the African continent. • In proclaiming this International Year, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. • There are three main pillars – Recognition, Justice, and Development – these pillars were established for promotion and protection of the human rights of People of African Descent. • These pillars provide the foundation for short and long-term initiatives set out by the AABR Task Force and will be used as a road map towards achieving equity for the Black community within the Town of Ajax (TOA). 4 3 Recommendations 1. That Town of Ajax acknowledges the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. The Decade and the pillars are the foundation from which the AABR taskforce intends to anchor their goals. Therefore, acknowledging the Decade also assists TOA with a more fulsome understanding of the goals of the taskforce. 2. That Town of Ajax and AABR taskforce collaboratively develop a communication strategy that highlights the support of the UN Declaration and connects the goals and initiatives of the Task Force for presentation to the residents of Ajax, Staff and stakeholders. Communication formats could include: Website/ Social media recognition, Community newspaper, Letters of endorsement to all stakeholders. 3. That a resource document is created for distribution at Town of Ajax facilities, outlining the International Decade for People of African Descent and the relationship to the AABR Task force initiatives. 5 4 Paid Internships Goal 2: To engage Ajax business leaders to review their policies and practices to reduce barriers in hiring, internal promotion practices; leadership development, workplace skill training and connecting to the UN Declaration Pillars of Justice and Development. Recommendation: That Town of Ajax implement paid internship programs for Ajax residents from the Black community and other racialized groups. The member’s workings on this goal are: Keirah Van Dusen, Pauline Vassell, Kevin Vieneer, Monica Edwards and Mariska Thomas. 6 5 Benefits of a Paid Internship Program Benefits to the Employer Benefits to the Interns • Employers help produce highly productive and potential • Providing students the opportunity to apply the future leaders by complementing and enhancing a student’s knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom. academic study through meaningful work experience. • Internship experience contributes to marketability, • Students are available for specific long-term projects or for a series of short-term projects. increasing the student’s likelihood of receiving future opportunities by developing necessary skills in the • The student and the employer both benefit from professional environment. participation in the Internship program. The employer gains an energetic, enthusiastic and creative addition to their • Opportunity to work in different departments for staff. career development. • As mentioned previously - The Town of Ajax would be seen • Fosters a spirit of mentorship and will encourage the as Ambassadors, Leaders and Champions by providing opportunities for Black and other racialized youth. students to be future mentors in the community. 7 6 Black Owned Business Directory Goal 3: Collection of Black owned businesses for the Town of Ajax. • Learning from Black owned business the support that is needed while working under the effects of Anti-Black racism and COVID-19. • Work to develop supports and incentives by identifying and partnering with diverse organizations to support Black owned businesses or other racialized groups. The group members who worked on this goal are: Dane Lawrence, Camille Perry, Keirah Van Dusen, Janelle Benjamin, Talisa Boland 8 7 3 Phased Approach to Implementation Phase 1 Phase 2 The AABR Task Force to circulate a survey to Black-owned business Analysis of responses to the survey by the AABR task force: entities over a specific period. • This may require follow up if answers are ambiguous/unclear. • All answers to survey must be kept in a secure format and the The development a Black owned business directory that will be used establishment of the appropriate retention schedule for the survey as a two folded process: results. • It will require consent from the business owner to publish their business on the TOA website to promote these business entities. Research and investigate the available support that can assist these • Sharing of their information with the goal of the required business entities: departments with the TOA or other key community partners that • Identify key partners who would be able to provide assistance for Black may be able to plan programs support (e.g. strategic planning) to owned businesses within the Town of Ajax. these business entities. • Black-owned business Directory is published on TOA website, with the • Future integration with the region of Durham for a central understanding an ongoing schedule for continual maintenance. repository of Black-owned Business Directory. Phase 3 AABR task force will provide recommendation(s) that the TOA can remedy to support these Black owned businesses. 9 8 Speaker Series Goal 4: The final goal is connected to the UN Declaration pillar of Justice. This goal is implementing a Speaker Series to educate the public on Anti-Black, Systemic and institutional racism using multiple modalities including a panel discussion. This speaker’s series will be presented through the Town of Ajax Diversity X Change Program in partnership with the Ajax Anti-Black Racism Task Force. The members who worked on this goal are: Keisha Facey, Sonia Ellis Seguin, Pauline Vassell, Monica Edwards, Janelle Benjamin and Nickidia Thompson This Speaker Series is set to consist of 5 sessions and the group members are currently collaborating with the D&I Coordinator for implementation. 10 9 Initiatives Since the official launch of the AABR Task Force in September 2020, the Task Force has: 1. Supported the Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program being recommended for implementation in 2021 by Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS). 2. Delegated at the DRPS Board Meeting to provide feedback and recommendations on the DRPS Action Plan for Enhancing Trust and Confidence in Policing in Durham Region. 3. Provided feedback and recommendations to the Town on anti-Black racism training for Council. 4. Provided comments to the D&I Coordinator on the Ajax Shining Star Bursary Program. 5. Coordinated a Black History Month Live Event discussing why it’s important to celebrate Black history. 11 10 Thank you! Questions or Comments? 12 11 PARA Marine Search & Rescue PARA Marine Search & Rescue 2021 Community,2021 Community, Government Government & Corporate Awareness& Corporate Awareness 13 50+ Years of Service Commodores (Unit Leaders) Keith Warner (1967-1985) Tony Buckley (1985 – 2003) PARA Marine Search & Rescue Gary Endicott (2003-2008, 2011-2016) Rob Anderson (2009-2011) 2021 Community, Government & Corporate Awareness Chris Webb (2016) 14 Colin Thomson (2016 – present) 2021 – 2025 Strategic & Business Plan Vision: Volunteers providing excellence in marine search & rescue Mission: It is what we do for the person in the water Values: Safety | Teamwork | Professionalism | Community Strengthen the Develop our Ensure SAR Planning for organization crews by instilling readiness in the future through a strong nautical order to maintain to ensure improved knowledge