THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GEORGINA IN THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK

GEORGINA EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

2010-May-12 4:30 p.m. 2nd Floor Boardroom 1. ROLL CALL:

The following Committee members were in attendance:

Dave Szollosy, Councillor, Chair Gary Eustace Cathy Tustin Robert Grossi, Mayor Gord Wallace Brian Schouten Courtney Baumhard Kendall Myler Karen Mell, Vice Chair

The following Committee members were not in attendance with regrets:

Danny Wheeler, Regional Councillor Lauri Williamson Cheryl Daniel Ricky Veerappan, YRP

The following Staff members were in attendance:

Claire Marsden, Human Resources Manager Lisa Lyons, Deputy Clerk Michele Vandentillaart, Committee Secretary

The following Guests were in attendance:

Allison Haskins Talisa Haskins Eric Haskins Wendy Elton Phil Shaw

2. INTRODUCTION OF ADDENDUM ITEMS AND DEPUTATIONS:

None.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Moved by Kendall Myler.

Seconded by Brian Schouten.

RESOLUTION GEDAC No. GEDAC-2010-0001

THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. GEDAC Page 2 Carried…

4. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST:

None.

5. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES:

Pages 1-5 5.1 Minutes of the meeting held on March 10th, 2010.

Moved by Gary Eustace.

Seconded by Courtney Baumhard.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0002

THAT THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON MARCH 10TH, 2010 BE ADOPTED AS PRESENTED.

Carried…

6. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:

Karen Mell, Vice Chair, Gord Wallace, Member, Courtney Baumhard and Dave Szollosy, Chair, attended the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination hosted by the . Claire Marsden, Human Resources Manager acknowledged that the Georgina Equity and Diversity Committee had their information booth at the event for the second year in a row. Ms. Mell, Vice Chair, was particularly impressed with some of the school groups coming from different to perform specific dances such as a traditional Greek dance. The Members discussed how inspiring it was to see young families attending the event and learning inclusion at such a young age. Dave Szollosy, Chair, hosted an international day event at his school as well which proved to be a relationship-building, bonding experience.

7. DEPUTATIONS:

7.1 Phil Shaw and Wendy Elton, Shaw Percussion Re: Overview of Workshops/Events from various cultures.

Phil Shaw and Wendy Elton explained to the Committee Members that they run a drum circle and host several drum-related events, often free of cost, in the community. Shaw Percussion welcomes all ethnicities and ages to participate and they have worked with hospices, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and York Regional Police, and were on hand for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Phil Shaw and Wendy Elton recently heard about the Georgina Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee and would like to assist and participate in events in the community to provide a common thread of music. Shaw Percussion teaches the background cultures of the drums and brings events to school communities as well. It was noted by Phil Shaw that the official name of the drum circle is “Georgina Drum Circle” which is separate from the Chippewa’s drum circle. The Georgina Drum Circle is a cross- drum circle welcoming all cultures to participate. Shaw Percussion’s contact information is:

Shaw Percussion GEDAC Page 3 Home of Orion Drums www.oriondrums.com www.shawpercussion.com [email protected] 905-722-5449

Moved by Gary Eustace.

Seconded by Karen Mell.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0003

THAT THE DEPUTATION FROM WENDY ELTON AND PHIL SHAW FROM SHAW PERCUSSION (ITEM 7.1) BE ACCEPTED FOR INFORMATION.

Carried…

8. PRESENTATIONS:

None.

9. COMMUNICATIONS:

9.1 Matters for Routine:

Pages 6-7 9.1.1 E-Mail Correspondence from Dave Szollosy, Councillor, May 1, 2010 Re: York Regional Police commemorates Asian Heritage Month – Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Pages 8-9 9.1.2 Poster Re: International Day Against Homophobia hosted by OFL/FTO – Monday, May 17, 2010.

Page 10 9.1.3 E-Mail Correspondence from Cynthia Lacasse, Program Officer, Social and Human Sciences, Canadian Commission for UNESCO, April 14, 2010 Re: New members of CMARD.

Pages 11-48 9.1.4 List of Signatory Municipalities of CMARD; Copy of the Diversity Plan for the City of Greater Sudbury; Copy of the Plan of Action for the elimination of racism and discrimination from the City of .

Karen Mell, Vice Chair noted that page 25 of the Sudbury Plan of Action outlines goals and one of those is that corporate office art is to be reflective of indigenous cultures. Ms. Mell, Vice Chair, felt this was equally important in the Town of Georgina.

Moved by Karen Mell.

Seconded by Courtney Baumhard.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0004

GEDAC Page 4 THAT THE GEORGINA EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUEST THAT THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF GEORGINA’S OFFICE SPACE, PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES DEPICT DIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE FIRST NATIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE TOWN OF GEORGINA COMMUNITY, IN ARTWORK AND OTHER VISUAL REPRESENTATION.

Carried…

Gary Eustace, Member, also noted the importance of reflecting the diverse community in our employment practices and to encourage people from diverse communities to apply for jobs with the Town of Georgina. The Committee Members agreed this was an important message to send out to the communities.

Moved by Gary Eustace.

Seconded by Courtney Baumhard.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0005

THAT THE GEORGINA EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUEST THAT THE TOWN OF GEORGINA ENCOURAGE CITIZENS FROM FIRST NATIONS, MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH THE TOWN OF GEORGINA AND ALL AVAILABLE POSITIONS BE ADVERTISED AS SUCH.

Carried…

Page 49 9.1.5 Georgina Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee 2010 Meeting Schedule.

Pages 50-55 9.1.6 Statistics Report “Projections of the Diversity of the Canadian Population – 2006 to 2031.

Pages 56-75 9.1.7 E-Mail Correspondence from Lisa Lyons, Deputy Clerk, Re: Presentations from Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination for Municipalities in Forum, March 22, 2010.

Defer to next meeting.

Moved by Karen Mell.

Seconded by Gary Eustace.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0006

THAT ITEM 9.1.7 BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 9TH, 2010.

Carried…

Moved by Kendall Myler. GEDAC Page 5

Seconded by Cathy Tustin.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0007

THAT ITEMS 9.1.1 TO 9.1.6 BE RECEIVED FOR INFORMATION.

Carried…

9.2 Matters for Disposition:

Pages 76-78 9.2.1 E-Mail Correspondence from Cathy Tustin, March 10, 2010 Re: Tree Day.

Committee Members directed Michele Vandentillaart, Committee Secretary include Peace Tree Day and celebration planning on the workplan for 2011.

Moved by Karen Mell.

Seconded by Brian Schouten.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0008

THAT ITEM 9.2.1 BE PLACED ON THE GEORGINA EQUITY AND DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S WORKPLAN FOR 2011.

Carried…

9.2.2 CMARD Commitment No. 1: Hate Crime Data from Ricky Veerappen, YRP.

Deferred to the next meeting.

Moved by Kendall Myler.

Seconded by Gary Eustace.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0009

THAT ITEM 9.2.2 BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD JUNE 9TH, 2010.

Carried…

Page 79 9.2.3 CMARD Commitment No. 2

Dave Szollosy, Chair, suggested to the Committee Members that collecting and archiving information about incidents occurring in the community is what we need to do to possibly predict future behaviour, outcomes, or incidents. Karen Mell, Vice Chair, agreed that lack of information is the biggest problem and documentation is key. The Members agreed to discuss further with Ricky Veerappan, Member, to clarify how this information can be analysed and how to act on that data. Clair Marsden, Human Resources Manager, suggested the Committee Members could educate the community by advertising on the Town GEDAC Page 6 of Georgina’s Page in the Georgina Advocate with items on equity and diversity which Michele Vandentillaart, Committee Secretary, noted is similar to what the Georgina Accessibility Advisory Committee is doing monthly with their Accessibility “Tip of the Month”.

9.2.4 Support for Student Involvement in the Blue Bridge – Brian Schouten.

Brian Schouten, Member, explained this program involves 20 students that meet with students from Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School on the long weekend in May for three days to expand their knowledge of diversity and learn different cultures. The Committee Members provided several possible avenues for funding this kind of program such as contacting the Economic Development Committee of the Town of Georgina; contacting the different community Lion’s Clubs, and Georgina Cares.

Moved by Brian Schouten.

Seconded by Courtney Baumhard.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0010

THAT ITEMS 9.2.1, 9.2.3 AND 9.2.4 BE RECEIVED FOR INFORMATION.

Carried…

10. STAFF/COMMITTEE REPORTS:

None.

11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Pages 80-83 11.1 Work Plan-updated

Pages 84-85 11.2 Family Fishing Day Event – Planning for 2011 – Ministry of Natural Resources Website; “Fish Ontario” Licence-Free Family Fishing Dates.

Michele Vandentillaart, Committee Secretary, informed the Georgina Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee the Family Fishing Day would not be held this year due to construction at Sibbald’s Point.

Moved by Gary Eustace.

Seconded by Gord Wallace.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0011

THAT ITEMS 11.1 TO 11.2 BE RECEIVED FOR INFORMATION.

12. OTHER BUSINESS:

None. GEDAC Page 7

13. NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.

14. ADJOURNMENT:

Moved by Gary Eustace.

Seconded by Gord Wallace.

RESOLUTION No. GEDAC-2010-0012

THAT THE MEETING ADJOURN AT THIS TIME (6:20 p.m.)

______Dave Szollosy, Chair

______Michele Vandentillaart Committee Secretary