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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-27Clarftwn Clarington Diversity Advisory Committee Thursday, January 27, 2022 7:00 PM — 8:30 PM Via Microsoft Teams If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext 2131 Present: Councillor Ron Hooper Laila Shafi Lyndsay Riddoch Meera McDonald Rachel Traore Rajeshwari Saharan Sajida Kadri Yasmin Shafi Also Present: Erica Mittag — Community Development Coordinator Angela Todd -Anderson Regrets: Dione Valentine The meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Meera McDonald read the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 2. Declarations of Interest • No declarations 3. Review and Approval of Agenda Moved by Laila Shafi, seconded by Sajida Kadri That the agenda of the January 27, 2022 meeting be approved. Carried 4. Review and approval of previous meeting minutes Moved by Yasmin Shafi, seconded by Rachel Traore That the minutes of the December 16, 2021 meeting be approved. Page 11 5. Council Updates Updates from Councillor Hooper: • Draft proposed budget now live available for residents to review. Upcoming dates: o January 28 — Budget workshop for external agencies o January 31 — Special Government Committee Meeting for Budget o February 4 — Additional budget deliberations o February 14 — 2022 Budget Ratification • Snow clearing updates — Municipality of Clarington has updated information on internet and social media sites. They have lifted the Significant Snow Event and continue to move the snow. Most of downtown area snow clean up is complete. • January 26 immunization limited # of appointments, list of clinics durham.ca/vaccineaaaointment • Recycling throughout the area, there has been feedback that recycling pick up is off schedule. Waste Collection delays can be found at www.durham.ca and through the Region of Durham Waste App. • Announced today, effective January 31, new Chief Administrative Officer - Mary -Anne Dempster will join Municipality of Clarington. • Clarington is offering deferred tax payments for 60 days for residents, due to impact of Covid. • Through Clarington's Affordable Housing Committee, a request was made to open a warming facility in Newcastle. A portion of the Diane Hamre Recreation Complex will open and serve as a warming centre starting Friday, January 28, 2022. 6. Community Updates Updates from Erica Mittag: • New Durham Region Anti -Racism Task Force — Members can share information to bring forward through Regional Diversity Coordinators through coordinated meetings. • Readying facilities for re -opening for January 31 and mini -session of programs begin February 5- March Break Camps will also be offered. To register visit http://www.clarington.net/beactive. • Canadian Parks & Recreation Association has opened the 2022 Youth Employment Experience Program to hire youth who identify as belonging to a community that may face barriers to employment. One position the Municipality is applying for is for Community Development position for an Indigenous Youth. Moved by Laila Shafi, seconded by Lyndsay Riddoch That Clarington's Diversity Advisory Committee supports the Municipality of Clarington's application to the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association's Youth Employment Experience program. Page 12 7. Anti -Racism Policies The Inclusive Spaces and Respectful Workplace Policies have come back to the Diversity Advisory Committee for a final review. These have undergone an extensive consultative process. Once supported by the Committee, these would move forward to Senior Leadership for review and then Council for approval. Moved by Rachel Traore, seconded by Yasmin Shafi That Clarington's Diversity Advisory Committee supports the draft Inclusive Spaces Policy and Respectful Workplace Policy as presented and recommends they are shared with Senior Leadership and Council for approval. Erica thanked the Committee for their input and contributions to the development of the policies and she will keep everyone informed of their progress. 8. Anti -Black Racism Subcommittee Update Subcommittee met January 12, joined by Detective Constable Glen Hurst from Human Trafficking Unit at Durham Regional Police Services. He provided a very informative overview of Human Trafficking in Clarington. There was great discussion and some questions he will take back to his team for some further information. Black History Month 2022: Theme is "February and Forever: Celebrating Today and Every Day". On February 17 at 6:00 p.m., a virtual movie screening and discussion event will be hosted by Clarington Public Library in collaboration with the Diversity Advisory Committee and the Municipality of Clarington. Moved by Laila Shafi, seconded by Yasmin Shafi That Clarington's Diversity Advisory Committee support Black History Month activities in the form of an honorarium. Municipality of Clarington has partnered with other Durham municipalities and area Libraries to host a two-part series of lunch and learns to discuss and learn strategies to stop racism. Will be announced in February and the sessions are in April and June 2022. Mayor Foster has recorded a message in recognition of Black History Month which will be shared on Clarington's social media channels. Moved by Rachel Traore, seconded by Sajida Kadri That Clarington's Diversity Advisory Committee request that the Municipality of Clarington proclaim February as Black History Month in Clarington. Page 13 9. Committee Elections The Committee held an election for positions for the term of 2022. Laila Shafi nominated Meera McDonald for the position of Chair. No other nominations received. Meera McDonald is the Chair of the Diversity Advisory Committee for 2022. Rachel Traore nominated Dione Valentine for the position of Vice -Chair. Meera McDonald nominated Sajida Kadri for the position of Vice -Chair. Meera McDonald nominated Rachel Traore for the position of Vice Chair. Sajida Kadri and Rachel Traore did not accept their nominations. No other nominations were received. Dione Valentine is the Vice -Chair of the Diversity Advisory Committee. Dione was not in attendance so her position will be confirmed at the next meeting. Meera McDonald nominated Sajida Kadri for the position of Secretary. Laila Shafi nominated Lyndsay Riddoch for the position of Secretary. No other nominations were received. Sajida Kadri is the Secretary of the Diversity Advisory Committee. Carried Erica Mittag thanked Rachel Traore and Lyndsay Riddoch for their support of the Committee over the last year in their roles as Vice -Chair and Secretary, respectively. 10.Other Business Durham Regional Police Services (DRPS) Community Safety Council kicked off last week, January 19 and had a guest speaker present on Body Worn Cameras. There is an opportunity for us to bring forward community concerns or considerations that can get guidance and support from DRPS. Meera McDonald raised some concerns that were received around the training and recruitment process for Neighbourhood Watch based on a concern raised at the Anti -Black Racism Subcommittee. Lyndsay to take forward to next meeting for guidance. Erica Mittag to create and share calendar of meetings for Diversity Advisory Committee and Anti -Black Racism Subcommittee to share with the members. The members of the Diversity Advisory Committee are appointed by Council when there are vacancies when members' terms end or they are unable to participate. Erica will share individually with each member their term end date. Meera McDonald shared the concern from the annual update in 2021 to Council where it was noted there were no people who identify as male on the Committee, aside from Councillor Hooper, Council Liaison. Page 14 Moved by Meera McDonald, seconded by Lyndsay Riddoch That the meeting be adjourned. Next meeting: Thursday, February 24, 2022, 7:00 p.m. Virtually — Microsoft Teams Page 15