Agenda - Anti Black Racism and Anti Racism Task Force - 20211020Town of Aurora
Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force
Meeting Agenda
Date:October 20, 2021
Time:7:00 p.m.
Location:Video Conference
Pages
1.Procedural Notes
This meeting will be held electronically as per Section 19. i) of the Town's
Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 situation.
2.Approval of the Agenda
3.Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
4.Receipt of the Minutes
4.1.Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force Meeting Minutes of June
16, 2021
1
That the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force
meeting minutes of June 16, 2021, be received for information.
1.
5.Delegations
Note: Anyone wishing to provide comment on an agenda item is encouraged to
visit www.aurora.ca/participation for guidelines on electronic delegation.
6.Matters for Consideration
6.1.Memorandum from Manager, Aurora Town Square; Re: Black History
Month – Planning February 2022
5
That the memorandum regarding Black History Month –
Planning February 2022 be received; and
1.
That the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force
comments regarding the Black History Month – Planning
February 2022 be received and referred to staff for consideration
and further action as appropriate.
2.
7.Informational Items
8.Adjournment
1
Town of Aurora
Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
7:00 p.m.
Video Conference
Committee Members: Mark Lewis (Chair)
Noor El-Dassouki (Vice Chair)
Keenan Hull
Mae Khamissa
Phiona Durrant
Councillor Harold Kim
Other Attendees: Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________
Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair
Moved by Phiona Durrant
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That Mark Lewis be appointed Chair of the Task Force; and
That Noor El-Dassouki be appointed as Vice Chair of the Task Force.
Carried
1. Procedural Notes
This meeting was held electronically as per Section 19. i) of the Town's
Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 situation.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
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2
2. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Mae Khamissa
Seconded by Phiona Durrant
That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services, be approved.
Carried
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
4. Receipt of the Minutes
4.1 Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force Meeting Minutes of April 21,
2021
Moved by Noor El-Dassouki
Seconded by Mae Khamissa
1. That the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force meeting
minutes of April 21, 2021, be received for information.
Carried
5. Delegations
None.
6. Matters for Consideration
6.1 Memorandum from Sport & Community Development Specialist; Re:
Cultural Diversity in Sport
Erin Hamilton, Sport & Community Development Specialist, provided a
brief presentation to the task force. There was discussion regarding
different strategies to remove barriers to entering sports that have
historically not been as diverse as others.
Task Force members spoke to their own lived experience with cultural
diversity in sport. Members emphasized the importance of engagement
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3
with the broader community and creating a culture where everyone can
feel safe while participating.
Ms. Hamilton noted that this is a long-term plan, with meaningful change
not being achieved overnight. She further noted she would welcome
offline conversations with community members and that a more detailed
plan will be brought back to the Task Force in the future.
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Noor El-Dassouki
1. That the memorandum regarding Cultural Diversity in Sport be
received; and
2. That the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force comments
regarding Cultural Diversity in Sport be received and referred to staff
for consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7. Informational Items
7.1 Round Table Discussion Re: Task Force Consultant
The Task Force discussed whether a session with a professional
facilitator could be brought in to help formulate an action plan for the Task
Force. There was further discussion of the value of doing some internal
work regarding the plan for the Task Force before proceeding with
engaging a facilitator.
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Keenan Hull
1. That the Round Table Discussion regarding Task Force Consultant be
received for information.
Carried
7.2 Round Table Discussion Re: Terms of Reference
The Task Force discussed whether there is a current need to amend the
Terms of Reference. After discussion, there was agreement that the
current Terms of Reference suited the Task Force well.
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4
Members were encouraged to submit potential changes to the Town Clerk
at anytime in the future.
Moved by Councillor Kim
Seconded by Noor El-Dassouki
1. That the Round Table Discussion regarding Terms of Reference be
received for information.
Carried
8. Adjournment
Moved by Noor El-Dassouki
Seconded by Councillor Kim
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Carried
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Community Services Department
Re: Black History Month – Planning February 2022
To: Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force
From: Phillip Rose, Manager of Aurora Town Square
Date: October 20, 2021
Recommendation
1. That the memorandum regarding Black History Month – Planning February 2022 be
received; and
2. That the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force comments regarding the
Black History Month – Planning February 2022 be received and referred to staff for
consideration and further action as appropriate.
Background
During Black History Month in February 2021, the Town supported various organizations
in offering numerous activities. Activities were generated and hosted by local
organizations such as Aurora Public Library, Aurora Film Circuit, Aurora Black
Community, York Region Food Network while the Town supported them in the following
ways:
- Official Town Proclamation
- Obtain zoom and streaming license to help group engage with volunteers
- Create, write and post to Sprout Social all social media posts regarding
information and events created by organizations
- Staff participated in panel events, and supported brainstorming and logistics
- Corporate Communications created Black History Month page on Town website
which highlighted each of the events/activities hosted by the organizations
Each of the activities focused a combination of aspects such as: dialogue, art, food,
music, film, and financial literacy. Together each event/activity celebrated and shared
messages about Black History.
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Black History Month – Planning February 2022
October 20, 2021 Page 2 of 3
Community Events that took place in 2021:
- Feb 2 – Official Proclamation by Mayor
- Throughout the month - Youth Art Competition - Aurora Black Community and the
Aurora Museum & Archives collaboration
- Feb 3 – Gospel Music: A Canadian Perspective with Professor Karen Burke –
Made possible by York University, The Scholars’ Hub at Home Speaker Series and
Aurora Public Library
- Feb 4 – Highlights of Canadian Black History – Aurora Black Community
livestream event
- Feb 4 – Presenting Dr. Cheryl Thomson – made possible by Canadian Council of
the Arts, the Writers Union of Canada, Aurora Public Library
- Feb 5 – Cooking Demonstration – The Culinary Traveller – made by possible by
York region Food Network, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Aurora Public Library
- Feb 6 – Film night with live review and discussion – “Self-Made” – in partnership
with Aurora Film Circuit, Aurora Black Community and Councillor Humfryes
- Feb 11 – Cooking Demonstration – Black History Food Celebration – Aurora
Black Community livestream
- Feb 12 – Legacy Transfer and Financial Literacy – speakers: Calvin Chan, Jeff
Eddos, Kim Leacock-Ambrose, Jonathan Ho. – Aurora Black Community
livestream
- Feb 18 - Film night with live review and discussion – “Miss Virginia” – in
partnership with Aurora Film Circuit, Aurora Black Community and Councillor
Humfryes
- Feb 19 – Legacy Transfer and Financial Literacy – speakers: Terrence Yuen,
Hadriana Leo, Keisha Telfer – Aurora Black Community livestream
- Feb 21 - Film night with live review and discussion – “What Happened, Miss
Simone?” - in partnership with Aurora Film Circuit, Aurora Black Community and
Councillor Humfryes
- Feb 26 – Discussion – Racialized Stigmas & Mindset, Guest Speaker: Karen
Carrington – Aurora Black Community livestream
- Feb 27 – Wrap up event – livestream
As the Town and community prepare for the upcoming Black History Month (February
2022), staff are looking for input from the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task
Force (ABRARTF) on the plans for this coming event.
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Black History Month – Planning February 2022
October 20, 2021 Page 3 of 3
Attachments
None
Page 7 of 7