Attendance

Members		Regrets
Iris Leung		Murali Visvalingam
Ray Lum		Vicki Brar
Moe Mohammed
Ghulam Sajan
Deputy Mayor F. Scarpitti		Absent
Councillor E. Shapero		Ray Lum
Linda Stewart		Alex Ribeiro
Raza Sumar
Councillor K. Usman

Staff

C. Harrison, Project Manager, Communities in Bloom

C. Raynor, Committee Secretary

The second meeting of the Markham Race Relations Committee in 2005 convened at 7:30 p.m. with Linda Stewart in the Chair.

1. ADMINISTRATION

The Town of Markham Race Relations Committee recommends:

That the Minutes of the Town of Markham Race Relations Committee meeting held on February 7, 2005, be adopted.

2. PRESENTATION

Ms. C. Harrison, Project Manager, Communities in Bloom, provided information relating to the Town’s entry in the 2005 Communities in Bloom contest. Ms. Harrison advised that one of the elements of the judging will be culture and heritage. Accordingly, Ms. Harrison suggested that it will be advantageous for the judges to meet the Committee. Additionally, Ms. Harrison will promote the Many Faces of Markham event. It was also suggested that the Committee may wish to adopt a park. Ms. Harrison also encouraged members to nominate a local garden for the Suzy Awards.

The Committee thanked Ms. Harrison for the presentation and agreed that the Committee should get involved in some way. The Committee agreed to provide Ms. Harrison with flyers for the Many Faces of Markham event for distribution.

3. REPORTS

· Many Faces of Markham Sub-Committee

Ms. L. Stewart provided an update on the activities of the Many Faces of Markham Sub-Committee. It was noted that the date of the event has changed to April 4, 2005 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets for the event have been printed and posters will be available by the end of the week. The Committee agreed that it may be possible to sell advertising space in the event programs and this may offset the cost of printing. Councillor K. Usman agreed to locate sponsors. It was agreed that event tickets should be made available for sale at the libraries. Ms. Stewart encouraged members to volunteer to help out on the night.

Councillor E. Shapero also provided examples of the materials to be displayed at the libraries in respect of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

· Strategic Planning Process

Ms. L. Stewart provided copies of the draft work plan for 2005. There will be a facilitated one-day meeting in May to finalize a 2-year draft work plan and the community consultation plan. It is hoped that the final plan will be ready for implementation from December 2005.

4. LETTER TO CONCERNED CITIZEN

In the absence of Mr. R. Lum, it was agreed to defer this matter to the next meeting of the Committee on April 11, 2005.

5. NEXT STEPS

There was no discussion on this matter.

6. NEW BUSINESS

· Pakistan National Day celebrations

Councillor K. Usman advised that there will be a gala dinner taking place on March 18, 2005. It is hoped that the event will raise more than $85,000 for Markham Stouffville Hospital, the YMCA and Orbis Canada, and Councillor K. Usman advised that all Committee members are invited to attend. The cost is $70 per person. Additionally, on March 23, 2005 there will be a flag-raising event at the Markham Civic Centre at 10:00 a.m.

· Graffiti in Milne Park

Councillor E. Shapero advised she received a complaint from a resident that a swastika had been painted on a gazebo in Milne Park. The resident was advised to contact the police. The Committee suggested that it may be useful to invite a member of York Regional Police to attend and provide updates on the outcome of this and other race matters, such as the graffiti in Unionville in 2004.

7. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting closed at 9:10 p.m.

MINUTES

Attendance

Members

Regrets