Navi
What’s New for April 2017
Recap: 2017 U of T International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) Campaign
(Image source: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-marks-international-day-elimination-discrimination)
(From left to right: Sandra Carnegie-Douglas, Dawn Maracle, Nana Frimpong, Kimberley Tull, and Kelly Hannah-Moffat)
The Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office (ARDCO) held its first ever IDERD Conference on March 20th which was a huge success and received a lot of positive feedback! Participants expressed an overwhelming interest in wanting to see the conference continue, and it will be something that the ARCDO office will organize again.
On March 21st, we celebrated the achievements of: Nana Frimpong, Dawn Maracle, and Kimberley Tull in eliminating racial discrimination and advancing anti-racism throughout the University’s community. To read the full profiles describing the strides being made by this year’s IDERD recipients, please visit the IDERD 2017 profile page.
Ontario Government Introduces Anti-Racism Legislation: Bill 114, An Act to provide for Anti-Racism Measures
This past Wednesday, March 29, the Minister responsible for Anti-Racism, Michael Coteau, introduced new legislation to embed the Anti-Racism Directorate in law. The proposed Anti-Racism Act is aimed at embedding the government’s efforts and that of public sector organizations to identify and combat systemic racism in policies, programs and services and advance racial equity for all.
If passed, the proposed Anti-Racism Act would:
- Establish the Anti-Racism Directorate in legislation to ensure its long-term sustainability.
- Ensure the sustainability and accountability of the government’s anti-racism work by developing and maintaining a multi-year anti-racism strategy. The strategy’s initiatives, targets and indicators would be reported upon annually to measure the strategy’s effectiveness.
- Require a review of the anti-racism strategy at least every five years, in consultation with the public.
- Enable the government to mandate race data collection and an anti-racism impact assessment framework, to apply an anti-racism perspective to public sector policies and programs.
Eliminating systemic racism is part of Ontario’s plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives. Read more.
The Toronto Latin American Flute Festival Builds Artistic Bridges Between Canada and Latin American Countries
International Festival introduces Canadian audiences to Latin American music and musicians from across the globe
From April 3rd to 15th, the Toronto Latin American Flute Festival (TLAFF) 2017 will showcase the soundscapes of Latin American flute music and flutists from across the globe. TLAFF will bring Canada a collection of the world’s most recognized Latin American musicians to present a series of powerful performances, competitions and learning opportunities for all.
The International Festival takes place at Hart House, in the famous Gallery 345, and at the prestigious Kingsway Conservatory of Music. The TLAFF 2017 experience will include:
- Four concerts featuring international touring giants such as: Susan Hoeppener (Canada), Christie Beard (USA), Miguel Angel Villaneva (Mexico), Duo Barrenechea (Brazil), Claudio Tarris (Argentina), Josué Casillas (Puerto Rico).
- A multi-level International Music Competition sponsored by Long & McQuade, 4th largest music company in the world.
- Conferences, master classes, private lessons and ensemble coaching’s lead by International Guest Artist, and more.
Directed and curated by international touring Mexican artist Alheli Pimienta, the TLAFF 2017 is a major international event hosted by the Canadian Flute Association (CFA). For more information, please visit the TLAFF website at the following URL: http://www.tlaff.ca.
Connections and Conversations
Connections and Conversations is an affinity group for racialized staff at the University of Toronto and their supporters. The staff-driven initiative offers discussions and a support network for racialized staff to flourish at U of T. The focus is to create an open and empowering environment for racialized staff to celebrate their accomplishments and contribute their unique ideas and talents to the University through networking, mentoring and other activities. Local chapters were created on all three campuses – earlier this year.
LOCAL CHAPTER MEETING(S):
St. George Campus
The next local chapter meeting will take place on April 7th, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at OISE, 252 Bloor Street West, in OI 2211.
BYOL (Bring your own lunch)
Mississauga Campus:
The next local chapter meeting will take place on April 28th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at UTM, 3359 Mississauga Road, in KN 2213.
BYOL (Bring your own lunch)
More Events
(If you wish to request that your event be included in our monthly newsletter, please submit requests to antiracism@utoronto.ca at least one week prior to the beginning of the new month.)
From now until April 1, UTSC, 1265 Military Trail, Doris McCarthy Gallery: Heather Hart, Northern Oracle. Northern Oracle is a large-scale rooftop installation – a series of mixed media drawings – exploring issues of home, stability and shelter, and the ways in which these rights have been denied to the Black community, historically and to the present. The work is an act of reclaiming space, providing a site for conversation and community building.
From now until April 9, Ryerson University, 33 Gould Street, Ryerson Image Centre: Power to the People Photography and Video of Repression and Black Protest. The Ryerson Image Centre (RIC) and Black Artist’s Networks Dialogue (BAND) team up to present a season of exhibitions exploring historical and ongoing struggles for justice between people of colour and police forces representing the state.
April 1 – April 29: Sikh Heritage Month. Sikh Heritage Month aims to celebrate the contributions and aspirations of all Sikh-Canadians and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for a rich, unique and diverse heritage. There are over 25 events taking place in 4 locations across downtown Brampton. To view a list of events and locations, please visit the following URL: http://ontariosikhheritagemonth.ca.
April 1, 5:00 pm, Bloor United Church, 300 Bloor Street West: Fifty Years ‘Beyond Vietnam’ Dr. King’s Revolutionary Dream Against Our Neoliberal/Neofascist Nightmare. A public lecture by U of T with: Robin D.G. Kelley, Professor Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History, UCLA. Opening with Lee Maracle, Author, Instructor and Traditional Teacher, and Faith Nolan, Celebrated Social Justice Activist and Musician. This is a free event.
April 1, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, MacLeod Auditorium: Would You Harbor Me? A Fundraising Concert for Syrian Newcomer Youth.
Enjoy the U of T Spirit Singers and Common Thread choirs as they perform songs of justice and peace to raise funds for Syrian youth. All proceeds go to Cultural Exchange Support Initiative. It is a group of University of Toronto students who develop positive learning spaces with Syrian youth where they can acquire language, reading & writing skills. Youth supporting youth! Celebrate intercultural understanding through song! Tickets: $15 (General Admission); $5.00 (Students). To purchase tickets, please visit the following URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/would-you-harbor-me-a-fundraising-concert-for-syrian-newcomer-youth-tickets-32595582264?utm_term=eventurl_text.
April 6, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) 21 Sussex Ave. 4th Floor: End-of-Year Cupcake Social. Join the SGDO celebrate students who have been involved in programs such as Q21, LGBTQ International Students, Queer & Trans Students of Colour, Outside the Box & Gender Talk! recognize the involvement of countless students, staff and faculty involved with the SGDO and other student groups, organizations and departments on campus in nurturing and supporting the development of our diverse LGBTQ communities. Join this event on Facebook.
April 6, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, C. David Naylor Student Commons (beside Tim Horton’s):Faculty of Medicine Diversity Dialogue Series – Let’s Talk About Islamophobia In Medicine: An Open Forum. This forum will provide the opportunity to have a conversation about the issue of Islamophobia in Medicine, and about how we can work together to create a more inclusive, respectful, and accepting community for all.
All members of the U of T community are encouraged to attend. Registration required.
April 7, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, 21 Sussex Avenue, Room 421 (lounge): Gender Talk. Gender Talk is a monthly discussion group for trans+ members at U of T. All members of U of T who identify as trans, transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, non-binary, or who are questioning their gender identity are welcome to come together to talk about topics that matter to you.
April 7, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm, 21 Sussex Avenue, Room 421 (lounge): Queer & Trans Students of Colour Discussion. Queer & Trans Students of Colour (QTSOC) is a monthly discussion group for Black , Indigenous and other racialized U of T community members who identify as LGBTQ, gender non-conforming, two-spirit, third gender and intersex. The group will discuss how the intersections of race, sexuality and gender affect personal experiences and communities. Students across all three campuses are invited to meet other people and join in discussions that challenge racism, homophobia and transphobia.
Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain links to non– Anti–Racism & Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) websites. These links are provided solely as convenience to you. The ARCDO is not responsible for the content of any non–ARCDO websites and does not endorse the information contained therein.