Do you know someone leading the way when it comes to human rights?
Nominations are open for the City of Timmins Human Rights Wall of Fame.
The annual honour celebrates local residents who show leadership in inclusion, promoting tolerance and acceptance, and anti-racism activities. The inductee will be celebrated at An Evening of Applause March 21 at O’Gorman High School.
“I think it is important that we recognize people who fight prejudice and discrimination in our community,” Timmins and District Multicultural Centre’s Tom Baby told council Tuesday.
Baby and Cochrane District Social Planning Council’s KayLee Morissette were at the meeting to talk about the local initiatives inspired by the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Morissette explained there are five parts to the local plan: a diversity art work contest, students who make a difference award, in-class instruction on the value of diversity and the harm of discrimination, An Evening of Applause, and the City of Timmins Human Rights Wall of Fame.
Baby said the initiative helps set the tone as a welcoming community.
“No one wants to live, work and stay in a community where they’re discriminated upon. Discrimination is ultimately a social and economic issue, the more we can demonstrate our capacity to be a welcoming and inclusive community, the better we will be able to attract, integrate and retain residents and maintain our way of life,” Baby said.
The Human Rights Wall of Honour is located in the Timmins Public Library underneath the stairs in the foyer. The area features the photographs of past inductees, along with their name and year of induction. The past winners are Anita Spadafore, Dan McKay, Ed Ligocki, Mario Dussault, Jim Chalmers, and the Timmins Refugee Sponsorship Committee.
Nominations can be submitted online here. Forms are also available in person at Timmins and District Multicultural Centre, located in the Pine Plaza at 119 Pine St. S.
