NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS LOCAL IMMIGRATION PARTNERSHIP
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The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination local planning committee led by the Timmins Local Immigration Partnership (TLIP) and the Timmins & District Multicultural Centre (TMDC) will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 11 at the Timmins Public Library to announce and outline the first annual anti-racism project.
The vision for the project originates from Don Curry, the Executive Director of the North Bay & District Multicultural Centre and the TDMC. Mr. Curry has led the planning committee in North Bay for the last 26 years.
“North Bay has been successfully running the event for 26 years and we're looking to replicate it here in Timmins. It is a superb annual event that helps create a welcoming community. Media coverage is extensive, and helps spread the word to the public. For the school boards and students involved it is a very positive experience. The school boards, colleges and university in North Bay love it,” he said.
Racism is evident in Timmins, both anecdotally and in research.
As Mr. Curry’s 2004 study, ‘Debwewin: Three City Anti-Racism Initiative in Northeastern Ontario’ indicates, the prevalence of racism in Northern communities is high, especially towards aboriginal peoples.
As such, while the initiative was primarily aimed at racism towards immigrant newcomers, the planning committee recognized the significant intolerance towards our aboriginal community and therefore must be involved in the initiative.
The goal of the project is bring together educators to raise awareness of the prevalence of racism through education, and to build a more welcoming community through our youth.
The local project is organized by a committee with representation from the Université de Hearst, Collège Boréal, District School Board Ontario North East, Conseil Scolaire Public du nord-est de l'Ontario, Northeastern Catholic District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Catholique de District des Grandes-Rivières, Northern College, Timmins Native Friendship Centre / Alternative Secondary School Program, Timmins Local Immigration Partnership, Timmins & District Multicultural Centre, North Bay & District Multicultural Centre and Algoma University.
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