A wall of fame erected to fight racial discrimination was recently unveiled at the Timmins Public Library.
The Timmins Human Rights Hall of Fame was initiated by the Timmins Multicultural Society and its supporters to foster inclusiveness in Timmins.
Its unveiling also launched Timmins’ third International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The wall is located in the foyer of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Timmins Public Library Building located on 320 Second Avenue.
Honoured at the unveiling were human rights activists from Timmins who have contributed by their work and examples to achieving the goal of eliminating racial discrimination in Timmins.
On hand for the launch and unveiling were Wall of Fame inductees Anita Spadafore (Amnesty International), Ed Ligocki (Good Samaritan in), and Mario Dussault (the YO Mobile).
Dan MacKay, of the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee, who has also been named to Timmins Human Rights Wall of Fame, was unable to attend.
The Human Rights Wall of Fame aims to build an inclusive community through raising awareness and the recognition of community leaders who engage in human rights and anti-discrimination efforts.
“We launched our first campaign in 2014, with representatives from all of our educational institutions, the Cochrane and District Social Planning Council and the City of Timmins,” said Tom Baby, Timmins Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator, and Timmins & District Multicultural Centre.
“The purpose was to recognize members in our community that have shown leadership in human rights and the fight against discrimination locally, regionally and internationally,” he added.
Participating partners in Timmins' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Timmins Human Rights Hall of Fame are 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 Local Immigration Partnership, Timmins & District Multicultural Centre, Algoma University, Cochrane District Social Planning Council and the City of Timmins.
The sponsors are Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines and the City of Timmins.
“the International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination Day Campaign is based on the recognition that discrimination exists in our community,” explained Baby. “Whether it is against indigenous people, new comers, because of one’s skin colour, disability or income - we all need to fight against it and celebrate those who do fight against discrimination.”
“While the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is held internationally on March 1, we chose to expand the scope of the campaign and begin today, on January 4, and the way we chose to do this was to officially launch the City of Timmins Human Rights Wall of Fame,” he said. “The idea being that members of our communities nominate leaders to celebrate their accomplishments, recognize their efforts that inspire others to follow in their footsteps,” said Baby.
“The community responded and we have inducted several well deserving citizens,” said Baby.
Also on hand to launch the campaign and unveil the wall was Councillor Andrew Marks, a member of our International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Committee.
“Mayor Black is out of the city, so it is my honour today as deputy mayor to represent him,” said Marks. “But I am also here today because of my day job with the North-Eastern Ontario District School Board and I am pleased to be part of this great event.”
“What can I say about our city of Timmins? We are a community of immigrants who came together from many different countries of different ethnic, racial, linguistic backgrounds and we formed the backbone of a community as we work in mining and forestry to form our city and we lived together,” said Marks.
“And it is so important that, in the City of Timmins, we will not tolerate discrimination or discrimination of any kind,” he added.
The educational organizations on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination committee also aim to drive home the message about eliminating racial discrimination by organizing anti-discrimination art competitions.
Samples of the student art work is also posted on the Human Rights Wall of Fame and can be viewed by the public when they enter the Canadian Mental Health Association-Library Building foyer.
