CMARD meetings
Pan-Canadian CMARD meeting (Calgary, March 19, 2009)
On March 19 2009, member municipalities of the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD) gathered in Calgary to participate in the second pan-Canadian CMARD meeting. The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission partnered with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in organizing the full-day working meeting. Delegates representing CMARD member municipalities across the country listened to presentations and participated in roundtable discussions where updates and promising practices were shared, and the strategic priorities for CMARD were discussed.
The first pan-Canadian meeting was also held in Calgary.
Eight Alberta municipalities have joined CMARD, giving Alberta the largest number of member municipalities in any province. This is equal to the number of member municipalities in Ontario, which also had eight members. See the list of signatory municipalities.
Meeting of Alberta member municipalities (Calgary, March 19, 2009)
Following the pan-Canadian meeting, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission (AHRCC) joined the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) and the Human Rights and Citizenship Branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit to convene a meeting of Alberta members of CMARD and other municipalities involved in building welcoming and inclusive communities. AHRCC, AUMA, and Alberta Culture and Community Spirit are members in a three-year Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) partnership to support municipalities in building their capacity to be welcoming and inclusive, and to combat racism and discrimination.
Reception to welcome participants of the second pan-Canadian CMARD meeting (Calgary, March 18, 2009)
On March 18, 2009, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission (AHRCC), the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and the City of Calgary jointly hosted a reception to welcome the representatives of the 30 Canadian municipalities that have joined CMARD.
A revised certificate for CMARD member municipalities, which includes members who have signed on to CMARD since its launch in June 2006, was unveiled at the reception.
Speaking at the reception and participating in the unveiling of the certificate were Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, Lindsay Blackett; Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission Chief Commissioner, David Blair Mason; Mayor of Calgary, Dave Bronconnier; and Canadian Commission for UNESCO Secretary-General, David Walden. The moderator for the event was Alderman Joe Ceci. Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart, who is also a human rights commissioner, participated as well.
See the joint news release issued on March 18, 2009.
The chief commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, David Blair Mason, provided opening remarks.
From left to right: City of Calgary Alderman Joe Ceci; Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission Chief Commissioner, David Blair Mason; Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, Lindsay Blackett; Secretary-General for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, David A. Walden; and City of Calgary Mayor, Dave Bronconnier, following the unveiling of the certificate of signatory municipalities.
Reviewed: May 5, 2010
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