Alberta Human Rights Information Service October 21, 2002
COMMISSION NEWS
The Commission is offering workshops related to human rights in the workplace. Participants will learn about the law governing human rights in Alberta, how to prevent and resolve complaints of discrimination, and how to build inclusive workplaces. For more information about the workshops, see the Human Rights in the Workplace brochure. Currently, half-day sessions are scheduled in Fort McMurray on November 13, 2002; in Lethbridge on November 21, 2002; in Grande Prairie on November 28, 2002; in Edmonton on December 3, 2002; and in Calgary on December 5, 2002. These workshops will cover modules 1, 2 and 3, as described in the brochure. Also, workshops can be customized for specific groups on request. For more information, contact Nicholas Ameyaw at nicholas.ameyaw@gov.ab.ca or by phone at (780) 427-4001 in Edmonton. To call toll-free from outside Edmonton, first dial 310-0000.
The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench decision of August 26, 2002 related to a human rights case involving the Widows' Pension Act is being appealed by the respondent (The Crown in Right of Alberta as represented by the Minister responsible for Alberta Human Resources and Employment). You can find the decision on the Court of Queen's Bench Web site at http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/. Search all judgments for the word "Gwinner."
December 10 is International Human Rights Day, which commemorates December 10, 1948, the day on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by member nations of the United Nations in New York. The Commission's Human Rights Day kit offers many ideas for community and classroom activities to celebrate the day.
PLEASE NOTE: In the following sections of the newsletter, we publish news and information provided by other organizations and we cite Web sites related to human rights and diversity. The Commission is not responsible for the content provided by other organizations on their Web sites or by other means. Comments or inquiries regarding these organizations or their Web sites should be directed to the organization in question.
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY NEWS
October is Women's History Month. The theme of the tenth annual Women's History Month is women and sports.
The Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies has made a regarding the BC Government's Bill 53, the draft Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2002.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has ruled that children with autism and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) have a constitutionally protected right to publicly funded intensive behavioural treatment. The Court ruled that the children have been discriminated against because the public health care system has not been funding this important health care need recommended by the children's physicians. You can read the decision on the BC Court of Appeal website.
The Cultural Diversity Institute at the University of Calgary is presenting Catalyst for Change, a conference for people who are responsible for managing and implementing diversity strategies and programs in organizations. The conference takes place at the University of Calgary on October 28 and 29. The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund has provided support for this conference.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) invites the people of Edmonton and area to attend a forum to discuss issues of local and national concern. The October 24, 2002 public forum takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the City Room of Edmonton City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square. CRRF is also sponsoring the Summit To Strengthen the Agenda Against Racism in Canada, which takes place Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27. Key themes to be discussed include righting historical wrongs, Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and raising the voice of youth against racism. This is primarily a working meeting. Delegates will break up into caucuses, with the outcome to produce a set of priorities for action for government and community. The summit will be held at the Best Western Sherwood Park Hotel, 1 Premier Way in Sherwood Park, Alberta. For more information, call the CRRF office toll-free in Toronto at 1-888-240-4936 or e-mail info@crr.ca.
The City of Calgary has released the report Perception of Racism and Hate Activities Among Youth in Calgary: Effects on the Lived Experience. This study was undertaken to explore young Calgarians' (aged 12 to 24 years) experiences of racism and discrimination.
YouthSPEAK!, a new Youth One project, is bringing discussion forums, much like the CBC Counterspin show, to Edmonton schools and campuses and is looking for passionate volunteers to become part of the organizing committee. The forums are designed to provide a constructive place for youth to openly express their opinions, learn the facts, hear and be heard, and gain a deep understanding of issues and possible solutions. Read full program details and information about the volunteer positions. The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund provided support for this project.
The Alberta Committee of Citizens with Disabilities has produced a Resource Guide for Post-secondary Students with Disabilities. The guide is for potential and continuing post-secondary students with disabilities. It outlines all aspects of an institution's commitment to students with disabilities, such as adaptive technology and assistive devices, advocacy, alternate formats for print materials, and counselling and advising. It includes FAQs, institution profiles, and contact information. The institution profiles include contacts, highlights, campus policy regarding students with disabilities, campus maps and other interesting information. The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Fund provided support for the resource guide.
The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute has produced a video and guide called Making Human Rights Laws and Remedies Accessible to People with Developmental Disabilities. Read a description of the project and the development process. The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Fund provided support for this project.
Britain is undertaking public consultation on proposed new legislation, which would ban all forms of discrimination. The purpose of the Equality Bill is to fill the gaps in current equality legislation. The Bill aims to establish a harmonized approach to tackling discrimination and promoting equality between people, regardless of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.
RELATED WEBSITES
The Gender at Work Collaborative is a knowledge-building network in the emerging field of institutional change for gender equality. It will work primarily with development and human rights organizations to facilitate institutional transformation for gender equality.
Due to confidentiality concerns, the Commission cannot reply
to complaints of discrimination using the Internet.
Please contact the Commission by telephone or regular mail
if you have a specific complaint.
The Commission will make publications available in accessible multiple formats upon request. Multiple formats provide access for people with disabilities who do not read conventional print.
