Canadian Race Relations Foundation

News Release
Toronto, April 22, 2013

Last week, despite a ruling from the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) that Sikhs wearing sport turbans could play in soccer in games under their aegis, the Quebec Soccer Federation (QSF) has decided not to implement this directive.

The facts of the matter are that the international governing body of soccer, FIFA modified its rules in 2012 to allow girls to wear hijabs of an acceptable design while playing soccer. This was also a matter of controversy in Quebec before that ruling.

News Release

Toronto, March 18, 2013

In advance of March 21, the International Day to Eliminate Racism, The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), in conjunction with the University of Winnipeg, is sponsoring a National and local Dialogue on Perceptions of Aboriginal Peoples in Immigrant Communities on Wednesday, March 20 at 9.am. at the University Club of the Winnipeg. Panelists will include Ron Swain of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and Abdikheir Ahmed of IRCOM.

News Release

Toronto, March 15, 2013

Survey of Attitudes towards Aboriginals Shows need for more dialogue.

According to a 2013 attitude survey sponsored by the Association of Canadian Studies and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, negative perceptions of Aboriginals have increased in frequency among since last year, particularly among English Canadians. On the other hand, at the national level, attitudes among immigrants were more positive than among non-immigrants. It was also found that in general, the more Canadians reported having contact with Aboriginals the more positive were their views.

News Release
TORONTO, February 27, 2013

Rubin Friedman, Principal Operating Officer of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and a former trainer on Hate Crimes and Hate speech commented on today's Supreme Court Decision involving Section 14 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code dealing with the promotion of hatred based on sexual orientation.

News Release

TORONTO, February 22, 2013

On Thursday February 21, 2013, the Principal Operating Officer of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Rubin Friedman, wrote to convey congratulations to the new Ambassador to the Office of Religious Freedom.

In his letter, he stressed the importance of this new role for Canada internationally and noted the experience of the CRRF in efforts to build a common framework for interfaith participation with others in Canadian life.

NEWS RELEASE
OTTAWA: February 10, 2013.

Reconciliation Day, as part of Black History Month in Ottawa at St. Alban's Church.

In the presence of Her Excellency, Sheila Sealy Monteith, High Commissioner of Jamaica, Senator Don Meredith of Toronto, The Reverend Mark Whittall of St. Alban's Church and other invited guests and dignitaries, Rubin Friedman, Principal Operating Officer of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation was asked to speak briefly on Reconciliation and its relevance in remembrance of Lady Agnes Bernard Macdonald, wife Sir John A. Macdonald. These were his comments:

What is Reconciliation? At its heart it is acceptance, acceptance of others, acceptance of one's responsibilities and acceptance of the need to act.

NEWS RELEASE
HALIFAX: February 4, 2013 (article printed in Halifax Chronicle Herald as part of African Heritage Day)

As an outcome of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement in 1988, an endowment fund of $24 million, jointly donated by the Japanese Canadian community and the Government of Canada was used to create a Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF). The Foundation was physically started in 1997. Its purpose was to help develop and share knowledge to contribute to the elimination of racism and racial discrimination in Canada.

NEWS RELEASE
TORONTO, January 24, 2013 - On January 27 each year, the United Nations (UN) remembers the Holocaust that aimed at killing every Jew, wherever the Nazis could reach them, during World War II. This day is called the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

The day also commemorates when the Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland on January 27, 1945.

NEWS RELEASE
TORONTO, Dec 10th, 2012 - The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) joins all Canadians in celebrating 'Human Rights Day' (Dec 10th). Since the proclamation of Universal Human Rights in 1947 and the key role played by Canadian John Humphrey, Canada has made great strides to ensure its citizens are afforded a high level of Human Rights.

NEWS RELEASE

TORONTO, December 21, 2012 - The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) has noted with great interest the ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada regarding a woman's right to wear a niqab (face-veil) when testifying in court.  The Court's decision to allow judges to consider the individual circumstances of the case in deciding whether or not a niqab may be permitted, reflects the most recent interpretation of the Supreme Court of this issue and offers cogent considerations for balancing the right to full answer and defence with what was framed as the right to freedom of religion.