8:00 am Registration/Breakfast
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
9:00 am Forum Introduction
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
Welcome:
9:15 am Plenary Panel
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
VOICES OF THE VICTIMS: IS ANYONE OUT THERE LISTENING?
Representatives from Ontario’s diverse communities describe their encounters with hate, while official from government and the law enforcement sector give their perspective on the present challenges.
Moderator:
Ruth Klein, National Director, League for Human Rights, B’nai Brith Canada
Speakers:
Response from Professionals
10:30 am Question & Answer
11:00 am Break
11:15 am Round Table Discussions
AN INTER-COMMUNITY DIALOGUE: SHARING EXPERIENCES AND APPROACHES
Led by a facilitator from groups targeted by hate, the Round Table Discussions will open a dialogue between community members from different minority groups, providing an opportunity to share experiences and discuss ways in which identified challenges can be overcome. A set of five questions will be provided to each facilitator to guide the conversation.
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Facilitator:
Abdi Hashised, Executive Director, Somali-Canadian Cultural Club; Executive Director, Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services
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Facilitator:
Victor Wong, Executive Director, Chinese Canadian National Council
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Facilitator:
Delia Opekokew, Aboriginal Lawyer
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Facilitator:
Ron Banerjee, Director, Canadian Hindu Advocacy
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Facilitator:
Cathy Mackenzie, Board Member, Niagara Pride Support Services Inc.
12:30 pm Report of the Facilitators to the Main Plenary
Chair: Marvin Kurz, National Legal Counsel, B’nai Brith; Forum Chair
1:00 pm Networking Lunch
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
2:00 pm Plenary Panel
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
FRONTLINE ACTIVISTS WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS
A panel of professionals describe their experiences on the frontlines of countering hatred, comparing case studies that illustrate the ongoing struggle in the province for lasting solutions to prejudice and descrimination. Respondents outline the strategies of those who train the next generation of workers in the field of equity and diversity.
Moderator:
Zul Kassamali, Vice President, Association of Progressive Muslims of Ontario
Speakers:
Nawal Al-Busaidi, Program Coordinator, Arab Community Centre of Toronto
Anita Bromberg, National Director of Legal Affairs, B’nai Brith Canada
Zahra Dhanani, Legal Director, Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children
Uzma Shakir, former Executive Director, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians; former President, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
Respondents:
Patrick Case, Director, Human Rights and Equity Office, University of GuelphLloyd McKell, Executive Officer, Student and Community Equity, Toronto District School Board
Superintendent F. Darren Smith, Unit Commander, Training and Education, Charles O. Bick College, Toronto Police Force
3:15 pm Question & Answer
3:45 pm Break
4:00 pm Plenary Panel
Gold Room
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN COUNTERING HATE
Panelists will focus on the role of media in responding to hatred, and discuss ways in which this sector can work with community groups to counter hate/bias crimes.
Moderator:
Spider Jones, CFRB Commentator
Speakers:
Raheel Raza, Media Consultant
Joe Brean, National Post
Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star
Karlene Nation, CTV Toronto
5:45 pm Forum Dinner
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
Introduction:
Justice Sandra Chapnik, Superior Court of Justice
Keynote Speaker, Honourable Roy McMurtry, Chancellor, York University; former Chief Justice of Ontario
7:30 pm Anti-Hate Face-Off
Council Chambers
A diverse panel of youth, and community professionals, will meet in a face-off that will challenge participants to come up with solutions that reflect the needs and interests of the next generation.
Farley Flex, Canadian Idol Judge
Presentation of Student Human Rights Award Ontario winners
Panelists:
Jeremy Dias, Director and Founder, Jer’s Vision: Canada’s Youth Diversity Initiative
Professor Carl James, Department of Education, York University
Constable Scott Mills, School Officer, Toronto Crime Stoppers (Student/Police Liaison)
Chukuma Okonkwl, Youth Assisting Youth
Latisha Rose, Harmony Movement
Nayani Thiyugarajah, Toronto Youth Cabinet, City of Toronto
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
8:00 am Breakfast
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
9:00 am Keynote Speaker
Ian Fine, Senior General Counsel, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Introduction:
Professor Alain Goldschlager, Ontario Chair, League for Human Rights; Director, Holocaust Literature Research Institute, University of Western Ontario
9:30 am Plenary Panel
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS: A BEST PRACTICES APPROACH
A cross-sector panel will come together to identify best practices to combat hate that can be implemented across communities and generations through legal/ legislative approaches, mentorship and coalition building. Victim impact statements will frame the discussion.
Moderator: Toni Silberman, Board of Directors, Canadian Race Relations Foundation; National Chair, Commission on Holocaust Education, B’nai Brith Canada
Speakers:
Courtney Betty, Human Rights Lawyer
Jeremy Dias, Director and Founder, Jer’s Vision: Canada’s Youth Diversity Initiative
Marvin Kurz, National Legal Counsel, B’nai Brith Canada
Eva Marszewski, Founder & Executive Director, Peacebuilders International (Canada)
10:45 am Question & Answer
11:00 am Break
11:15 am Presentations
WORKING MODELS: A PROACTIVE APPROACH
1. Forming Community Partnerships
Gold Room A
Presenters:
Ghulam Sajan, Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission & Joint-Chair, Mosaic Interfaith
Group
Aubrey Zidenberg, Chair, Special Advisory Council, League for Human Rights, B’nai Brith Canada
2. Using Technology to Counter Hate
Burgundy Room
Presenters:
Professor Valerie Steeves, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa
Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director, Media Awareness Network
3. Research and Education Methods
Gold Room B
Presenter:
Professor Joan O’Callaghan, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Barbara Perry, Project Manager & Professor, Faculty of Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
4. Using Legislation to Counter Hate
Committee Room #2
Presenters:
Sergeant Stephen Camp, former Hate Crimes Officer, Edmonton Police
Richard Warman, Human Rights Lawyer
5. Joint Community Police Initiatives
Committee Room #4
Presenters:
Constable Tom Decker, LGBT Liaison Officer, Community Mobilization Unit, Toronto Police Service Warren Silver, National Training Officer, Policing Services Program, Statistics Canada
12:30 pm Networking Lunch
Memorial Hall, Burgundy Room
1:30 pm Round Table Discussions
Break-out rooms
ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY: THE NUTS & BOLTS OF A COMMUNITY APPROACH
Building on the recommendations of the plenary sessions and the working models presented for discussion, facilitators will work with participants to create a sustainable, multi-disciplinary anti-hate alliance.
1. Brother Razak Damani, President, Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jama’at of Toronto
Burgundy Room
2. Surinder Singh Gill, Policy Advisor, Strategic Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Gold Room
3. Greg Rogers, Executive Director, John Howard Society of Toronto
Committee Room #2
4. Constable Brett Kemp, Diversity Unit, York Regional Police
Constable Paul Chiang, Diversity Unit, York Regional Police
Committee Room #4
3:00 pm Concluding Session
Memorial Hall, Bugundy Room
Recommendations to the Forum Chair from the Round Table Facilitators
4:00 pm Closing Remarks
Funding provided by the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, Ministry of the Attorney General and the B’nai Brith Foundation
Program Subject to Change