Why is Edmonton Becoming Race-torn?
When a group of women tell their Mayor and Councilors that they cannot go out of their homes to do grocery, you will instantly think of a war-torn county where bullets are flying all over the place and people cannot go out, right? Nope! This is one of the most peaceful cities in the world, Edmonton, and it’s not war-torn but rather certainly becoming “race-torn”, getting so bad as to be able to prevent women from going out for grocery due to fear of racial abuse. All they got from their Mayor and Councilors were their listening ears, or call it empathy.
This week, this same Mayor and Councilors listened to stories that will knock you off your seat from community presenters; a group of women told the Alberta Refugee Health Coalition that because they have so many kids, their doctors don’t want to see them any more unless they go on birth control. Edmontonians who have faced racism and discrimination are tired of telling their stories with no action to follow from politicians. Only people with titles and those of European descent get selected on important committees, boards, and important powerful positions. We used to be told that indigenous people have issues, don’t go close to them, but today we realized that it’s all false. As a city, we have failed to build genuine long term relationships, connections, shared history, and experiences with minority groups facing racism and discrimination. Stories on racism and discrimination generate empathy but not the much needed systemic change.
This Mayor and Councilors are placing a ban and a 10K fine on a practice that has never affected any Edmontonian. When it comes to one that has not only affected Edmontonians but prevents them from going out, you will expect immediate investigation from the Mayor and Councilors, right? Well the women got empathy – the strategy of listening to racial abuse stories and showing care and concern to people when they share their negative racial stories, well I really mean faking care and concern as most of the Mayor and Councilors will never understand how the people felt because they will never be in their position.
This strategy is what I called the empathy strategy. The E-strategy is at best fake care and concern, and at worst embarrassing from someone who can do something to help but chooses not to. The E-strategy has been used for ever and has never worked and will never worked because it does not even get to the surface of the race problem in Edmonton, Alberta, or Canada. Currently the new UCP Government is requesting for another round of story sharing like the NDP Government did to arrive at the same ineffective action conclusion despite the tools at the disposal of these levels of government.
Why are these guys inactive on these issues? Who will be affected the most; the majority of the population, the minority, or their political careers? When we try to address a problem with the same empathy strategy all the time we certainly get the same results and yet people wonder why multicultural communities are not happy here, why they complain a lot, why they pay stronger allegiance to their home countries, why they do not integrate, and so on. The answer lies in playing games and not tackling a serious race problem head on.
Democracy is imposing the will of the majority on the minority and building the world from the point of view of the majority. This comes with its own challenges as it does not create room for minority inclusion because if the majority is fine, everything is fine. While inclusion on the other hand is incorporating the will of the minority by the majority which is the reverse of what we have been used to doing and find it hard to make this transition, call it change.
If this racism problem is not addressed properly, it will be carried to the next generation, to the next, and the next, and will become explosive. This will lead to radicalization, division, and many other societal ills. These are Edmontonians who are here to stay and their generations will be here for ever. We have the best opportunity as a city to show leadership in this area, using ban, fines, and every other tool at our disposal, as well as, engaging everyone, especial powerful agencies like the Police with a new seemingly open-minded Chief saying and doing all the right things. The media has avoided this topic, probably because it only affects the minority, they too need to show leadership. We have a golden opportunity to make haste while the sun shine.
Edmonton Community Leagues make Inclusion History.
Community Leagues have had workshops component on diversity and inclusion in their Leagues Alive conference but not as an event on its own merit. The Ritchie Community League hall in the South of Edmonton hosted the history making workshop, “Let’s chat about inclusion”, on August 22, 2019. The event brought together three dozen members of Edmonton Community League from across Edmonton, interested persons, and organizations, to a World Café and Conversation Circle style blend of rich and educative workshop on inclusion.
A few like-minded volunteers who met at the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) ’s Leagues Alive conference in October 2018 recently created the Community Inclusion Committee (CIC) to generate awareness, dialogue, and action for people to recognize community diversity as an asset and work towards real inclusion.
The event discussions were facilitated by guest speakers and community leaders who navigate their lived experiences as members of Indigenous and ethnocultural communities, as well as, disabled, youth, and senior groups among others. The group will put together the findings of the workshop and determine the next steps.
Some inclusion thoughts to leave with you from the event:
Community leagues are mostly people of European ancestry using colonial white governance structural models.
We should be trying to move people from needy to needed so as to include them.
It is encouraged to try to find out what gifts people bring and celebrate their uniqueness.
Don’t try to be the best on the team, but be the best for the team.
Just be natural when you include people, don’t over do it, and they will come.
When we design the world in a certain way, we create barriers for others.
Inclusion goes beyond appearances.
Inclusion is incorporating the will of the minority by the majority.
Diversity Daily News August 22, 2019. Media Snubs Anti-Racism Discussions as Councilors and Administration Continue at Snail Pace.
Ward 6 Councillor, Scott McKeen, sums up the day, “I don’t know what to do”. Councilor McKeen expression is exactly the reason for the hearing on August 21, 2019, at the River Valley Room, as Edmonton City Administration summarized their racism solutions, followed by presentations from four speakers, and questions from councilors. The Administration proposal comprises $300,000 of grant funds, with questionable strategies to address the endless list of issues quoted below from councilors and speakers.
The session continues at 9:30 AM, on September at the Community and Public Service Committee Meeting with more speakers, questions, debate and discussions. After a busy day with heated discussions on Conversion Therapy that has no known Edmontonian affected, the media gang disappeared for the Anti-Racism hearing which was next on the agenda.
Now lets share some quotes from councilors and speakers present on the state of racism and discrimination in Edmonton.
A group of women told the Alberta Refugee Health Coalition that because they have so many kids, their doctors don’t want to see them any more except they are on birth control.
Edmontonians who have faced racism and discrimination are tired of telling their stories with no action to follow from politicians.
Edmonton Councilors said at an event, they heard lots of stories from Al-Rashid Mosque “that my mum say will curl your hair”. Some women say they don’t want to go to grocery anymore because of the racial attacks that it attracts.
Only people with titles, and those of European descent get selected on important committees, boards, and important powerful positions.
We used to be told that indigenous people have issues, don’t go close to them, but today realized that it’s all false.
As a city, we have failed to build genuine long term relationships, connections, shared history, and experiences with minority groups facing racism and discrimination.
There is still prevalence of cadding, endemic lack of inclusion in engagement processes, and a rise in racial incidences in Edmonton.
Stories on racism and discrimination generate empathy but not the much needed systemic change.
These select direct quotes from the Anti-Racism Advisory Committee Funding Strategy was shared by the four speakers, and councilors present at the Community and Public Services Committee hearing on August 21, 2019, at the Edmonton River Valley Room.
You might not have heard of this practice, Conversion Therapy, or anyone affected by this practice in Edmonton, but the power of its advocacy cost Edmonton City Committee half a day of fireworks discussions after a heated debate from those on both sides of the Conversion Therapy debate on August 21, 2019, at Edmonton Council Chamber.
So what is Conversion Therapy? It is the practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions.
Some groups in Edmonton believe that everyone in the LGBTQ2 community, has the right and freedom to decide what form of support they need and the choice to seek that help willingly, be it Conversion Therapy, or any form of it. Others believe Conversion Therapy should be ban as it is built on the premise that there is something wrong with the person from the LGBTQ2 community seeking or being convinced or pressured to undergo the process to change their sexual orientation, as such it is wrong and should be ban.
Haven been banned in St. Alberta, Edmonton joins Strathcona County in pushing through a ban with a penalty of 10K for licensing, promoting, and promoting Conversion Therapy in Edmonton with churches exempted. “We are in a position as a community to send a signal that it’s wrong,” Mayor Don Iveson concluded the City of Edmonton Community and Public Services Committee recommendation to City Council discussions on August 21 after proposing the motion to ban Conversion Therapy.
We normally don’t talk about these topics in our community but I thought I should shed some light on this topic as our kids will be facing these issues soon, if not already wrestling with it.
Edmonton Police Services: Information Sessions
You don’t need a policing background to become a member of the Edmonton Police Service. Every year we hire people that have a wide variety of educational backgrounds and career paths; each one also has a different reason for joining.
But the one thing they all do have in common is the desire to serve the citizens of Edmonton. We’re hiring. Learn more at an upcoming information session
Joineps.ca
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Edmonton joins Pakistan Community to celebrate Pakistan Independence Day on August 14
Today’s Daily Diversity News on August 20, 2019, from the headquarter of Diversity Magazine at Diversity Centre in the heart of the fantastic City of Edmonton.
Pakistan Independence Day Celebration: A man flies a green and white Pakistan Flag as part of the long winding lines to the BBQ as children ride on the backs of electric powered toy animals, women sell dresses indoors, Canadian and Pakistan flags are raised, speeches made by dignitaries present, and an exciting concert concludes the evening on the side of the Pakistan Canada Association of Edmonton Hall. This sums up a beautiful celebration of Pakistan Independence Day in Edmonton, organized by the Pakistan Association of Edmonton on August 17, 2019.
Annually 14 August is observed as a national holiday in Pakistan. It commemorates the day when Pakistan achieved independence and was declared a sovereign state following the end of the British rule in 1947.
Today, on the Daily Diversity News for August 19, 2019, all platforms of Diversity Magazine shares the interview with Minister Ahmed Hussen MP, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship for the Government of Canada, a part of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada. So we’re happy to ask the minister some immigration questions that troubles our community, but first,we will let him share what his government has accomplished for the last four years. Watch full videos here
Diversity Daily News for August 19, 2019, from our headquarter at the Diversity Centre in the heart of the fantastic City of Edmonton:
Mary Thomas passionately sings, “Mere Watan Key Logon” in memory of the soldiers and everyone who died during the Indian independence struggle. Mary thrilled the audience at India Fest, on August 17, at the India Centre in Edmonton.
Hundreds of Edmontonians joined the Indian Community to raise the Indian and Canadian Flags, share some delicious food, enjoy exciting performances, and proudly celebrate the rich and beautiful culture of India. A Director of the Council of India Societies of Edmonton, the organizers of the event reiterated the beauty of the Indian culture “… we are proud to celebrate our rich and beautiful culture with Edmontonians….”
The Indian Independence Day is annually celebrated on 15 August, as a national holiday in India commemorating the nation’s independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, the day when the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947 transferring legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly.
On August 17, 2019, Edmontonians joined in the celebration of the independence of Ivory Coast.
In June, 1960, the pro-French Félix Houphouët-Boigny proclaimed the country’s independence, but maintained close ties with France.
In Edmonton, the Ivorian community answered the call and was active in celebrating their independence. Led by Kazay Coulibaly, the President of the Ivoiro-Canadian community of Edmonton (Cice), they invited different communities such as Nepal, Cameroon, Uganda, Zimbabwe and so on.
Invited communities such as Nepal, Cameroon and Burkina Faso were given the stage to also share their cultures on stage. The Ivorian community in Edmonton shared their culture through karaoke, speeches, buffet of delicious Ivorian dishes such as the inviting fried plantain called locally “Alloco”, and the delicious fermented cassava, known as “Attiéké”. This department was well taken care of by the expertise of Mumbai Dakar Restaurant in Edmonton.
