Diversity Community Newscast for December 18, 2020.
Hosted by Rayyah Sempala and Harriet Tinka.
Here are your headlines…
Alberta’s multicultural communities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19…
Meet Lola and Natasha, AC Awards 2020 Professionals of the Year…. Recruitment opportunities for Edmontonians to serve on agencies, boards, committees, and commissions, where multicultural communities are poorly represented…
Edmonton Police Chief says hate is not acceptable in Edmonton while wishing everyone the best for the holidays…
Now the news in detail with Rayyah Sempala….
1. We begin this Newscast in Calgary…
It’s now easier to support local Calgary businesses with curbside pickup or delivery. In partnership with Calgary Parking Authority, the City of Calgary is providing 15 minutes of free on-street parking in Calgary’s Business Improvement Areas and Business Revitalization Zones until Jan. 31. Start a session using the MyParking app, Call to Park or Text to Park. You can also register at a ParkPlus pay machine. Learn more at calgaryparking.com.
2. Despite COVID-19, the holiday spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Calgary’s communities! The City of Calgary unanimously sign a Notice of Motion asking the Province to have Santa Claus and his reindeer declared an essential service.
3. Multicultural communities have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 across the world, mainly because these communities are on the frontlines doing the dangerous jobs, readily in contact with the virus, or sick people. This multicultural communities have no government support to enable them tackle the virus, and strategies to educate them about the virus are at best non-existence, and at worst, just empty words. After the worsening COVID-19 situations in multicultural communities in Alberta, Alberta Health says they have identified 11 communities mainly in the 118 Avenue area of Edmonton; Abbottsfield, Castle Downs, Eastwood, Jasper Place, Millwoods West, North East, Northgate, Woodcroft East, and Woodcroft West, and in Calgary; Lower Northeast, and Upper Northeast. This week, Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney made the announcement of new programs and support will be available to residents in these 11 highest COVID-19 communities, such as: Self-isolation hotels and financial aid. Individuals in these areas who test positive for COVID-19 will be eligible for a free-of-charge hotel room stay of 14 days, complete with culturally appropriate food. These individuals will also be eligible for temporary financial aid in the amount of $625 when they have completed their self-isolation. COVID Care Teams – community-led outreach teams will provide on-the-ground supports and interventions to limit the spread of the virus with masks, sanitizer, and information in multiple languages will be delivered.
4. In Edmonton….
Mayor Iveson condemns two racially motivated attacks on our fellow Edmontonians in under a week. “The assailants targeted hijab-wearing women of colour is unacceptable — and I condemn these assaults in the strongest terms,” the Mayor said. “Over and over again, Edmontonians have demonstrated their welcome and generosity to newcomers from around the world,” the Mayor added.
5. This week, we’re celebrating 2 top professionals – Lola and Natasha, AC Awards 2020 Professionals of the Year….
6. This week Fashion of the Week There’s colour and beauty in the horizon this holidays. A colourful eye-catching men tie set will not be a bad idea for a present this holidays. A hand crafted African wax print or ankara. A high quality set of tie, bowtie, and pocket square to compliment an outfit. The set comes elegantly wrapped with a bow which makes it the perfect gift for this holiday season. A beautiful present for the holidays – For more information, please go to kynapparel.ca
7. Our Diversity profile for this week is the inspirational story of Alberta Movie Producer, Kathryn Fasegha, breaking into mainstream cinemas with her upcoming movie, 2 Weeks in Lagos.
8. Coronavirus Project Cool times: Ericke and Cesar share their business journey in this period of COVID-19.
9. Recruitment opportunities for Edmontonians to serve on agencies, boards, committees and commissions. Multicultural communities are not represented on these Boards because they do not know how to get on them. Board members provide direction and make decisions that impact Edmontonians and help shape our city. Anyone interested in municipal government and shaping Edmonton’s future can join a City of Edmonton Civic Board. Learn more about which boards are looking for new members and apply at edmonton.ca/boards
10. In an interview with Diversity Magazine, on December 16 on Zoom, Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee says hate is not acceptable in Edmonton in response to two racially motivated attacks on our fellow Edmontonians in under a week. The Police Chief said Edmonton recorded 59 hate crimes in 2020, an increase by two from 2019. While wishing everyone the best for the holidays, the Chief was satisfied with the ongoing community engagement sessions with multicultural communities to improve policing of multicultural communities in Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Chief added that close to 2,000 visits were recorded on their community engagement website and most of the communities have been helpful during the engagement sessions. The Chief looks forward to education, community safety and well-being in the near future.
11. In Diversity TV International News…”Two new Pharaohs” have changed the constitution, ran for controversial third presidential terms and sworn in as presidents this week in two African countries. Alpha Conde and Alassane Dramane Ouattara have both been sworn in this week after controversial third terms as Guinea and Ivory Coast Presidents respectively after changing their countries constitutions and ran for controversial third presidential terms. On a related development, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana wins re-election.
Thank you for watching Diversity TV Community Newscast and from Rayyah Sempala and Harriet Tinka, see you next week.
