International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination calls on people around the world to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.
The City of St. John’s is committed to building a connected city where people have a sense of belonging and are actively engaged in community life. We are proud of our growing diverse identity in St. John's; embracing different cultures helps us not only better understand one another but also strengthens our city by bringing new perspectives, new ideas and new experiences.
Our Inclusion Advisory Committee has identified the need to increase capacity within our city to address racism and discrimination. While we recognize that we have a long way to go towards eliminating racism in our community, the City has begun the process by seeking advice from those with expertise and lived experience in fostering anti-racism. Noted below are some small steps that we have taken on this important journey.
Anti-Racism Working Group
In late 2020, a new position was added to the City’s Inclusion Advisory Committee (IAC) to provide expertise on anti-racism and to lead an anti-racism working group (ARWG) to advise on the policies, procedure and supports necessary to foster anti-racism and inclusion in St. John's. Dr. Sulaimon Giwa was appointed as Co-Chair of the IAC and Chair of the ARWG and has worked with City staff to develop a terms of reference and selection process for the ARWG based on input received from a community forum and a review of best practices. The terms of reference and selection process will be presented to the Inclusion Advisory Committee on March 31, 2022, for their final input before seeking Council approval.
The Provincial Ministerial Committee on Anti-Racism have agreed to a request sent by the Mayor and Dr. Giwa to meet to discuss how the two levels of government can work together to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable society free from all forms of racism and discrimination.
Black History Month
In February this year, the City of St. John’s acknowledged February as Black History Month and held a flag raising. Black History Month is an internationally recognized annual celebration designed to highlight and recognize the actions, achievements and contributions of Black people around the world.
Cultural Diversity Training
Throughout 2021, City employees from across the organization attended Indigenous Cultural Diversity Training with First Light in 2021. The City has also partnered with the Commissionaires for many years to help support the Syrian Refugee Employment Initiative Program. This initiative provides refugees the opportunity to work one day per week while they complete English language training. This provides valuable work experience, extra income for families and promotes community integration.
My New St. John’s Live Expo Event
In October 2021, the St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership held the My New St. John’s Live Expo Event with the goal to extend a warm welcome and support new members of our community, and to help drive engagement in all aspects of social, economic and cultural life in St. John’s.
Truth and Reconciliation
To honour survivors, their families and Indigenous communities, and to raise awareness about the legacy of residential schools in Canada, the City of St. John’s observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021. Residents and city staff were asked to learn more about residential schools and reflect on the histories and cultures of Indigenous peoples.
In June 2021, Council approved the importance of recognizing National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD), which takes place annually on June 21. Council and staff encouraged residents of the city to find ways to celebrate the rich and diverse histories and cultures of Indigenous Peoples in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Bench-Mark Welcome Project
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership and City staff coordinated a Bench-Mark Welcome Project. With funding from the Government of Canada, local organizations from diverse backgrounds left their ‘mark’ on Canada Day through an installment of beautiful hand painted benches. Each bench was a unique work of art, designed to welcome newcomers and visitors to St. John’s. Organizations who participated include: The Association for New Canadians, Memorial University Internationalization Office, Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador (MWONL), Sharing our Cultures and the Tombolo Multicultural Festival Newfoundland and Labrador.
Training for Staff and Council
With input from the Inclusion Advisory Committee, training was implemented on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion for Municipal Leaders to Council and senior City management in February 2020. The training included topics of cultural humility, cultural competence, and intersectionality. In 2020, the Respectful Workplace Policy was approved by Council. To date, almost 1000 employees have completed the Respectful Workplace training. This demonstrates the organization’s commitment in providing a workplace that ensures all people - regardless of differences - are welcome, belong, and are meaningfully engaged.
The City of St. John’s supports the United Nations statement: “The fight against racism is everyone’s fight and everyone wins when we eradicate racial discrimination from our societies.” We recognize that we have an important part to play in building a world beyond racism.