Tag Archive for: Multiculturalism Enriches

Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, cultural diversity, intercultural, education, anti-racism

AGM 2021

The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) held its annual general meeting on Saturday, June 19th virtually.
At the2021 annual general meeting, the membership elected three Director-at-large  2-year terms and two Director-at-large  1-year term with acclamations for Treasurer and Secretary.
We are delighted to present the 2021-22 MCoS Board of Directors:

Position Name
President Meka Okochi
Past-President Neeraj Saroj
Vice-President Cosanna Preston-Idedia
Treasurer Margot Hurlbert
Secretary Ayesha Baig
Director-at-large Susan Cambridge
Director-at-large Joel Fitzpatrick
Director-at-large Tatenda Mhaka
Director-at-large Hyunjung Shin
Director-at-large Julio Torres-Recinos
Director-at-large Jessica Walcott
Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, cultural diversity, intercultural, education, anti-racism

AGM 2021

We would like to thank all the nominees that let their names stand for the MCoS Board of Directors – your interest in our organization and multiculturalism is greatly appreciated and respected. If you were not elected, we hope that you will find other ways to be involved in MCoS.
MCoS would also like to recognize the contributions of our outgoing Board members Colleen Charles and Muna De Ciman. Thank you for your time, wisdom and guidance. You will be missed!
We look forward to working with the 2021-22 Board of Directors in the year to come as MCoS continues to move forward with its strategic plan.

Join us for the February Break Theatre Camp hosted by Kris Alvarez & Joely BigEagle-Kequahtooway.

Explore your creativity through performing arts and gain a deeper understanding of other cultures while having fun and making friends.

  • Ensemble skills – Learn to build trust, connection, respect and communication skills. Play theatre games that support respect and sharing perspectives.
  • Acting tools – Use improvisation to create and physicalizing characters.Learn how to use your voice clearly and confidently.
  • Storytelling – Create your own story by learning:  What makes a story interesting for audience? How to tell a story in exciting ways by incorporating symbols, sounds and movement.

Dates:  February 19 – 23, 2019
Location: Regina Open Door Society, 2220 12th Avenue (4th Floor)
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lunch and Refreshments will be provided

Join us for Celebration, Sharing & Food on February 23rd, 2019

Family, Friends & Community are all invited!
Location: Artesian 2627 13th Avenue, Regina, SK
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Download Poster:
Youth BRIDGES Theatre Camp (png)

Join the conversation: Anti-racism engagement

Current status: Open (closes December 9, 2018)
Department of Canadian Heritage

This engagement on anti-racism is open to all Canadians and we want to hear from you! We invite you to lend your voice, views and experiences. Your input is essential to ensure our work to address racism reflects your experiences and your suggestions.

A new national anti-racism strategy
Racism divides communities, breeds fear and fuels animosity. Addressing racism and discrimination is a longstanding commitment of Canadians who see our country’s diversity as a source of strength. Canada is strong, not in spite of our differences, but because of them. Unfortunately, Canada is not immune to racism and discrimination — challenges remain when it comes to fully embracing diversity, openness and cooperation.
It is vital that Canada stands up to discrimination perpetrated against any individual or group of people on the basis of their religion and/or ethnicity and this is why the Government of Canada has committed to engage the public on a new federal anti-racism strategy. We are exploring racism as it relates to employment and income supports, social participation (for example, access to arts, sport and leisure) and justice. We are asking people across the country to inform this new strategy in meaningful, relevant, and solutions-focused discussions based on these topics.

Notice

These pages contain references to racism and discrimination, including online survey questions designed to collect personal experiences and beliefs on a voluntary basis. Materials may bring up past experiences of discomfort, anxiety, and/or trauma. Please engage with this content only when you feel prepared.
If you feel you have experienced discrimination or harassment based on one or more of the grounds protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act – including race, national or ethnic origin, colour and religion – you may be able to file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Join in: How to participate

In-person sessions are also being held with community members, leaders, experts (particularly those with lived experience), academics, and stakeholders across Canada. These meetings will not be open to the public in order to ensure that participants are able to have focused, meaningful and safe conversations on subjects that, for many, include reflecting on harmful experiences.
Thank you for your interest. We look forward to your contribution.

Who can participate

We’re interested in hearing from all Canadians, especially those who have direct experience with racism and discrimination and those who offer intersectional perspectives.

Key themes for discussion

To focus on those issues where racism and discrimination most directly touch people’s lives, as well as those policy areas that most closely overlap with the Government of Canada’s jurisdiction, the following themes will guide the engagement:

  • Employment and income supports
  • Social participation (for example, sport, art, leisure)
  • Justice

Related links

Contact us

Department of Canadian Heritage
Anti-Racism Engagement
15 Eddy Street
Gatineau QC K1A 0M5
Email
pc****************************@ca****.ca
Telephone
1-866-811-0055
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Main link

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/anti-racism-engagement.html 

MCoS Multicultural Honours Highlights Intercultural Connections

Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, MCoS Multicultural Honours, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Volunteer, Award, Lieutenant Governor, Government House, Multicultural, Racism, Intercultural, Diversity, Saskatchewan

Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan provides opening remarks

Over 100 people gathered at Government House in Regina on Saturday, November 14th to celebrate and recognize significant volunteer contributions to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan. This annual flag-ship event for MCoS, is hosted by Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan. It is always a joyous celebration drawing attention to the both the contributions and importance of volunteers to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan. This event is part of Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, proclaimed annually by the provincial government to celebrate the Saskatchewan Multiculturalism Act.
The formal part of the event took place in Sir Richard Lake Hall which provides an elegant setting for the program and awards. Her Honour and MCoS President, Bruno Kossman, recognized and appreciated the historical and current contributions of Saskatchewan’s indigenous people that are foundations for a respectful and harmonious shared future. In that vein, Her Honour acknowledged that we were meeting on land that is the traditional territory of the Cree, Saulteaux and Métis and part of Treaty 4. It is essential to remember that we are all treaty people – we benefit as a result of the relationship agreed to over 150 years ago.
This year, the recent Paris terrorist attacks and the Syrian refugee crisis and were addressed by everyone who spoke at the event. Anti-racism
education and the importance of fostering intercultural connections were echoed through the speeches. During his greetings, the Honourable Mark Docherty, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, aptly summed up the current political and social climate by reciting a quote by Somali poet Warsan Shire from her poem “What They Did Yesterday Afternoon”:

Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, MCoS Multicultural Honours, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Volunteer, Award, Lieutenant Governor, Government House, Multicultural, Racism, Intercultural, Diversity, Saskatchewan

His Honour the Honourable Mark Docherty, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport brings greetings

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.

MCoS President, Bruno Kossmann, touched on 2015 being the organization’s 40th anniversary and reviewed MCoS programming and achievements. He thanked all volunteers around the province that make multiculturalism a central factor to the vibrancy of life in Saskatchewan. In 2014-15, among MCoS members over 18,200 volunteers contributed over 358,900 hours of time.  Volunteers and staff with different cultural backgrounds bring different ways of seeing the world which can contribute to more effective decision-making and problem-solving. He also introduced our 40th anniversary video to the audience who enjoyed the taking a journey in photos from MCoS’ inception to the current day to the music of Andrea Menard.
In the awards portion of the event, it was noted that all nominees were considered for the extent of their involvement in the five multicultural streams of work: cultural continuity, celebrating diversity, anti-racism, intercultural connections and integration. This year’s award recipients are both are incredibly deserving individuals. Particularly, their intercultural connections work facilitating different cultural groups coming together over time to build bridges should be noted. By coincidence and unknown to the committee, they share a friendship built through this very work and exemplary of it.

Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, MCoS Multicultural Honours, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Volunteer, Award, Lieutenant Governor, Government House, Multicultural, Racism, Intercultural, Diversity, Saskatchewan

Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Janelle Pewapsconias, 2015 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award Recipient and Bruno Kossman, MCoS President.

MCoS Director and member of the recognition committee, Renata Cosic, introduced Janelle Pewapsconias as the recipient of the 2015 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award. Janelle fulfills many roles focused on cultural continuity within her own community of Little Pine First Nation and in Saskatoon – both of which are in Treaty 6 Territory. She is a strong single mother, a well-rounded advocate for Indigenous, social and environmental justice, an up-and-coming spoken word artist, entrepreneur-in-training, volunteer, public speaker and learner of her language. Janelle is the creator of the Neechi Life Games which are anti-racism tools. She participated in the 2014 intensive summer program called “Next Up: First Nations & Métis Youth in Action” (MCoS strategic initiative investment supported this program) where she was a strong leader within the group. Janelle – who is a budding leader and cultural keeper – is an ambassador of multiculturalism who lives out the multicultural values and her volunteer efforts are rooted in all five streams of multiculturalism. (Read Janelle’s full bio)

As an Indigenous person of this land, I recognize that there are people in the distress around the world and I welcome them here with open arms.
~ Janelle Pewapsconias ~ (excerpt from her acceptance speech)

Saskatchewan Multicultural Week, MCoS Multicultural Honours, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, Volunteer, Award, Lieutenant Governor, Government House, Multicultural, Racism, Intercultural, Diversity, Saskatchewan

Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Jebunnessa Chapola, 2015 Betty Szuchewycz Award Recipient and Bruno Kossman, MCoS President.

MCoS Director and member of the recognition committee, Muna DeCiman, introduced Jebunessa Chapola is the recipient of the 2015 Betty Szuchewycz Award. Jebunnessa’s life is dedicated to uplifting marginalized ethnic and indigenous cultures in the local and international arena and creating awareness about the barriers to achieving gender, social and environmental justice, and working within and across new media environments. She has participated in many diverse cultural program committees creating space for ethnic communities, and putting the committee organizers in touch with her community members. Jebunnessa’s involvement as a Cultural Connections Coordinator for the last five years with Ness Creek Music Festival is a prime example of cultural diversity and intercultural connections at work in the community. This program has received several investments through MCoS’ intercultural connections program. Her anti-racism and anti-oppression work is extensive and has had an impact on very broad social sectors. She has participated in MCoS’ Arrêt/Stop Anti-Racism youth leadership workshops for the past three years as a facilitator and was able to take the knowledge learned from these workshops and host additional workshops at Ness creek and in the community. (Read Jebunnessa’s full bio)

Volunteering and being able to share my culture with others has made me feel alive again; I have purpose once again in my life.
~ Jebunnessa Chapola ~ (excerpt from her acceptance speech)

The reception portion of the event took place in the Henry Newlands Ballroom, decorated for the Christmas season, providing both an elegant and festive atmosphere for the reception. Guests enjoyed cultural treats provided by Rushton’s Catering. “Cultural Treats in Context” cards adorned every table with explanations of the savoury, sweet and fresh fruit delicacies. The reception provided a chance for socializing and photos that facilitated intercultural connections.


Photo Gallery for 2015 MCoS Multicultural Honours

 

MCoS Multicultural Honours

MCoS Board President, Bruno Kossmann, 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership award winner, Julianne Beaudin-Herney, Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield, 2013 Betty Szuchewycz award winner, Renu Kapoor, MCoS Executive Director, Rhonda Rosenberg and Minister Kevin Doherty.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

A Celebration in Honour of Multicultural Contributions

On Saturday, November 16, 2013 Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield, S.O.M., S.V.M., Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan joined the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan to recognize all those who have made significant contributions to the multicultural community. The event took place in the elegant setting of Government House in Regina and kicked-off Saskatchewan Multicultural Week. The event consisted of a ceremony complete with a slideshow, speeches and awards, followed by a reception featuring cultural treats. About 70 people braved the inclement weather to attend the event.
Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Schofield, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty,  Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Community Engagement Consultant, Heather Monus, and MCoS Board President Bruno Kossmann also spoke at the event. All spoke about how multiculturalism enriches Saskatchewan’s economy and social fabric pointing out that often diversity provides creativity and innovation, while connecting us to the world. They all took time to recognize the recent typhoon disaster in the Philippines and its impact on members of the Saskatchewan Filipino community. Finally, it was recognized that all the award nominees are leaders in the community and should be commended for their efforts.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presents the 2013 Betty Szuchewycz award to Renu Kapoor.

Awards:

Each year, the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan presents the Betty Szuchewycz Award for outstanding contributions to multiculturalism in the province.
2013 Betty Szuchewycz Award nominees:

  • Renu Kapoor, India Canada Association of Saskatchewan, Regina
  • Julene Summerfield, Regina Multicultural Council, Regina

2013 Betty Szuchewycz Award winner: Renu Kapoor.
Renu Kapoor has been contributing to community life in since her arrival in Regina over 45 years ago. She has been an active member of the Indian community and has been positively influencing not only the India Canada Association (ICA) but the entire community. She has become a positive role model for many through her active involvement in multicultural events in the province.  She has demonstrated an awareness of succession planning as she has recognized and nurtured young leaders.  Due to her tireless efforts, India Canada Supper Night has become a signature annual event that celebrates the culture and cuisine of India and at the same time makes valuable contributions to local charities of Regina. Renu has demonstrated a strong commitment and involvement in the multicultural communities at the provincial and national levels as a volunteer with SaskCulture (MIF committee and now a board member), Regina Public Library, United Way of Regina, Osteoporosis of Canada (Regina Chapter), and the EMCY diversity awards.
The Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission presented the first Multicultural Youth Leadership Award to an individual who is 29 years of age and under and has made significant contributions to multiculturalism.

MCoS Multicultural Honours

Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield presents the 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership award to Julianne Beaudin-Herney.

2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award nominees:

  • Priya Bilkhu, India Canada Association of Saskatchewan, Regina
  • Julianne Beaudin-Herney, Sakewewak First Nations Artist Collective, Regina

The 2013 Multicultural Youth Leadership Award winner: Julianne Beaudin-Herney.
Julianne Beaudin-Herney has been a young leader and advocate for aboriginal non-aboriginal relationships in both academic institutions and in arts. She is working with Sakewewak to revitalize and re-establish a visual presence and bring youth into the organization. Julianne is an activist for positive change and relationship building.  As a 20-year-old student, Julianne lead a petition, because she saw a brighter future for all the communities if Indigenous history was mandatory to take for University of Regina undergraduates.  Julianne envisions a place where both newcomers and long-time non-native families have a chance to see the history and understand the land and people that belong to Saskatchewan.  Her efforts through her art, her involvement with Sakewewak and her activism express her goals and work to make them reality.

Media Coverage:

We were pleased to have Global Regina and CTV Regina cover the event. You can view the coverage below:
Global Regina link: Coverage of MCoS Multicultural Honours starts at 6:39 Evening News: Nov 16 http://globalnews.ca/video/971929/evening-news-nov-16-2
CTV Regina link: Coverage of MCoS Multicultural Honours starts at 5:17. News at Six for Saturday November 16 http://regina.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1045180&binId=1.1165857&playlistPageNum=1

Photos of event for public download:

We have created a photo album on the MCoS Facebook page. This account is open to the public and you do not need a Facebook account to view and save the photos.
To view and save photos, click here: MCoS Multicultural Honours Photo Album