REPORT TO COUNCIL
SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL COMMUNITIES
October 5, 1995
RECOMMENDATION
1. Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award Program
As part of the Special Committee on Cultural Communities 1995-96
Work Plan presented to Council on June 6, 1995, the Committee proposed
the creation of an annual award program to recognize outstanding
contributions of individuals or organizations towards cultural harmony
in the City of Vancouver.
Council approved, in principle, an annual Cultural Harmony Award
subject to the Committee developing terms of reference and criteria.
At its meeting on October 5, 1995, the Committee discussed the
terms of reference/purpose of the award, award criteria and the
adjudication process. The purpose of the award is to recognize
outstanding contributions to the promotion of harmony amongst the
different cultural communities of Vancouver. One award would be given
to an individual, or an association, business enterprise, institution,
who has, through demonstrated action and commitment, made an
outstanding contribution in promoting cultural harmony in the City of
Vancouver.
It was agreed the award should be presented during Multicultural
Week in February each year.
With the assistance of the Communications Advisor, the Cultural
Communities Committee would widely solicit nominations through
community groups, business and private institutions.
A Jury, comprised of the following, would be formed:
Chair, Special Committee on Cultural Communities (also Chair of
Jury);
One member of the Cultural Communities Committee;
A representative of the media.
Clause 1 Continued
The Communications Advisor has submitted a list of media
representatives to be approached to serve on the Jury. The Special
Committee on Cultural Communities will make the selection and advise
Council. The Jury will make recommendations on the award to
Council, who would make the final decision.
The recipient of the award will receive a framed certificate or
plaque. It is also proposed that a tree be planted in a civic
park/urban square/greenway, commemorating the recipient's
contribution. These will be the basic "prizes" for the awardee; cost
to be borne by the City.
The cost for the basic prize is $75 for the framed certificate;
the cost of planting a tree on a park is estimated at $75 (seedling,
and explanatory plaque on site); and $250 for the award program
presentation, refreshments, etc; for a total of $400 annual budget
allocation. During Multicultural Week in February, there will be the
award ceremony and a reception to which all nominees, Council members
and Community Group representatives will be invited.
Once City Council has an established policy on sponsorships, the
Committee would like to pursue additional forms of recognition, such
as:
- to extend the educational and public awareness value of the
award, the Committee will pursue sponsorship to put together
an anthology of the nominations received in the form of
stories packaged in popular format and distributed to
schools and libraries, as well as marketed to bookstores.
- to extend the symbolic value of the award, the Committee
will pursue sponsorship to create a special sculptural piece
representing a tree of harmony, wherein every awardee will
be represented as a leaf. With each passing year that a
leaf gets added on the tree, the tree would grow in foliage,
representing the city growing in diversity, abundance and
health.
Clause 1 Continued
This would be reported to Council at a later date.
The Committee
RECOMMENDS
A. THAT the Special Committee on Cultural Communities proceed
with the proposed annual Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award
Program.
B. THAT a budget of $400 be authorized to fund the 1996
program; funding to be added to the City Clerk's special
occasion budget.
"Eleanor Atienza"
Eleanor Atienza, Chair
Special Advisory Committee
on Cultural Communities
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CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A and B.