ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 4, 1995
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: City Clerk
SUBJECT: 1995 Citizen Peace Award
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT Council discontinue its participation in the Citizen
Peace Award, and that the future sponsorship of the Award be
left to the discretion of the United Nations Association in
Canada (Vancouver Branch).
OR
B. THAT the Citizen Peace Award not be presented this year, and
that Council's continuation in the joint-sponsorship of this
Award, together with the United Nations Association in Canada
(Vancouver Branch), be reviewed in 1996.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
In view of the declining nominations for the Citizen Peace Award
from Peace organizations in Lower Mainland, it would appear that
community interest in the award program is limited. If there are
individuals within the City who are deserving of special
recognition due to their significant contribution towards the cause
of peace at the local level, Council has the option of considering
such individuals for a Civic Merit Award. If the City withdraws
from the Citizen Peace Award program, it is reasonable to expect
the United Nations Association will continue sponsorship of the
Award on its own, as a provincial or regional award, or may develop
an appropriate alternative.
Therefore, the City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of "A".
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COUNCIL POLICY
The Citizen Peace Award has to be determined by unanimous vote of
Council.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to convey the recommendation of the
Adjudication Committee with respect to the 1995 Citizen Peace Award and
the continuation of the program.
BACKGROUND
On July 10, 1990, City Council approved the recommendation of the
Special Council Committee on Peace to establish a Citizen Peace Award.
The Award is co-sponsored by Vancouver City Council and the United
Nations Association in Canada. The Award is intended to give
recognition to a citizen of Greater Vancouver who has contributed to the
cause of peace, at the community level, through leadership, a commitment
towards serving the community and a willingness to devote time, energy
and effort to the promotion of peace and disarmament.
Nominations are solicited by the City Clerk from the various peace
groups and organizations in the Vancouver area. An adjudication
committee, consisting of a representative of the United Nations
Association in Canada (Vancouver Branch) and two City Freedom Award
recipients, review the nominations received for recommendation to the
City Council.
Previous recipients of the Citizen Peace Award are:
1990 - Late Dr. Thomas Perry, Sr.
1991 - Late Mildred Osterhout Farni
1992 - Elizabeth Leach
1993 - Alice Coppard
1994 - Peter Coombes
DISCUSSION
In response to the invitation issued by the City Clerk for nominations
for the 1995 Citizen Peace Award, only one nomination was received.
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In accordance with the recommendation of the 1992 Adjudication
Committee, the nominees from previous years who were not selected were
also brought forward for consideration by the Adjudication Committee.
Copies of all nomination submissions are on file in the City Clerk's
Office.
The Adjudication Committee has reviewed the nominations, and is very
concerned about the future of the Citizen Peace Award program, given the
minimal interest which was expressed in the call for nominations. The
Committee feels that perhaps the useful life of this program has passed
and that Council may wish to withdraw its participation in the program.
While world peace has certainly not been achieved, the interest in the
Award program by peace organizations at the community level has
obviously diminished. Therefore, the Adjudication Committee is
recommending joint sponsorship of the program be discontinued. The
United Nations Association may want to proceed with the Award program on
its own, or develop an appropriate alternative to the program.
Alternatively, rather than abolishing the program, Council could
consider broadening the terms of reference so as to provide an
opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals beyond actual
peace initiatives. However, Council has a Civic Recognition program
whereby significant contributions or achievements by individuals can be
recognized through Freedom of the City Awards or Civic Merit Awards.
Council also has the option of simply not granting the Award in 1995 and
undertaking a review in early 1996 to determine the future of the
program at that time.
CONCLUSION
The Adjudication Committee is of the unanimous opinion that Council
should withdraw from the Citizen Peace Award program at this time and to
suggest the United Nations Association in Canada (Vancouver Branch)
reach its own determination in regard to recognizing the efforts of
individuals involved in the peace movement. Further, the Committee
would encourage Council to broaden the Civic Merit Award program to
recognize those citizens who have done outstanding work in the area of
peace, at the community level.
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City Manager Department Head
City Clerk
Date Date October 4, 1995
IRTS Number Author Dennis Back Phone 7267
Concurrence of other departments: