Agenda Index City of Vancouver

I

REPORT TO COUNCIL

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL COMMUNITIES

Council Date: March 23, 1999

INFORMATION

1. Annual ReportRTS No.: 502/CC File No.: 3055-1

This annual report covers the period January 1998 to December 1998.

The Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities is appointed by Council as directed by a resolution of Council on March 29, 1994. A current member list is attached.

The Committee's mandate as approved by Council on February 3, 1998 is:

To act as a conduit towards forging and enhancing cohesive values in Vancouver's diverse communities and to promote harmony through cultural communities involvement.

Goal 1:
· To promote and increase welcoming and inclusion of all cultural communities in neighbourhoods and communities of Vancouver.
Goal 2:
· To facilitate the communication between cultural communities and the City of Vancouver.
Goal 3:
· To promote sensitivity, fairness and effectiveness of City policies, action plans, strategies, services, programs and systems that impact cultural communities.

Significant Activities

· Commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

· Cultural Harmony Awards

· Creation of the Cultural Harmony Grove

Significant Issues and Topics:

Vancouver Police Department Diversity Initiatives:

Immigration Legislative Review

Vancouver School Board Budget Cuts

Public Involvement Review - Evaluation Phase Report

Equal Employment Opportunities Progress Report

Social Planning Services

Reports/Correspondence Submitted to Council:

_ “Mandate, Goals and Objectives of Special Advisory Committee on Cultural Communities” - January 16, 1998 (Approved)
_ “Position Paper on Not Just Numbers: A Canadian Framework for Future Immigration” - February 16, 1998 (Adopted as amended and forwarded to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration)
_ Cultural Harmony Award request for funds - April 3, 1998 (approved as amended)
_ “Equal Employment Opportunity Program Progress Report 1986-1996” - letter of December 14, 1998 submitted for information only (received)

Future Directions

The Committee expects to pursue the following issues during 1999, subject to any direction which Council chooses to provide:

_ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - being held March 19, 1999 in Council Chamber
_ Review of new proposal by the Federal Government - “New Directions for Immigration and Refugee Policy and Legislation” (as requested by Council January 26, 1999)
_ Civic Rental Policy
_ 1999 Cultural Harmony Awards
_ Update from Vancouver Police Services on Diversity Issues
_ Other relevant issues as they arise

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager submits the foregoing for INFORMATION.

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ag990323.htm


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