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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-03 SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 3, 2017 CITY OF KITCHENER The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m. Present: Chair – Mr. S. Bongelli Ms. E. Clarke, Ms. A. Venner, Ms. J. Metzger and Messrs. G. Albert, and D. Witmer. Staff: D. Keelan, Manager of Aquatics & Volunteer Services L. Korabo, Committee Administrator 1.WORKPLAN DEVELOPMENT - UPDATES Due to personal summer schedules, no new information was available for sharing regarding the work of the three subgroups. 2.‘BREAKING THE SILENCE’ REPORT Ms. J. Metzger presented the ‘Breaking The Silence’ report, prepared by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (CPC), and circulated with the agenda. The report addresses the issue of hate crimes and violence against the LGBTQ community in Waterloo Region and was the outcome of a 2014 forum to start a dialogue on hidden violence being experienced by some LGBTQ members. The report also includes a listing of the actions taken in subsequent months. The forum was attended by 75 individuals representing a variety of community associations as well as local government bodies. The Committee was advised a follow-up meeting held in early 2015 resulted in a prioritization of key actions and strategies including the establishment of a working group. This working group aligned itself with the Rainbow Community Council (RCC) and is now one of its committees with a mandate to reduce violence against the LGBTQ community. In order to succeed in its mandate, the committee focuses on early prevention strategies to shift societal attitudes and behaviours about the LGBTQ community. The committee also contributed questions to a survey conducted by the RCC, now known as the ‘Outlook Study’, being presented later today. Ms. Metzger circulated a research sheet providing information about hate crimes which are defined as a criminal offence against a person or property when there is evidence the offence was motivated by hate, based on the victim’s race, ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or other similar factors. She further shared statistics on the number of reported hate crimes in Canada over the past several years. In response to a question regarding actions which have taken place since the report was published in 2015, Ms. Metzger advised the CPC has committed to continuing to present and share the report and distribute it as widely as possible. She noted it has been endorsed by the Region of Waterloo and the City of Waterloo. To provide information on how the municipality and more specifically, the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee could become an ally or champion of the goal to reduce hate crimes in the Region of Waterloo, the Committee reviewed the various suggested actions contained in the report. These actions provide opportunities to work actively for change at various levels (e.g. systems level, community level, etc.). With regard to work which the municipality could undertake, it was suggested that addressing possible barriers and obstacles to facilities being viewed as welcoming and inclusive for the LGBTQ community would fall under the city’s jurisdiction. 3.RAINBOW COMMUNITY COUNCIL Mr. Jeremy Steffler, Co-Chair, Rainbow Community Council (RCC), advised the recently concluded ‘Outlook Study’ sought input from LGBTQ residents of Waterloo Region and used this information to establish a baseline for a large range of issues. The Outlook Study was conducted due to the ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQ community and was funded through the collaborative efforts of various community partners who chose to combine resources and conduct a single larger-scale study versus separate smaller ones. Once the collected information has been analyzed and distributed, all partners will work to develop initiatives to promote the health and wellbeing of the Region’s LGBTQ community. SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 3, 2017 - 17 - CITY OF KITCHENER 3.RAINBOW COMMUNITY COUNCIL (CONT’D) Mr. Steffler presented data from the Survey on the topics of victimization and community safety. He advised the Study results have not yet been broadly released; therefore, a fact sheet was prepared for the Committee’s information and distributed this date. Similar fact sheets will be prepared as requests for results are received from different groups and organizations. These fact sheets will be made available on the RCC’s webpage and no formal rollout of study information is anticipated. Mr. Steffler advised 526 people participated in the Study with 57% of respondents being under the age of 30. The Study further identified respondents as either Cisgender or Transgender. Study information was shared on the topics of: victimization; harassment; safety; belonging; and, preferred methods of connecting with other LGBTQ residents. Following the sharing of information, Committee members asked clarification questions and also asked what specifically the Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee could do to assist with priority actions. Mr. Steffler referred to the RCC’s Top 10 Recommendations for actions which the City of Kitchener could consider, as provided to the Committee during its previous term. The Top 10 list was circulated with the meeting agenda and Mr. Steffler provided suggestions on how some items could be advanced. Ms. A. Venner advised the subcommittee on this topic plans to take the information shared today (study fact sheet and Top 10 listing) to inform their continued work on this matter. 4. ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. L. Korabo Committee Administrator