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Print this PagePast NewsRosemary Brown Award for Women 2010 Jean Swanson Jean Swanson is the recipient of the 2010 Rosemary Brown Award for Women and was honoured in a ceremony at Hycroft House in Vancouver on June 1, 2010. Jean is the most identified anti-poverty activist in Canada with more than 35 years of work with the most disadvantaged people in our communities such as people on welfare, people with disabilities, the homeless, the jobless, and women. Currently Coordinator of the Carnegie Community Action Project, Jean Swanson is a well-known name not only in Vancouver but also in Canada.
Jean Swanson receives the Rosemary Brown Award. (View a slideshow of the event) The Rosemary Brown Award for Women is sponsored by the United Nations Association of Canada (Vancouver chapter), the BC Association of Social Workers, the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, the BC Federation of Labour, the BC Human Rights Coalition, the National Congress of Black Women and the Society for the Children and Youth of BC. Super Tribunal - BCLI Report Now Released Nov 1, 2010 There has been discussion surrounding the Creation of a "Supertribunal"- a tribunal that would deal with all matters related to employment. Various papers have been written in support and against the idea. These papers were submitted to the BC Law Institute who was preparing a report for the Minister of Labour. The BCLI Report has now been released. (see the report and all the papers) International Human Rights Day - Presentation of the Renate Shearer Award to David R. Eby This year, the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch, has nominated David Eby as the Award recipient. From left to right: Patsy George, the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch; David R. Eby and Susan O'Donnell, the Executive Director of the BC Human Rights Coalition. David Eby is currently the Executive Director of the BC. Civil Liberties Association (“BCCLA”), one of Canada’s most active civil liberties groups. He is also an Adjunct Law Professor on civil liberties at UBC. Prior to moving to the BCCLA Mr. Eby was a lawyer and Campaign Director with Pivot Legal Society.. While at Pivot, and then the BCCLA, Mr. Eby has been at the forefront of pressure to end the practice of police self investigation in cases of serious allegations of misconduct, or in custody death. His advocacy has led to promises of reform from the provincial government, including establishment of an independent civilian investigative body. Mr Eby is currently working with the Solicitor General’s Police Services Division Branch of BC to establish rules for the introduction of new weapons and restraints by police departments. The event is co-sponsored by the BC Human Rights Coalition and the United Nations Association Vancouver Branch.
International Human Rights Day Celebration - December 10, 2009. The B.C. Human Rights Coalition and the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch celebrated International Human Rights Day, Thursday, December 10, 2009. This year also marked the 22nd anniversary of the presentation of the Renate Shearer Memorial Award. This Award is a memorial to the life and work of Renate Shearer who was a champion of equality and dignity for all. In addition, this was also the 61st Anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year's recipient was Tim Agg. Tim Agg was recognized for his lifelong efforts to ensure human rights for all, and for his work in support of disadvantaged youth in British Columbia.
Susan O’Donnell the Coalition’s Executive Director with award recipient Tim Agg New legislation to include social condition as protected ground in BC Human Rights Code. The BC Human Rights Coalition is pleased to see that MLA Jenny Kwan has introduced legislation to include social condition as a protected ground in the BC Human Rights Code (the “Code”). The Coalition has supported the inclusion of social condition for many years and would endorse similar legislation brought in by any political party The term “social condition” includes anyone in a socially identifiable group that suffers from social or economic disadvantage on the basis of income, occupation, poverty, lack of adequate housing, or any similar circumstance. (Press release)
2009 Rosemary Brown Award Winners Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign
Grandmothers to Grandmothers groups in British Columbia have won the Rosemary Brown Award for Women for 2009. The award, now in its fifth year, was named for Rosemary Brown, the first black woman elected to a Canadian legislature (in BC 1972-1986). Barbara Clay, chair of the Greater Vancouver “Gogos”, (African for Grandmother) accepted the award at a ceremony on June 3, along with grandmothers from the Kamloops Go Grannies and the Nanaimo Go Grannies which were the first two groups in B.C. The Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign seeks to build solidarity, raise awareness and mobilize support in Canada for Africa's grandmothers. Some 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action. To date, the campaign has raised more than $6 million for African grandmothers and the children in their care. These funds are distributed to community-level organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries that provide grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counseling. Grandmothers have emerged as the 'unsung heroes' of Africa.
They bury their own children and then in their 50s, 60s and 70s begin to parent again, raising their grandchildren with little or no support. In some countries, 40-60% of orphans live in grandmother-headed households. These courageous and resilient women have no time to grieve. Their priority is the next generation: the infants, toddlers, and teenagers who are left behind. Although there is never enough for their burgeoning households, somehow these grandmothers attempt to feed, clothe and comfort their grandchildren. The Grandmothers receive the Rosemary Brown Award (held by Barbara Clay, chair of the Greater Vancouver Gogos) and commemorative plaques that were presented to the Kamloops, Nanaimo and Vancouver chapters. (View a slideshow of the event) (See video excerpt of Barbara Clay's Acceptance speech) The Rosemary Brown Award for Women is sponsored by the United Nations Association of Canada (Vancouver chapter), the BC Association of Social Workers, the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, the BC Federation of Labour, the BC Human Rights Coalition, the National Congress of Black Women and the Society for the Children and Youth of BC. Local Author writes book on how to create a Respectful Workplace.
Ms. Pinsky started out doing both labour and human rights, and would be called in to deal with complaints. She noticed that she would get repeat business from a number of her clients. Noticing that she would be returning to the same workplaces she realized that despite writing workplace policies and doing training sometimes the situation would not change. She looked further and started to realize that the core of the problem in the majority of the cases was not one person being discriminated against or harassed or bullied; it was generally a systemic problem that flowed from the culture. She discerned that if companies really wanted to not have to deal with these kinds of complaints, and really wanted to comply with the spirit of human rights law - which is to create a respectful environment and real equality of opportunity, there had to be an environment to nurture these real principles. What was required was a way to change the culture in the workplace. Ms Pinsky wrote her book to assist employers in creating real and substantive change in the workplace based not only on the idealistic principles embodied in human rights law, but also based on economic efficiency – profitability. Hence the title “Road to Respect: Path to Profit”. To purchase a copy of her book click on the picture of the book above. NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL APPOINTED
International Human Rights Day Celebration - December 10, 2008. The B.C. Human Rights Coalition and the United Nations Association in Canada, Vancouver Branch celebrated International Human Rights Day, Wednesday, December 10, 2008. This year also marked the 20th anniversary of the presentation of the Renate Shearer Memorial Award. This Award is a memorial to the life and work of Renate Shearer who was a champion of equality and dignity for all. In addition, this was also the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Ministry of the Attorney General made amendments to the Human Rights Code eliminating mandatory retirement. Bill 31 proposed both an expanded definition of age to include protection to those over age 64 as well as extending age protection into an area of the Code where it is not currently available. A Ministry news release and backgrounder with FAQ’s is available. Read our submission to the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues. We recommended our human rights legislation ought to be strengthened in a umber of areas in order to adequately reflect the needs of older British Columbians. 2005-12-15 Read our submission to the Federal Labour Standards Review Committee. We suggest current provision's within the Code should be extended to include all grounds and all forms of workplace discrimination. 2004-11-19 Read our submission to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in response to their Looking Ahead document. 2004-03-26 The third reading of Bill 3, the Cremation, Internment, and Funeral Services Act, resulted in the government repealing the right of same-sex couples to control the remains of their loved ones. Read our letter urging the government to reconsider its decision. |
