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B.C. Human Rights Coalition #1202 510 West Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1L8 Tel: 604.689.8474 Fax: 604.689.7511 1-877-689-8474 |
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The Coalition was formed in 1982 to promote strengthened human rights protection in B.C. Its founding meeting was, in part, sponsored by the B.C. Human Rights Commission, who at the time was soliciting recommendations for change to the existing human rights legislation. The original structure of the Coalition consisted of two delegates from each of seven regions. Funding originally came from the federal Liberals who were concerned about the provincial government’s program of restraint. The Liberals provided funding for the Vancouver Region of the Coalition to set up an office and hire a coordinator. They also provided enough funding to allow for semi-annual regional meetings that rotated around the province. When the Conservatives gained power in Ottawa, the regional funding for the Coalition dried up resulting in the erosion of our regional structure. Eventually, this federal funding dried up for the Vancouver Region as well, although we were able to find alternative funding from the City of Vancouver, Gaming Revenue and the Law Foundation of B.C. While still incorporated as the “Vancouver Area Human Rights Coalition Society”, and while our letterhead still shows the Vancouver Region, for all intents and purposes, we operate as the B.C. Human Rights Coalition. With changes in funding came changes in criteria and the Coalition moved into providing advocacy and educational services and moved away from organizing community demonstrations. Pressing for better human rights conditions in the province continues to be central to our mandate although we now rely on more conventional strategies to accomplish this goal. The Coalition has a volunteer board of directors made up of individuals from diverse segments of the community. The Board is responsible for guiding and directing the organization and operates within the parameters as set out in our organizational mandate and purposes. Our Board of Director’s is elected annually at our Annual General Meeting and meets on a bi-monthly basis. We also rely on bi-annual Board and Staff strategy meetings to help us focus and better direct the work of the Coalition. The Coalition gratefully acknowledges the Law Foundation of British Columbia for providing core funding in the past, and the City of Vancouver for its continous funding of our work in the Vancouver area. The Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, Settlement and Multiculturalism Branch, often funds special projects and programs. We also thank the Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia for funding the Human Rights Clinic Program which includes funding for client services and educational work.
Each year on December 10th, International Human Rights Day, the Renate Shearer award is presented to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to human rights. This award is a memorial to the life and work of Renate Shearer who was a champion of equality and dignity for all. Our Coalition and the United Nations Association alternate presenting the award: one year we present the award to someone who has contributed to domestic human rights; the alternate year, the United Nations Association presents the award to someone whose contribution is to international human rights. To read a profile of Renate Shearer and gain an understanding of her many contributions, follow this link. Past recipients of the award include:
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