Government of Canada and Canadian Youth Join the Fight Against Racism
OTTAWA, March 21, 2001 -- Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chrétien, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Hedy Fry and other parliamentarians participated in a special ceremony today on Parliament Hill to mark March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Also participating in the ceremony were the ten winning teams of the "Racism. Stop it!" National Video Competition.The video competition, sponsored by Panasonic Canada Inc., is open to students from 12 to 18 years of age. They create a 60- to 90-second video expressing their thoughts on the elimination of racial discrimination. Winning teams, today honoured on Parliament Hill, are from Langley, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Ottawa, Orleans, Toronto and Grimsby, Ontario; and Montreal, Quebec. Winning videos will be edited down to 30 seconds and broadcast on MuchMusic and MusiquePlus starting today.
"Canada is a country of unmatched diversity, home to almost every culture and language to be found on our planet. And we have learned to embrace our diversity and draw national strength from it," said the Prime Minister Chrétien. "Even so, building a just society is always a work in progress. It is never finished. And the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us all that we still have work to do. And that Canada will work best when all Canadians learn to say "no" to racism and "yes" to tolerance."
"Fighting racial discrimination is about taking action. These students have used their talents to show how diversity is a Canadian strength," said Dr. Fry. "Our youth are showing us the way -- the Government of Canada is also taking action against racism by consulting Canadians across the country in preparation for Canada's participation in the upcoming United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) which will take place in South Africa in August. Canadian youth have been instrumental in helping define the Government of Canada's position for this very important conference, and we are committed to giving young Canadians the place and role they deserve during WCAR."
Peaceful demonstrators were killed on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa. The United Nations declared March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966. Canada was one of the first countries to support this initiative. To demonstrate the Canadian government's commitment to the elimination of racial discrimination and to raise awareness of the harmful effects of racism on our society, the Multiculturalism Program launched its first annual "Racism. Stop It!" Campaign in 1989.
A list of "Racism. Stop it!" National Video Competition winners is attached.
Information:
Pascal Charron
Communications Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
BACKGROUNDER
2001 WINNERS OF "RACISM. STOP. IT!" NATIONAL VIDEO COMPETITION
Épiceville
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
10291 Gariepy Street
Montréal-Nord, Quebec H1H 4C6
(514) 329-0002,PQ,
Amanda Chia (13)
Melissa D'Amore (13)
Amando Savo (12)
Laura Vartullo (12),French
The Same Stuff
Brookswood Secondary School
20902 - 37A Avenue
Langley, British Columbia V3A 5N2
(604) 530-2141,BC,
Jonathan Schwartz (18)
Kevin Kind (17),English
Voyons-nous du racisme dans notre société?
École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité
623 Smyth Rd.
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 1N7
(613) 521-4999,ON
Jennifer Garton (16)
Josée Dumoulin (17)
Tina Dumoulin (17)
Yasmin Mouaj (16)
Antonio Rivas (19),French
Nous sommes contre le racisme
École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité
623 Smyth Rd.
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 1N7
(613) 521-4999,ON,
Marouane Benothmane (17)
Khaled Ichrakie (17)
German Servante Mendez (18)
Fabienne Alexandre
Sandy Pharel (16),French
People Beware
Deer Park Public School
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 393-1550
(416) 393-8487,ON,
Charlotte Cornfield
Samantha Germanakos
Natalia Bakic
Ingrid Yu
Mattison Stacy-Geisler ,English
Think About It!
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
1515 Tenth Line Rd.
Orleans, Ontario K1E 3E8
(613) 834-4500,ON,
Naveen Nigam (18)
Erika Powlsa (18),English
On Beat Anti-Racism
Canterbury High School
900 Anterbury Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3A7
(613) 731-1191,ON
Elise Schmitz (16)
Phil Norris (18)
Keegan Anderson (18)
Ben Russell (17)
Luc Roderique (16),English
Teach Children That Discrimination Is Wrong!
Shaughnessy Park School
1641 Manitoba Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2X 0M3
(204) 586-8376 ext. 28,MB,
Darrin Richard (12)
Kane Contois (13)
Waylon Smith (12)
Matthew Orvis (13)
Patrick Hudson (12),English
Running Man
Dawson College
3040 Sherbrooke St. W
Westmount, Quebec H3Z 1A4
(514) 431-8731,PQ,
Anna Sarkissian (18)
Vera-Maria Zissis (17),English
I Can! We Can! Stop Racism
Blessed Trinity Catholic School
145 Livingston Ave.
Grimsby, Ontario L3M 4X1
(905) 945-6706,ON,
Neil Kostecki (18)
Nick Wallace (18),English
[ Media Room ]
