Town of Newmarket

Minutes

Council Workshop - Electronic

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Streamed live from the Municipal Offices
395 Mulock Drive
Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X7
Members Present:
  • Mayor Taylor
  • Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
  • Councillor Twinney
  • Councillor Morrison
  • Councillor Kwapis
  • Councillor Broome
  • Councillor Bisanz
Members Absent:
  • Councillor Simon
  • Councillor Woodhouse
Staff Present:
  • J. Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer
  • E. Armchuk, Commissioner of Corporate Services
  • P. Noehammer, Commissioner of Development & Infrastructure Services
  • I. McDougall, Commissioner of Community Services
  • L. Lyons, Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk
  • K. Saini, Deputy Town Clerk
  • L. Georgeff, Director of Human Resources
  • J. Rose, Healthy Workplace Program Specialist
  • A. Walkom, Legislative Coordinator
  • J. Grossi, Legislative Coordinator
Guests:
  • Jerisha Grant-Hall, Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA)

The meeting was called to order at 1:03 PM.
Mayor Taylor in the Chair. 

 


1.

Mayor Taylor advised that the Municipal Offices were closed to the public and that this meeting was streamed live at Newmarket.ca/meetings.

Mayor Taylor advised that in accordance with the Town's Procedure By-law, no decisions are to be made but rather this meeting was an opportunity for Council to have informal discussion regarding various matters.

Mayor Taylor acknowledged that the Town of Newmarket is located on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudeno-saunee, and the Anishinaabe peoples and the treaty land of the Williams Treaties First Nations and other Indigenous peoples whose presence here continues to this day. He thanked them for sharing this land with us. Mayor Taylor also acknowledge the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation as our close neighbours and friends, and that we work to ensure a cooperative and respectful relationship.

Lee Miller, York Region Alliance of African Canadian Communities (YRAACC), guided Council and Staff through the ancestral acknowledgement.

The Clerk advised that there were no additions or corrections to the agenda.

4.

Mayor Taylor provided an introduction to the presentation entitled Towards Racial Equity: Understanding Anti-Black Racism in Canada, and outlined the current events that have led to these important conversations. He introduced Jerisha Grant-Hall, Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) and thanked her team for their work through NACCA.

Jerisha Grant-Hall began the presentation with an opening circle, introduced the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed international decade for people of African descent (2015-2024), and explained how racism was developed. She outlined the covert and overt types of racism, which include structural, institutional, individual/interpersonal, and internalized. Jerisha further explained reparation in the Canadian context, the historical timeline of activism, and the myth of meritocracy. She guided Council through the motions of moving from inclusive to anti-racist and towards racial equity. 

Jerisha presented next steps for the Town of Newmarket and provided other municipal examples as reference points. She concluded with a closing circle, and encouraged Members of Council to document their commitments and develop personal, actionable plans. 

Mayor Taylor provided closing comments and thanked Jerisha Grant-Hall, and NACCA for their work in the community. 

  • Moved by:Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor Vegh
    Seconded by:Councillor Bisanz
    1. That the presentation provided by Jerisha Grant-Hall, Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) regarding Anti-Black Racism in Canada be received. 

    Carried
  • Moved by:Councillor Twinney
    Seconded by:Councillor Broome
    1. That the meeting be adjourned at 3:02 PM.

    Carried
No Item Selected