Calgary Hate Crime Awareness Day 2014
The fifth annual Hate Crime Awareness Day was a great success. It was held at the Central Calgary Public Library from 5-6:30 pm on Wednesday April 9th, 2014. As in the previous years, the event was during the week of the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week sponsored by the Federal Department of Justice. This year’s theme was "Taking Action".
There were about 50 attendees with powerful and thought provoking welcoming remarks from Umashanie Reddy, Calgary Public Library which hosted the event. AHCC Vice-President Doug Jones did the MC honours. The Mayor’s Proclamation recognizing today as Hate Crime Awareness Day was read by Valerie Pruegger, Secretary AHCC (see below). Nita Jolly from Citizenship and Immigation Canada spoke ot the importance of this issue at a federal level, and Sgt. Bill Dodd, representing the Calgary Police Service outlined how it supports vicitims of hate and works with the community to prevent it. The Honourable David Blair Mason, Human Rights Comission for Alberta, sadly announced the news that he will be stepping down from this role, but urged us all to continue to work toegether to promote human rights and inclusion in our communities.
This year’s 2nd annual Alberta Hate Crime Awareness Award, ws presented by Doug Jones to Mr. Calvin Campbell. Calvin richly deserved this award for his dedication to making Alberta safer for all Albertans, particuarly those in gender and sexually diverse communities. Calvin’s speak was a first hand account of how it feels to be victimized for ‘who you are and who you love’ and he provided a good role model for what it means to take action against hate.
Wraps and refreshements were served to all, ‘hate sucks’ suckers handed out, and booths from the Calgary Police Service, the Calgary Public Library, and the Alberta Human Rights Comission provided more information to take away.
The event was well-coverd by 660AM, Calgary’s all news radio station, CBS and ethnic media.
Some media: http://newsroom.calgary.ca/news/hate-crimes-awareness-day
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay_5K-ucIsI
http://newscanada-plus.com/category/calgary-news/page/2
http://beaconnews.ca/blog/2014/04/calgary-hate-crimes-awareness-day-on-april-9/
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |
Winner's Bio: Calvin Campbell (bio). Calvin has been an advocate for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-Identified (LGBT) communities for the past seven years, serving the community through participation in various boards and volunteer activities. After being assaulted by a group of attackers because of his sexual orientation, Calvin has worked hard to promote awareness of the LGBT communities and issues that affect them with a focus on community safety and workplace inclusion. Calvin previously acted as the Alberta & Territories Lead for RBC’s LGBT Employee Resource Group, RBC PRIDE; a member of the National RBC PRIDE Committee; the Civilian Co-Chair for the Calgary Police Service Sexuality & Gender Diversity Chief’s Advisory Board; and, a member of the Calgary Police Service Communities Advisory Board to the Chief. He is currently a Director with Pride at Work Canada, a national non-profit that strives to improve the climate of inclusiveness for LGBT employees in the workplace. Calvin was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Alberta Premier Allison Redford and the Calgary Police Commission Community Policing Award in 2013.
