Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Update: The CLC has informed us the conference has been postponed. We will provide the new dates as soon as we receive them.

“Building our Power – Building our Presence”: CLC 3rd Aboriginal Forum and 3rd Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference

The face of Canada and our workplaces is changing like never before.Over the next twelve years, the canvas of Canada will undergo an unprecedented change, particularly for Aboriginal and communities of colour. The demographic projections are powerful.

The Aboriginal population is growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the population in Canada. Among First Nations and the Métis, 50 percent of the population is younger than 18. Among the Inuit, 50 percent of the population is younger than 15. No other Canadian source of labour can begin to meet the rising needs of numerous trades and professions over the long term.

For communities of colour, the next dozen years will also see a dramatic rise in numbers. By the time Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, one in five persons will be a person of colour. Similarly, the new Canadian labour force will see more young people of colour than ever before. Consider that Generation X (18-34 year olds) is a cohort of 20 million persons and 20 percent are of colour. Generation Y (5-15 year olds) is the most racially diverse cohort in Canadian history, with one in three a person of colour.

Now is the time to build on our growing numbers, power and political potential.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is pleased to announce that the Aboriginal Forum will begin on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21, 2007, followed by the Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference (March 22-24).

Theme

In light of our growing presence in our communities, the theme for our Conference is “Building our Power – Building our Presence.”

This Conference will provide participants with a number of exciting learning and action opportunities, such as:

• interacting with high profile race and human rights activists and speakers;
• working in teams to conduct creative and saucy equity actions throughout the city and on Parliament Hill;
• participating in a unique group photograph of all Conference participants staged in front of Canada’s Parliament buildings;
• participating in a variety of workshops dealing with issues directly relevant to Aboriginal and workers of colour; and
• engaging with Parliamentarians and policy makers on key issues of concern to our communities.

Please read and share the attached information package (pdf below) for this exciting Forum and Conference, and help build our political power and presence.

• AWOC Conference Call
• AWOC Registration Information

In solidarity, Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer Canadian Labour Congress