Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC – Human Rights Committee Meeting, Vancouver Regional Office, 17 November 2009 – 5:30pm – 8:00pm

In Attendance:

• SHUDO, Tracy
• MUNDY, Wanda (Secretary)
• CHIMA, Sargy
• THANDI, Jag
• WILSON, Deanna
• JABAL, Pam
• GHAG, Meena
• HO, Jennifer
• FRASER, Gary
• JONES, Paul (Vancouver Island)
• BRENNAN, Regina (Temporarily)
• SANDHU, Bhupinder

Agenda:

• Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Human Rights Day (Dec 10th, 2009) Activities
• Adoption of the previous (September) Minutes.
• Election of Chairperson and Co-Chair
• December Human Rights Committee Social
• Goals & Objectives for 2010
• Debrief “Made In L.A.” – sisters Tracy Shudo & Wanda Mundy
• Financial Statement
• Adjournment

Members arrived by 5:45pm – dinner was served – and the meeting was called to order by Gary Fraser at 6:00pm.

Before the Agenda was addressed – sister Regina Brennan made a brief presentation on behalf of the VDLC Arts & Culture Sub-Committee regarding BC Human Rights Day activities – as she had to be elsewhere by 6:30pm. Discussed was the possibility of holding a Dec 10th event at the LAWA Café (920 Commercial Dr), or participating in others’ events (BC HRCP – Philippines).

Also mentioned were the logistics of funding participants/events @ $10-per-plate – on a “first come, first served” basis – up to 20 people. Brother Paul made a motion to donate $200 for the band, “Fraser Union,” who were performing at the LAWA Café. Sister Pam Jabal seconded – and the motion was unanimously passed.

(Note: We need to know what our budget is at the beginning of every year.)

The Minutes of the previous (September) meeting were read and adopted as written.

The Elections for a Chairperson and a Co-Chair were held – each position to be a year in duration from the date of the election.

Nominees: Tracy Shudo Wanda Mundy – Nominator
Deanna Wilson – 2nd

Sargy Chima Pam Jabal – Nominator
Mina Ghag – 2nd

Wanda Mundy Paul – Nominator
Jag Thandi – 2nd

Sister Wanda Mundy declined to run. The election was held, with the result that sister Sargy Chima will hold the position for a year of Chairperson for the BC Human Rights Committee, and sister Tracy Shudo will hold the position of Co-Chair for the same time.

Sister Sargy Chima has stated that she hopes to not only re-grow the Human Rights Committee, but also wants to serve further – as a member of the on the Health & Safety Committee. Sister Tracy Shudo will continue her good work as the Disability Rep for BC.

It was decided to hold the annual December (“Christmas”) Social on 11 December – a Friday. Sisters Tracy Shudo and Wanda Mundy will prepare the main courses of the turkey, smashed potatoes, special stuffing and gravy (sister Shudo) – and the veggies and cranberry/pear relish (sister Mundy). Desserts and beverages will be supplied by various members of the HRC. Sister Mundy has also booked her trio – “Illiteraty” – to perform (Earle Peach – Solidarity Notes Choir Director – and Albert Klassen – as the other two members of the trio) – and there will be games and prizes for the children.

After a brief discussion, a motion was made by sister Tracy Shudo and seconded by brother Paul – to delay discussion and planning of 2010 Goals & Objectives until we have a better understanding of our budgetary limits. The motion passed unanimously.

Sisters Tracy Shudo and Wanda Mundy had made arrangements to attend the viewing of a documentary film, called “Made in L.A.” – that had been shown at the SFU Harbour Campus. This film, which began initially as a 2-month student project – but then grew to a 3-year commitment to tell the whole story – centered around the struggle of a community of illegal Latina garment workers in Los Angeles – who, against many barriers (not the least of which was their illegal status), tried to form a Union. Working 12 to 16-hr days for less than minimum wages, doing piecework – they would see the clothing which they had made for pennies – being sold for thousands of dollars Retail.

At the end of the film, the sisters were able to meet and speak directly with two of the participants in the film – a very powerful experience. It has been put forward that the BCHRC look into acquiring copies of this film for purposes of education and re-sale.

The Financial Statement was read and adopted as follows:

$ 507.39 (currently in the bank)
$ 500.00 (coming from the PSAC)
$1,007.39 Total

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

Submitted By: Wanda Mundy – Recording Secretary, 16 February 2010

Mainland Human Rights Committee meeting

• February 16, 2010 – 5:30PM
• Vancouver RO, 5238 Joyce Street
• and via conference call – email Regina Brennan for details

Agenda Items:

• International Women’s Day
• Financial Update
• Financial Limitations for Chairperson
• Access Conference

Tracy Shudo has suggested the Human Rights Committee do a pot luck dinner for the meeting, contact Tracy for more information and to assist.

Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee meeting & Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM (Bring snacks or whatever you want)

• February 18, 2010 @ 5:30 PM
• PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road
• Agenda: To be announced.

Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM (Bring snacks or whatever you want)

Old Business for review

1. Review Last Meeting’s Minutes in general
2. Update on New Banking Account & Obtaining 3 Signers – Mandi

New Business:

1. Final Draft of TOR to be adopted and put into force – Paul
2. VIHRC Acronyms + Pronunciation – Michael
3. Adoption of 2010 dates for VIHRC meetings throughout the year -  Michael
4. VIHRC Election for available positions:  Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer & Recording Secretary – All
5. VIHRC Budgeting Issues – Michael
6. Pride 2010 Funding Request – Paul
7. PSAC National Access Conference in Ottawa – All
8. End of VIHRC Logo Contest Results (Contest ended: Nov 2, 2009) – Dave
9. VIHRC Logo Designs – Committee to select a winning logo? & How to award a prize? – Michael/Wendy
10. Directive on Banner Style & Costing (Regardless on outcome of logo contest) – Mark
11. Website hosting for VIHRC resources?  – Michael

Victoria Area Council Meeting

• March 9, 2010, 5:30PM
• Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Proposed Agenda

1. Treasurer’s report
2. Federal budget follow-up
3. De-staffing of lighthouses update
4. Pension campaign
5. Campbell River & District Area Council

Please RSVP to Rosemary at the Regional Office no later than noon on March 8, 2010. Snacks will be served.ar

The 2010 PSAC National Access Conference will be held June 4,5,6 in Ottawa under the theme “Let’s focus on our abilities!”

The objectives of the 2010 PSAC National Access Conference are:

• To strategize on ways to promote more inclusive work environments that ensure barriers are removed for people with disabilities
• To empower and engage persons with disabilities to take action and move disabilities rights forward, including through lobbying
• To provide tools that educate and advocate for disability rights in our communities, our workplaces and our union
• To better connect and to include persons with disabilities in our communities, our workplaces and our union
• To defend quality public services for persons with disabilities

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Black History Month is celebrated in Canada to recognize the contributions of Black people and people of African heritage to the growth and development of this country and their importance to its history.

The contributions of Black people and people of African heritage are still far from being integrated into the mainstream of Canadian history. In particular, the contributions of Black activists to the labour movement are not widely known. This aspect of our history is important to recognize because the labour movement was and continues to be instrumental in fighting for human rights and equality for workers and all Canadians. The simple truth is that our struggles for human rights and equity would not have been completely effective without the hard and persistent struggles of Black workers.

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JUSTICE FOR OMAR KHADR
Vigil and Public Forum
Monday, January 11, 2010

By refusing to seek the repatriation of its national, Omar Khadr, from US custody in Guantanamo Bay, the Canadian government is betraying human rights principles and perpetuating injustice, while also failing to offer a remedy for its own participation in the violation of human rights.

On Monday, January 11 the public is invited to learn more about this case and why a broad range of civil liberties, human rights, social justice and legal organizations across Canada demand the repatriation of Omar Khadr.

The evening will begin with a brief vigil at Victory Park (West Pender and Hamilton) beginning at 5:45 pm, followed by a walk to SFU Harbour Centre, where a free public forum will get underway at 6:30 pm in the Segal Centre room.

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The deadline for applications to attend the PSAC Pride Conference, be held March 26 to 28, 2010 in Toronto is January 20th. For more information, and online application, visit the national website.

The deadline for submission and registration for the 2010 PSAC National Pride Conference that will be held March 26 to 28, 2010 at the Toronto Hilton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario has been extended to January 20th, 2010.

The objectives of the 2010 PSAC National Pride Conference are to:

• Educate, politicize and mobilize PSAC GLBT members by making the links between union, workplace and community struggles to win, to protect and to promote GLBT rights;
• Enhance, support and promote inclusive GLBT self-organizing strategies in our Union and our workplaces;
• Strengthen solidarity amongst PSAC members, and to develop a strong collaboration between the PSAC, GLBT organizations and other human rights organizations.

PSAC members in good standing and who also identify as being from the GLBT communities may apply to this conference. Priority will be given to members who are active on GLBT issues in their union or workplace. Priority will also be given to community activist on GLBT issues. The selection of delegates will take into account representation such as Region, Component, language, gender and other equity groups.

For more information visit the national website.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 20, 2010 4:00 p.m. EST
RESOLUTIONS SUBMISSION DEADLINE : Friday, January 20, 2010 4:00 p.m. EST

The United Nations’ Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 by the UN General Assembly. The UN has announced that this year’s celebration will focus on non-discrimination.

Human rights are a priority for PSAC, which has a long history of defending human rights and fighting discrimination. The union has been at the forefront in promoting employment equity, pay equity and harassment-free workplaces and has been involved in the development and review of human rights legislation and jurisprudence. PSAC’s commitment to human rights includes integrating anti-oppression and equity analyses at all levels of its activities.

PSAC remains diligent in monitoring and denouncing all forms of discrimination, especially in the face of rising social conservatism. In the last few years, the mainstream media and the government have been relentless in their attacks against Canada’s values of equality and inclusiveness enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and human rights laws. The federal Conservative government, in particular, has been dismantling the very systems that promote human rights and equality.

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We know that the people and communities most affected by HIV/AIDS are those with limited access to fundamental social and economic rights. Ninety five per cent of all AIDS cases occur in the world’s poorest countries where women are now the prime victims and an incredible number of children are being orphaned every day.

See also:

• World AIDS campaign official website
• UN AIDS: Joint program on AIDS

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are 31.3 million adults and 2.1 million children around the world living with HIV, and in 2008 about 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus. According to the latest UNAIDS Global Report, there has been progress in stabilizing the epidemic globally. However, human rights violations – such as gender inequality, discrimination and stigma – still exist in many places worldwide and in all cases impede an effective response to the epidemic

Today, on World AIDS Day, we must break through these barriers.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada encourages its members and their families to wear the red ribbon on December 1^st to bring attention to this epidemic, end discrimination and help lift the veil of ignorance about AIDS. Read, discuss and learn more about HIV/AIDS and take action by putting pressure on our government to do its part to raise awareness, eliminate discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS and invest the necessary resources to find a cure.

PSAC – Human Rights Committee Meeting,  Vancouver Regional Office September 2009 – 6:30pm – 8:00pm

In Attendance:

• CHIMA, Sargy
• MUNDY, Wanda (Minutes)
• DALMAN, Sylvia (Chair)
• SHUDO, Tracy
• HOLMES, Pat (T.C.)
• WILSON, Deanne
• MORREAU, Alberta

Regional Office:

• FRASER, Garry

continue reading below, or download the Mainland HRC minutes here (pdf)

Members arrived from 5:30 to 5:50pm – dinner was served (Annual Barbecue) – and the meeting was called to order by Sister Sylvia Dalman at 6:30pm.

Discussed: the Human Rights Committee survey that was sent out to the self-declared members – and the ten responses. As a result of the responses – the Committee decided that it would hold four “official” meetings annually – and one social meeting (at Christmas time).

Discussed: The Committee discussed the possibility of involvement in Political Action in the event that an election is called. Members decided that they would not get involved in Political Action at this time.

Discussed: The Committee decided that a Chair and a Co-Chair would be elected at the next meeting (16 November 2009) – to sit for the coming year.

Discussed: The JLP providing/facilitating an Equity course in the Regions.

Discussed: The Committee discussed revisiting the Committee’s goals and objectives.

Discussed: Sister Pat Holmes challenged the members of the Committee to fill the box that was being sent to the Philippines.

Discussed: It was decided to hold the next meeting on Tuesday, 18 November 2009.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

Submitted By: Wanda Mundy – Recording Secretary

Please join the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP) in celebrating International Human Rights Day!

December 10 marks the 61st anniversary the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In the spirit of building genuine people-to-people solidarity with those hardest hit by the financial crisis because of job loss and lack of economic security, and increasing violence by militarization and war, it is becoming more important for us to gather, listen and learn from each other as we organize in our struggles.

Join BCCHRP and special guests for a cultural evening of solidarity!

Rites for Humanity

• Wednesday, December 9 @ 7:00 pm
• Zawa Restaurant, 920 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
• $5-10 sliding scale donation at the door

Event organized by the B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP); Co-sponsored by the Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

Please contact bcchrp@kalayaancentre.net for more information.

Download the poster for the event here:  R4H

The PSAC BC Mainland Human Rights Committee presents … Human Rights and Festive Celebration 2009

The Mainland Human Rights Committee would like to extend a warm welcome to all PSAC members, committees, and Area Councils to join us at our Human Rights and Festive Celebration.

• December 11th, starting at 6PM
• PSAC Vancouver RO
• 200 – 5238 Joyce Street

Bring your family, your children, your loved ones – we’ll have a wonderful variety of festive foods and music performed by the group “Illiterati”. Please RSVP by December 4th to Garry Fraser or (604) 430 5631 x 231. We look forward to seeing you there! Download the poster (pdf)

The next Human Rights Committee meeting will be held on November 17, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at the PSAC Regional Office at 200-5238 Joyce Street, Vancouver.

• The Agenda
• Election of Chairperson and Co-chairperson
• Human Rights Day December 10th Activities
• Upcoming December Social Gathering
• Setting Goals and Objectives for Upcoming Year
• “Made in L.A.” movie debrief from Tracy and Wanda.
• Bank Statements

PSAC-BC  Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee meeting

November 5, 2009 @ 5:30 PM

PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Meeting Agenda

• Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM

Old Business for review:

1. Update on New Banking Account & Obtaining 3 Signers – Mandi
2. Update on New Directive on Medical Leave – Mandi

Review Last Meeting’s Minutes in general

New Business:

1. VIHRC Election as committee position titles might be required? – Mandi / Michael
2. End of VIHRC Logo Contest Results (Contest ended: Nov 2, 2009) – Dave
3. VIHRC Logo Designs – Committee to select a winning logo? & How to award a prize? – Michael
4. Directive on Banner Costing (Depending on outcome of logo contest) – Mark / Michael
5. VIHRC member for presentation in other local or AGM meetings? – All
6. VIHRC Recruitment Process – All
7. PSAC Meet & Greet Event in December – All
8. Proposal of a final meeting date in January for VIHRC Term of Reference – All

source: Toronto Star

‘Disgraceful’ conditions persist in native communities after residential schools apology

OTTAWA — Four of Canada’s largest unions have joined together to urge the federal government to tackle the appalling conditions facing the country’s native communities.

The labour movement’s “sorry is not enough” campaign is pressing the Conservative government to get beyond last year’s apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Canada natives for the emotional and physical harm done to them by the residential school system.

“Sorry is not enough when aboriginal peoples in almost every measure are the most marginalized group in Canada,” John Gordon, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) told a press conference Thursday.

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VANCOUVER ISLAND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

In attendance:

GUESTS:  Doug Connell, Infocus Rehabilitation Services, Lynn McCay, Literacy Victoria

ASL & SIGNED ENGLISH INTERPRETERS:  MARY BUTTERFIELD & MARY WARNER

COMMITTEE:  MICHAEL DOERFLER, PAUL JONES, VIRGINIA VAILLANCOURT, CINDY LITTLE, WENDY BRUCE (FORMERLY DOBBIE – SHE HAS LEGALLY CHANGED BACK TO HER MAIDEN NAME), MARK MCCAVOUR, M. M., MANDI SCHUBERT and I believe that was all committee members there.

REGRETS:  ANITA HOFFMAN & DAVE JACKSON

STAFF:  JAMES LITTLE

Meeting Convened 5:35 PM

1. Guest Speaker:

Lynn McCay from Literacy Victoria and Douglas Connell from Infocus Rehabilitation Services presented to the committee a presentation on the services that Victoria Literacy Provides and the funding cuts that are affecting their operations.

Literacy Victoria is a free service that is provided to Adults.

Lynn provided the following alarming statistics:

• 48 percent of adults in Canada are below a basic reading level.
• 40% ( 1 million) of adults in BC do not have a proper level of literacy.

Literacy Victoria provides free services such as Tutor-Learner Partnerships. Tutors and learners are matched according to each others set of skills, personalities, etc. Lynn discussed that many people with literary deficiencies cannot even read the sign for Literacy Victoria and therefore that basic kill in being able to identify that resource for help is a barrier to those who need assistance.

Lynn went on to discuss the Outreach Program where a movie night is held. This provides a safe non-judgmental environment for people to come and network and socialize together.

Lynn went on to discuss a Pilot Group who hopefully will help in the medical field. The Program is called Health Literacy. The pilot group consists of a physician, medical assistant, a learner, a tutor and the program coordinator. The goal is to hopefully identify literacy issues, even when a patient is hiding their deficiencies.

Lynn went on to discuss that Free Camosun College Programs are offered at Literacy Victoria. These programs are prepatory programs that help the learner work towards qualifying for College Level Programs.

Lynn discussed another program called the Essential Skills and Workforce Literacy Pilot Project, It is a program where it is a literacy based employment program where learners are provided with skills and support for entry level positions with local employers involved in the project.If successful, this program could go Canada Wide due to the fact that the program is funded federally.

Lynn discussed that though these programs are well funded, substantial cuts under a separate budget that relies on provincial funding has been impacted for Core Operational costs. For the first time in 20 years of service, Literacy Victoria has had to start a waitlist for potential learners.Literacy Victoria needs more tutors to help meet the demand for tutor services.Staff have been cut to 4 days a week. and are staggering their days off, so that the doors can remain open as much as possible.

Lynn and Doug then fielded questions from the committee. Some committee members were able to contribute their own experiences with this subject.

Speaker Ended 6:35 PM

Break

Meeting reconvened  6:45 PM

2. Previous Minutes: Request for Correction to Date of Previous Meeting  Moved: Michael Seconded: Paul Carried : All

3. Terms of Reference

The committee discussed the Terms of Reference. Clarification is needed to the role of Equity Seeking Council Members on the PSACBC Regional Council. Mandi commented that we have also 2 Regional Coordinators for South Island and they represent all PSAC Members not specific to any equity seeking group.

The Committee agreed that the Terms of Reference Committee will meet with Dave to discuss TOR concerns and include Garry Fraser, Staff Resource Person to find out what the Mainland Committee is doing around this subject.

Mandi inquired about the delegate status to Convention. Cindy and James confirmed that it is PSAC Regional Convention that we have delegate status to.

4. Banner

The committee agreed that a new banner would be a good investment to promote the VIHRC. The committee agreed that the winning logo would be on the banner. The committee discussed possibilities in the type of banner that was needed. The committee agreed that Michael and Mark will work on costing.

5. Logo Contest

The committee agreed that we will move forward and announce the Logo Contest. We agreed that we will follow the same guidelines as the Area Council and Health and Safety Committee. It was agreed that Paul will email Patrick to promote this logo contest and that Rosemary will also be approached to share our logo contest with Island Members.

6. Pride Parade:

Paul thanked everyone for their participation in the parade and discussed that next year he would like to emphasize Victoria at Pride.

7. Banking

The committee agreed that an account with Community Savings was a good idea and we would approach Virginia to invite a bank representative to do the paperwork. We were very excited about our 500.00 seed money.It was agreed that we would like Rosemary to be a signer on the account. Mandi stated that there should be at least 3 signers to cover off holidays, etc

8. Medical and Dental Leave

Mandi briefly discussed that the new TBS policy was impacting members all over. She discussed that we are awaiting on a legal opinion from the PSAC.

In the meantime, Mandi discussed that Duty to Accommodate grievances can and should be filed as grievances pave the way to changing the Collective Agreement.Even if the grievances are deemed invalid, it is still a headache for management and they will be at least forced to look at each situation on its own merits.

Mandi also provided to the committee (with thanks to the RO for their support) Duty to Accommodate information as well as a educational document produced by the PSAC. This document can be used in grievances as well.

9. Furniture-Duty to Accommodate

James provided documentation as a local tool that can be used to show that Ergonomic Furniture and Equipment can be transferred to your new federal workplace regardless of which department purchased it.

Next Meeting: October 29, 2009, 5:00 PM

Annonuncing the VIHRC logo creation contest! Enter your logo today …

Come up with a creative logo that best describes the VIHRC in a visual way.  This logo could be used on all VIHRC promotions, posters and correspondences internally or externally either in workplaces or outside of workplaces.

Why a logo?  It is confirmed that a logo creates the familiarity of what an organization is all about or a product you are getting.  For example, when you see a logo for hockey team, Vancouver Canucks.  It hits home for you (if you are a local fan).  So you know what you are getting or have a sense of ‘belonging’ to.  Other example is a product such as Coke.  When you see Coke, you know what it will taste like… you know what it is about and it perhaps makes you feel good when you see the logo of Coke.  Let’s do that with the VIHRC logo.  Let’s make people who belong to any of designated groups i.e. Persons with Disabilities feel like they belong to VIHRC and that VIHRC represents them!

Any PSAC-BC member can participate in the logo contest.  Bonus points will be awarded if the member is from a local that is affiliated with the VIHRC.

Please submit entries electronically by November 2nd, 2009 to the PSAC Victoria Regional Office: mackenr@psac-afpc.com or jacksod@psac-afpc.com . Call (250) 953-1050 or  1-866-953-1050 for more information.

source: The Globe and Mail

Some Chinese-Canadians who saw Campus Giveaway never forgot their reaction

The television segment lasted about 11 minutes, an exposé of the takeover of Canadian classrooms by foreign students.

A section of a university lecture hall filled with non-white faces was shown.

The documentary, which aired on television 30 years ago this month, had unintended consequences.

It awoke what had been, until then, a silent community.

A history of the Chinese in Canada includes such benchmarks as building the railroad; defending against rioters in 1907; paying the head tax; enduring the Exclusion Act; bravely contributing to the war effort; gaining the franchise in 1947; and, oddly enough, protesting against a single episode of a current-events television program.

Some who watched back then have never forgotten their initial reaction.

Victor Wong was studying science at the University of British Columbia when Campus Giveaway aired on the popular program W5 (today known as W-Five ).

“It touched many of us,” he said Tuesday. “The message was: Because of your skin colour, or your ethnic heritage, you don’t belong here. You’re just taking up someone’s space.”

Sid Tan was also studying at UBC in 1979.

“They were calling a bunch of Canadians foreigners. It was quite disgusting and quite off the mark,” he said. “I remember it as a galvanizing experience.”

Anthony Chan, a communications professor born in Victoria, recalls the shock.

“We’re going, ‘Huh?! They’re saying we’re foreigners. They can’t be serious.’ ”

The report alleged that Canadian students were being prevented from studying medicine and engineering because foreign students were occupying their rightful place in university classrooms. Much of the segment focused on the plight of a student from Ontario who was thwarted in her aspiration to study pharmacy at the University of Toronto.

Joseph Wong missed the episode when it originally aired on Sept. 30, 1979. He was completing a residency at a hospital when he watched Campus Giveaway on a videotape a few weeks later.

“My reaction was so vigorous I’ll never forget it,” he said. “How could this happen in Canada? We’re living in a country without discrimination, I thought.”

He had already booked tickets for a flight to Calgary to visit his mother-in-law. He brought with him the videotape, which he showed at a meeting on New Year’s Eve, 1979, in Calgary, and on New Year’s Day, 1980, in Edmonton. He then flew to Vancouver for a showing four days later.

The tape made the rounds to small audiences in Regina, Ottawa, and Montreal, as well as in smaller Ontario cities such as Waterloo and Sarnia.

A community known for “not wanting to ruffle any feathers,” in Dr. Wong’s words, formed Ad Hoc Committees of the Council of Chinese Canadians Against W5 in 16 cities, from Victoria to Halifax.

In late January, four simultaneous protest marches were held. About 2,000 marched on CTV’s offices. “Red, brown, black, yellow and white,” they chanted, “all Canadians must unite.”

The protesters were told Canadian universities had only 85 foreign medical students, 66 of them from the United States.

As well, university officials disputed W5 ’s numbers, stating the number of foreign and visa students had been multiplied by a factor of five.

Even 30 years later, Dr. Wong is baffled by the airing of footage in which any Asian face was presumed to be non-Canadian.

“All the yellow-coloured students they showed were [naturalized] Canadians, landed immigrants or permanent residents, or local-born Chinese Canadians,” he said.

The committee had identified all of the unnamed students shown in the report. Not one was a foreign student.

W5 aired an on-air apology that tiptoed around the committee’s complaints.

It was rejected by the committee. Finally, in April, CTV issued a statement Globe columnist Dick Beddoes described as “a retraction, an apology, a confession of error, a disorderly retreat.”

Murray Chercover, the network’s president and managing director, wrote: “Right after the program was broadcast our critics – particularly Chinese-Canadians and the universities – criticized the program as racist: they were right, although it was never our intention to produce a racist program.

“There is no doubt that the distorted statistics combined with visual presentation, made the program appear racist in tone and effect.”

With the apology came the offer to fill an 11-minute segment on an upcoming W5 episode.

It aired in December. A survey of 25 job placement agencies found 17 casually agreeing to send only Caucasian employees, while only three flatly refused a request violating provincial and federal laws. The segment was titled, White and Bright .

“It was a beautiful victory,” Dr. Wong said.

Mr. Chan, who is now a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology at Oshawa, traces his own family roots in Canada to the arrival of his grandfather in 1881. His mother was born in Vancouver, his father, like himself, in Victoria. He devoted a chapter of his book Gold Mountain (New Star, 1983) to the W5 scandal.

In retrospect, he sees 1979 as a pivotal year for the Chinese-Canadian community. Many had been working on the resettlement of the Vietnamese boat people, most of them ethnic Chinese, at the time Campus Giveaway was aired.

“It was time,” he said. “Things just coalesced. Thank you very much, W5 .”

The politics have reverberated in the 30 years since, as Chinese-Canadians won election to Vancouver city council, to the mayoralty of Victoria, to the Legislature and to Parliament. Some active in the W5 protests have gone on to become filmmakers, provincial-court judges, and activists in the campaign for redress of the hated head tax.

At the time of the protests, Dr. Wong, a landed immigrant, was identified in a newspaper story as someone who had “yet to become a Canadian.” He immediately filled out the requisite paperwork. He looks forward next year to celebrating 30 years as a proud citizen of what he calls “the fairest society on Earth.”

Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee Meeting – Victoria

• Date: September 10, 2009
• Time : 5:30 PM
• Where: PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Agenda

• Potluck Social: 500-530 PM
• Guest Speaker: Douglas Connell Infocus Rehabilitation Services (Brain Injury Program) on cuts to Literacy Victoria – Impact to Persons with Disabilities
• Old Business:
  • Terms of Reference
  • PSAC Banner
  • Pride Parades
  • VIHRC logo contest
• New Business:
  • Cheque-Start up costs for VIHRC
  • Impact to members-New Directive on Medical Leave
  • VIHRC awareness / brainstorm
  • Awareness Opportunities-Working with Area Council and Regional Women’s Committee
  • Committee Membership

BC Human Rights Committee meeting & BBQ – Vancouver

• Date: September 22, 2009
• Time : 5:45 PM
• Where: PSAC Vancouver RO, 200 5238 Joyce Street

Agenda

• Chairperson – Rotating Chair or Elected
• Results of Human Rights Committee Survey
• Schedule for meetings for the following six months including, alternating the meeting days (either Tuesday or Thursday)

posted on behalf of Paul Jones, BC Regional Council

The season of PRIDE festivities for 2009 are over and as the PRIDE Coordinator for the PSACBC Regional Council I am sending a huge thank you to all my Brothers and Sisters who made this year’s events a success. In particular I would like to thank the Victoria crew of Mandi Schubert (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Michael Doerfler (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Virginia Vaillancourt (UVAE, S. Vancouver Island PSACBC Geographical Coordinator), all the PSAC members who came out to march and all the staff of the Victoria Regional office for their dedication and hard work to make this happen. Many thanks Mandi for the pictures! Although numbers are mute, there were approximately 25 -30K in attendance. The labour movement in general had a strong presence this year in Victoria’s Pride Parade.

• Report and photos from Victoria
• Report and photos from Vancouver

Vancouver Pride saw reported record numbers of attendees as well as floats. I would especially like to thank Angela Marafon (CRA Member, W. Fraser Valley PSACBC Regional Council Geographical Coordinator), Kay Sinclair (PSACBC REVP), Carol Pegura (EA to PSACBC REVP), the staff of the Vancouver Regional Office for the continuous support they have given to PRIDE and to all the Members who I saw while marching. Multi-Union Pride continues to bring our message to Vancouver and I would remiss not to thank the MUP Committee for all their hard work to make this happen yet again this year. Thanks too to all who attended the Pride Meet & Greet. It was a wonderful time!

Sincerely, Paul Jones, PRIDE Coordinator, PSACBC Regional Council