City of Pickering - Advisory Committee on Race Relations and Equity

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND EQUITY

In September 2009, the Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity partnered with the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board to present a contest entitled “In Your Words & Expressions”. The contest invited students from grades 2 to 12 throughout the Durham Region to submit a written or arts piece to the statement “My Perfect World Is…”.

A distinguished panel of judges has reviewed over 150 entries and selected the winning entries for each of the age categories. Special thanks to our distinguished panel of judges for the written submissions which were Mark Holland, Member of Parliament Ajax-Pickering, Cathy Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Pickering Public Library and Mike Johnston, Managing Editor, Metroland. Special thanks also to the judges of the visual arts submissions which were local artists Sharon Steinhaus, Robert Hinves and Gwen Williams, all members of the PineRidge Arts Council. And lastly, special thanks to Steve Holt, Canadian Singer-Songwriter and JUNO nominee now with Inner Music Recording Studio, for judging the song writing submissions.

At this time, Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity is pleased to announce the winners.

CREATIVE WRITING: Category One (Grade 2-5)
First Place: Isabella Brodeur, Grade 4 Frenchman’s Bay Public School	Second Place: McKenzie Downes, Grade 4 Frenchman’s Bay Public School
Third Place: Hannah Dossa, Grade 2 Westcreek Public School
Category Two (Grade 6-8)
First Place: Reem Hussain, Grade 7 Altona Forest Public School	Second Place: Shannon Modl, Grade 7 St. Theresa Catholic School
Third Place: Celeste Bogle, Grade 8 Roland Michener Public School	Honourable Mention: Emily Mead, Grade 8 Roland Michener Public School
Category Three (Grade 9-12)
First Place: Sarah Pollard, Grade 9 Brock High School

VISUAL ARTS: Category One (Grade 2-5)
First Place: Dina Hejazi, Grade 5 Westcreek Public School	Second Place: Rahul Koria, Grade 5 William Dunbar Public School
Third Place: Tara Hejazi, Grade 3 Westcreek Public School	Honourable Mention: Nikita Bradshaw, Grade 3 Highbush Public School
Category Two (Grade 6-8)
First Place: Apryl Landry, Grade 8 Sir Albert Love Catholic School	Second Place: Rehmiya Malik, Grade 8 Highbush Public School
Third Place: Blaire Allison, Grade 6 Altona Forest Public School	Honourable Mention: Lindsey Macaulay, Grade 7 St. Theresa Catholic School
Category Three (Grade 9-12):
First Place: Jessica Bryant, Grade 10 Cartwright High School
SONG WRITING: Category Two (Grade 6-8)
Honourable Mention: Lauren Mohammed & Hala Elatawani, Grade 7 Roland Michener Public School

The Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity is proud to showcase the winning entries in the lobby of the Pickering Civic Complex and on the City’s website at cityofpickering.com during the month of March. The first place submissions will also appear in the Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser on online at newsdurhamregion.com.

The Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity will also provide a platform for students to share their winning entries at the 2010 Race Relations Forum on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers of the Pickering Civic Complex, One The Esplanade, Pickering. The Race Relations Forum commemorates March 21st The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and will include guest speaker Honourable Jean Augustine, Fairness Commissioner of Ontario.

In addition to her many accomplishments, Hon. Jean Augustine was the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons; sitting in Parliament from 1993 to 2006. In 2007, she was chair of the Ontario Bicentenary Commemorative Committee on the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. And in March 2007, The Honourable Jean Augustine was appointed as the first Fairness Commissioner for Ontario.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and have the opportunity to the opportunity to hear from our young people about such important community issues.

Click here to read the winning written submissions

Click here to view the winning creative arts submissions

Click here for more information on Honourable Jean Augustine, Fairness Commissioner of Ontario.

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