National Day of Remembrance and Action to Stop Violence Against Women Held Online in Toronto

By -

Regent Park, is a vibrant and diverse community in Toronto, and has long been a focal point for initiatives addressing social issues and promoting unity. The annual event held on December 6th, 2023, to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance & Action against violence towards women, exemplifies the community's commitment to creating positive change. As the event unfolded, the traditional opening by Kevin Myron from the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre showcased the community's rich cultural tapestry. Athena Tomes' traditional Hoop Dance further underscored the importance of cultural expression in fostering resilience.

Councillor Lily Cheng, serving as the keynote speaker, brought attention to key issues. Her address not only highlighted the challenges but also emphasized the community's collective strength in combating Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and the Opioid Crisis, particularly in marginalized communities.

The Spoken Word performance by Tisana Francis-Smith, known as Spoken by T, added a powerful artistic dimension to the event. Through her words, she echoed the sentiments of resilience and determination, inspiring the audience to take proactive steps in addressing these critical issues.

The Panel Discussion, a pivotal component of the event, engaged community experts and residents in a meaningful dialogue. Led by Regent Park resident Walied Khogali, co-founder of the Coalition Against White Supremacy and Islamophobia, the discussion delved into the impact of Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking, and the Opioid Crisis on marginalized communities. The exchange of insights, tools, and resources provided a comprehensive understanding of these challenges and underscored the community's commitment to supporting its diverse members.

Following the discussion, the event continued with a grounding exercise, a Moment of Silence, and a Call to Action. These elements reinforced the community's solidarity and determination to bring about positive change.
The roots of this annual event trace back to a somber origin – the remembrance of the 14 women who lost their lives in the Montreal massacre at École Polytechnique in 1989. Over the years, this commemoration has evolved into a platform for awareness, dialogue, and collective action in Regent Park.

As Tashin Rodoshi, Senior Community Engagement Specialist at Aura Freedom International, moderated the event, his expertise and commitment to community engagement became evident. His guidance ensured that the discussions were not only informative but also transformative, encouraging participants to translate awareness into concrete actions.

In conclusion, the Regent Park community's annual event serves as a beacon of hope, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to address pressing societal issues. Through a combination of cultural expression, expert insights, and community engagement, this event exemplifies the resilience and determination of Regent Park residents in fostering positive change.

 

By Fred Alvarado and Dimitrije Martinovic
Fred and Dimitrije are community journalists with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Regent Park Portrayed in Film and Television

By -
Image
Toronto has a rich history of being a go-to shooting location for many television and film production companies. Some notable films shot here over the years include Good Will Hunting (1997), Billy Madison (1998), American Psycho (2000), and X-Men (2000). Regent Park has also had its share of showcases in film. This article aims to review the general content of movie dramas and televisions shows shot in Regent and explore their relationship to the community. Clement Virgo is a director, producer, and writer from Montego Bay, Jamaica. He was born in 1966 and moved to the Regent Park area in Toronto in 1977. During this time Regent Park was generally populated by low-income families and as a hot spot for drugs. Virgo is most recently known for his roles in Greenleaf (2016-2018), The Book of Negroes (2015), and The Wire (2002) as Director and/or Producer. His first feature-length film, however, was Rude (1995), which was filmed almost entirely in the old Regent Park. “The film told
Read more

Meet Your Neighbourhood Police Officers – PC Mircea Biga and PC Farzad Ghotbi

By -
Image
Community-based policing is a proactive law enforcement strategy that focuses on building ties and working closely with a community’s members to create partnerships and plans for preventing and reducing crime. While community policing will look differently depending on the community it serves, a central feature is that the same officer patrols and works in the same area on a permanent basis. Currently there are 17 community-based police programs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), but what most people don’t know is that Toronto’s community policing started in Regent Park in May of 2017. We know this because the original officers involved in setting up the Regent Park community policing program continue to work here today. The officers are PC Mircea Biga, PC Farzad Ghotbi, and PC Edward Parks; the newest officer assigned to the Regent Park community is PC Nigel Thomas (who is replacing PC Melissa Huntley while she is on maternity leave). Symptomatic of the increasing diversity of
Read more

What Social Inclusion Means to Me

By -
I had moved into Regent Park only a few days before I saw the pink, fuchsia, strawberry, indigo, yellow, green, neck streamers and sparkling robes worn by children, parents, aunts, uncles, and elders as they marched passed my kitchen door. Soon, the nearby Athletic Grounds was blazing with colour. Although it was the first time I heard them, the intonations on the microphone were recognizable, even to me, as prayers. It was Eid, the concluding celebration after Ramadan. It was a beautiful sight. I am a White Jewish senior and I hunted for a stairless condo for years before I chose to live in Regent Park and then only because a relative did business with the new seniors’ building there. “Regent Park?” a friend exclaimed. “You are going to have ethnic problems.”  “Not I.  I come from a long line of fiery leftie activists.” I replied. Stage four and five of revitalizing this post-war subsidized development into a multi-income community was just beginning and I jumped in w
Read more