ARCHIVED – Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act 2008-2009

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Part II: Implementation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act across federal institutions

2.3 Partnerships and consultations

Partnerships enable institutions to build stronger and more effective relationships that in turn enhance the effectiveness of their activities. They also facilitate the leveraging of existing institutional resources to maximize results for Canadians.
 
Federal institutions develop partnerships with community and civil society organizations, Aboriginal organizations, academic institutions, local governments and other federal institutions to improve project and program outcomes. This section highlights the progress made by some of these institutions during the reporting period.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (Small~490) collaborated with the Hellenic Community Centre of Ottawa in reaching out to the Greek community to promote the exhibition The Greeks, held from May to September 2008. The Community Centre announced the exhibition in various Greek newsletters and the Museum of Civilization had the opportunity to promote the exhibition during the GreekFest held in August 2008.

For the Tombs of Eternity exhibition, several Arabic associations in the region and surrounding areas were approached and invited to spread the word in their communities. Groups engaged included the Nile Association of Ontario, the Egyptian Canadian Cultural Association of Ottawa, the Arab Community Centre of Toronto, the Voice of Egypt Rogers TV program, St. Mary’s Coptic Church, the Forum of Alexandria, the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Arab Canadian university Graduates Association, and the Arab Canadian Women’s Association.

The multi-year National Commemorations Initiative allows Parks Canada (Large~5,200) field researchers to locally engage ethnocultural and Aboriginal communities and women’s groups to identify nominations for new commemorations from these three areas of Canada’s history. Fiscal 2008–2009 was the second year of the three-year initiative, which replaced a less strategically managed consultation program in 2007‑2008. Results to date of the multi-year planned approach have been encouraging, particularly in Ontario where there has been a marked increase in the involvement of ethnocultural communities in the designation program. In 2009–2010, the results will be evaluated prior to the initiative’s consideration for renewal.

For Asian Heritage Month, Parks Canada’s Committee on Equal Access and Participation presented Asian Canadian Heritage in Nova Scotia in partnership with the local Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the Department of Canadian Heritage and CIC. Along with Asian cuisine, the event included a panel discussion at which representatives from the Indo-Canadian Association, the Korean Association, the Filipino Association and the Chinese Society of Nova Scotia shared their experiences of living in Nova Scotia as well as information on their respective organization.

Results to date of the multi-year planned approach have been encouraging, particularly in Ontario where there has been a marked increase in the involvement of ethnocultural communities in the designation program.

The cultural component of this event was highlighted by the presence of Inae Kim, a Korean Canadian artist and winner of the Louisa Letson Award at the 2009 Contemporary Art Society Juried Show. One of her paintings was selected as part of the 2009 Nova Scotia Art Works purchased for the Art Bank Collection.

A Collaborative Community Initiatives Speaker Series event within the Welcoming Communities Initiative (WCI) (supported by CIC) was organized and funded by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (Large~23,100). The initiative provides an opportunity for federal employees to network, exchange information and explore new ideas on community issues and approaches. One hundred and twenty-three participants attended the WCI Speaker Series event on February 26, 2009. The lessons learned included the importance of ensuring community collaboration in the integration of immigration issues into local population strategies, the significance of cross- or intercultural training to help communities understand the needs of a newcomer, and the importance of building relationships with immigrants already in Canada to learn about the challenges.

The lessons learned included the importance of ensuring community collaboration in the integration of immigration issues into local population strategies, the significance of cross- or intercultural training to help communities understand the needs of a newcomer, and the importance of building relationships with immigrants already in Canada to learn about the challenges.

The Library and Archives of Canada (Medium~1,190) Multicultural Initiatives Branch plays a leadership role in implementing strategic priorities and fostering internal and external partnerships that reflect both library and archival perspectives. It works in collaboration with cultural communities and associations, library and archival networks, language and cultural centres, and other organizations that share common interests to coordinate programs, collections and services that are responsive to the interests of diverse communities.

During the reporting period, Library and Archives Canada developed the National Portrait Collection based on works amassed since the 1880s, with the goal of documenting historical personalities important to Canada’s development. The Portrait Gallery of Canada’s Family Portraits: Immigration and Identity was a community engagement exhibition involving partnerships with 17 new Canadian immigrant families and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The families talked about their homelands and adopted country through visual portraits and video storytelling. Associated educational programs took the content into classrooms where the topic of identity was further explored.

Significant achievements of the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (Small~50) during the reporting period included a collaborative effort with the Nova Scotia Community College to assist in the construction of a cultural centre for First Nations and African Nova Scotian students. The large influx of First Nations and African Nova Scotian students over the past few years has affected all aspects of campus life, including academic and non-academic support services. The project will assist the college in meeting the needs of its diverse student population and support students in their efforts to obtain workplace skills.

The Portrait Gallery of Canada’s Family Portraits: Immigration and Identity was a community engagement exhibition involving partnerships with 17 new Canadian immigrant families and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The families talked about their homelands and adopted country through visual portraits and video storytelling.

In addition, enterprise Cape Breton worked with a local community group to upgrade a museum that interprets the history of Whitney Pier. Housed in a former synagogue, the museum is dedicated to the multicultural community that developed around the Sydney Steel Plant and Coke ovens.

The Pier became home to people from all parts of the globe who came in search of a new life and economic opportunity. They brought with them the traditions of their respective homelands, which left an indelible mark on the history and culture of Cape Breton Island.

The Corporation also worked with the Celtic community to provide funding for the annual Celtic Colours International Festival.

In 2008, the Bank of Canada (Medium~1,460) established a partnership with three associations in the National Capital Region that offer employment services in support of the integration of newcomers: La Relance in Gatineau, the Ottawa Chinese Community Services Centre, and Hire Immigrants in Ottawa. During the reporting period, the Bank of Canada received 30 CVs from these associations.

In the previous reporting year (2007–2008), the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (Small~50) collaborated on a pilot project with the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), a national Aboriginal organization with 121 provincial and territorial centres. The purpose of the pilot project was to enhance knowledge of, and improve access to, the public complaints process for members of the Aboriginal community. Building on the success of the pilot, the institution is pressing ahead with face-to-face outreach engagements with the NAFC. The Commission and the NAFC are working on a joint program to engage all 121 centres over the next two years by using Web-based video conferencing technologies.

The purpose of the pilot project was to enhance knowledge of, and improve access to, the public complaints process for members of the Aboriginal community.

The Correctional Service of Canada (Large~16,400) sponsored and organized a host of events and activities to enhance its relationship with various ethnocultural communities during the 2008–2009 reporting period. For example, the National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee (NEAC), the Regional Ethnocultural Advisory Committees (REACs) and the Service came together three times every year (March, June and September) to hold a national symposium and meetings. These gatherings are an opportunity for the leaders of various ethnocultural communities as well as businesses to share knowledge and best practices, and make recommendations regarding the reintegration of ethnocultural offenders that Correctional Service of Canada then puts into action.

This year, the NEAC and REACs recommended, among others, that Correctional Service of Canada develop and deliver a cultural competency self-assessment tool and a cultural competency training course for staff and offenders; build horizontal partnerships with ethnocultural and business communities by following best practices (trust must first be gained); develop specific correctional programs and services for offenders under deportation order; review the capacity of interventions and correctional programs and services currently in place to meet ethnocultural offenders’ (men and women) needs in various settings, including offenders under deportation orders and security certificates.

In the institution’s Quebec Region, participants from various groups in the community took part in an event to increase appreciation of the role of ethnocultural communities in the reintegration process. Representatives of the Latin American community, the Greater Montreal Korean community, the Arab/Muslim community, the Haitian community and the Montréal police took part in discussions to better understand the difficulties community organizations are confronted with regarding integration issues and to explain the role of the police.

These gatherings are an opportunity for the leaders of various ethnocultural communities as well as businesses to share knowledge and best practices, and make recommendations regarding the reintegration of ethnocultural offenders that Correctional Service of Canada then puts into action.

In the institution’s Pacific Region, businesses and individuals from ethnocultural communities received contracts to assist with the video production and the delivery of training; brochures on REAC and ways to volunteer within the institution were developed in order to educate inmates in multiple languages; and seven new REAC members from different ethnocultural communities were recruited in the Pacific Region, thus increasing the list of communities being reached.

In 2008–2009, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Large~9,800) continued to conduct collaborative research with First Nations bands to ensure healthy and productive marine ecosystems. The Bedford Institute of Oceanography has been working with the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) in Eskasoni, Cape Breton, for the past ten years in a series of scientific programs aimed at improving the health of the Bras d’Or Lakes.

The key components of this partnership include the integration of traditional ecological knowledge with western science, capacity building of the UINR and the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission. As well, scientists from the two institutes exchanged visits quarterly, met at workshops and communicated regularly on collaborative projects by e-mail and telephone.

In 2008–2009, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (Small~40) partnered with the British Columbia Securities Commission to develop The City: A Financial Life Skills Resource. The City is a free Web-based interactive tool designed to help young Canadians acquire strong financial skills. Launched in the fall of 2008, the resource features an engaging, story-driven approach with a cast of characters, including some from ethnocultural communities at different stages of life. Since launching The City, the Agency has disseminated the youth-oriented resource to educators across the nation.

The Halifax branch of the Business Development Bank of Canada (Large~1750) works closely with the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association (MISA). Through sponsorships of events, presentations and meetings, the Bank and MISA have established a collaborative business relationship. During the reporting period, the Bank met with the MISA Business Orientation Coordinator to discuss opportunities for collaboration and made presentations to new immigrants.

To encourage participation at public hearings by all Canadians, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (Medium~850) undertook a range of initiatives in 2008–2009, including:

• Exchanges with the Quebec Mistassini Cree Community representatives to explain the Commission’s role in the uranium mines sector, discuss the consultation process for related environmental assessments and talk about the authorization process related to uranium mines.
• Consultation meetings with the Saugeen Ojibway from Bruce Peninsula on the licensing process and environmental assessments for a new nuclear facility and nuclear substance waste management projects.
• Meetings with the Métis of Ontario to promote the Commission and highlight the consultation opportunities during environmental assessments for new nuclear facilities projects.

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