The Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet has issued a statement condemning racism and discrimination of any kind in the community.
“Today, the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet affirms that racism and discrimination of any kind are not tolerated within our community or our organizations,” Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet officials stated in a media release issued on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.
“In the wake of growing recognition that anti-racism work mandates intentional action and acknowledgement, the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet is taking this opportunity to step forward and join the local and global conversations and calls to action. We commit to doing better for our community and for our world.”
The vision of the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet for Chatham-Kent is that ‘we are a thriving community that enhances quality of life’.
“We know that racism toward Black, Indigenous and racialized communities results in disproportionate harm to the quality of life of individuals and communities of colour,” Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet officials say.
“The Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet mission is ‘working together, across sectors, to build a community where quality of life is planned, developed and championed’. In accordance with this, the Cabinet has the responsibility to be attentive to and address systemic racism resulting in poorer quality of life for Black, indigenous and racialized communities.”
Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet officials added: “People of all ethnic, racial, and national backgrounds built, and continue to build Chatham-Kent, as we know it today. Chatham-Kent is located on the traditional lands of the Anishnaabeg Nation, which is now home to the Bkejwanong First Nation, Delaware First Nation, and Chatham-Kent. Together, we have a history of welcoming immigrants and refugees, from the 1800s when Black fugitive slaves made Chatham-Kent their home, to being recognized as Canada’s First Welcoming Community as part of the 2016 Syrian refugee response, and continuing today as part of Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet’s focus on supporting talent attraction and retention.”
As a community committed to being inclusive, welcoming, and working for all residents, the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet says the community must be attentive to areas where racism and discrimination result in inequalities.
“As the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet, we must consider where racial disparities exist within our own organizations and within the Cabinet’s practices, to address shortcomings,” the group said.
“The CK Community Leaders’ Cabinet commits to addressing racism toward Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, to improve the quality of life for all members of Bkejwanong First Nation, Delaware First Nation, and Chatham-Kent.”
The statement was issued, on behalf of the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet, by Mayor Darrin Canniff and Ken McEwan, the co-chairs of the group.
The Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet (CKCLC) was formed eight years ago to bring together groups and individuals for the betterment of the community.
For more information on the Chatham-Kent Community Leaders’ Cabinet visit them online, here.
