Formerly known as the Diversity and Inclusion Action Team (DIAT), the Dismantling Racism and Hate Committee (EDI) was created in November 2024 to provide Region of Queens Council with strong and impactful advice, education, and recommendations for developing a Municipal Plan to Dismantle Racism and Hate.
This Committee also plans to work with community and business partners to make positive and supportive opportunities to encourage and celebrate the diversity and inclusion within Queens.
Meetings take place in the Council Chambers and are open to the public. Meetings dates are listed below.
The EDI Committee has up to 10 community members including the Mayor:
- Mayor Scott Christian
- Paul Wood
- Shannine Corkum
- Paula Mercer
- Melissa Labrador
- Rigel Jones
- Vacant
- Vacant
- Vacant
- Vacant
UPCOMING MEETINGS
7:00 P.M. January 28, 2025
7:00 p.m. March 3, 2025
Some overarching goals of include:
- Developing a Municipal Plan to Dismantle Racism and Hate (see the provincial Act to Dismantle Racism and Hate, 2022.
- Gathering information from members of our communities to help guide our work.
- Help community members be successful members their Region of Queens community.
- Work with businesses to create diverse and inclusive workplaces.
- Review all municipal policies, bylaws, and practices for diverse and inclusive practices.
- Work with other governments to make sure that diversity and inclusion is not just a priority in Queens, but everywhere.
We continue to seek community members to participate in this Committee to provide Council with advice, education, and recommendations for community programs and services that lead to and support a diverse and inclusive community.
News:
New Art Installation at Visitor Information Centre in Liverpool
June 23, 2023; Liverpool, NS: Welcoming, inclusive and a safe place for all are themes associated with the Pride rainbow, and the Diversity and Inclusion Action Team (DIAT) for Region of Queens Municipality is happy to unveil a new art installation showcasing those themes. A multi-piece series of rainbow coloured stained glass panels were recently installed in the windows and doors of the Visitor Information Centre in Liverpool, NS. Scot Slessor of SAS Glass, located in Liverpool, submitted the design idea earlier this year in response to a request for proposals issued by DIAT for a public art installation to highlight the importance and celebrate equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in communities throughout Queens County.
Slessor designed the overall concept of the panels, cut, assembled the panels, and was on hand for the installation, along with a few volunteers. The panels have a curve when installed that gives an effect of a gentle wave. More than a dozen students and two teachers from Liverpool Regional High School were trained by SAS Glass and designed and painted images and text that supported inclusive themes. Several of the students helped to assemble the stained glass sections. Theresa Farrell and Sophos Slessor also assisted Slessor with painting and assembly of the panels.
Visitor information centres are a welcoming place in a community, used by travelers and locals alike to find out about the communities they are in or those nearby. Liverpool’s Visitor Information Centre was selected as a site for the art to be displayed as it is centrally located on a heavily travelled roadway, Henry Hensey Drive, located on Liverpool’s waterfront. The building also has another welcoming feature – in 2022, the risers of its front stairs were painted to resemble the Progress Pride flag. They were vandalized in January 2023, but have since been repainted the vivid, inclusive, welcoming colours. It was this act of vandalism that inspired Slessor’s design submission as he hopes to reinforce the message that people should be able to live without fear of harassment just for being themselves, and all can feel safe, welcome, and included in Queens County.
More public art installations celebrating the diversity of Queens County will be unveiled in the following weeks and months. Artists were invited to submit proposals to be reviewed by DIAT, who scored the submissions according to the perceived impact it will have on the public. Proposals were scored based on these criteria: 40% Visibility (Size 15%, Location 15%, Colour and Contrast 10%); 30% Clarity of message – recognizably about inclusion or celebrating diversity; 15% Local Talent – artist is a Queens resident; 15% Maintenance Needs and Longevity – minimal upkeep and durable. The highest scoring selections were recommended for approval to the Chief Administrative Officer.
