BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Kings County has been added to the Canadian Commission of UNESCO’s list of municipalities in the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination.

The county is municipality number 26 in Canada to join by a resolution of council, and only the third in Nova Scotia to do so. Halifax Regional Municipality and Truro are the other two.

In a report to councillors at the May committee of the whole (COTW) session, chief administrative officer Brian Smith said council approved a declaration to join the coalition in February and although the municipality is just beginning to develop an action plan to respond to the 10 common commitments, it has identified the basic elements to move forward.

The county is contacting other municipalities for action plan examples, seeking advice from Nova Scotia Human Rights, forming a committee of council and staff to develop an action plan, and reporting regularly to council and the community. The county held its February COTW session in Gibson Woods, a prominent local African-Canadian community.

Positive move: Brothers

Deputy Warden Diana Brothers, who brought the initiative to council, thanked Warden Fred Whalen for making a presentation about the coalition at a recent spring workshop of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM) Rural Caucus.

“It’s a movement in a positive direction for the municipality,” she said. “Lots of good could come out of it.”

Whalen said, of 20 municipalities represented at the workshop, 14 expressed an interest.

“Over the next year, we’ll probably see several other municipalities join us,” he said.

Councillor Madonna Spinazola said, as part of the mandate, she hopes women’s organizations would be contacted about participating. Smith encouraged councillors to forward the names of any potential partners.

Smith said a new committee would recommend actions to council to address the commitments of the coalition. Some actions would apply to the municipality only, while others would have “broader community impact.”

Other municipalities have partnered with local agencies to develop plans and share resources. In Kings County, such organizations include People Works, Zone 10 of the Native Council of Nova Scotia, the Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association, Community Inc. and the Gibson Woods and District Community Centre.

The COTW is recommending council appoint two councillors to the new coalition committee; approve developing an action plan and adding committee members from community organizations as required to fulfill the mandate; reporting regularly to council on progress and any financial resources required.