Equality of Opportunity and Freedom from Discrimination
MHR
Connections
Published by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Volume 5 Number 12
December 2005
2005 Human Rights Award
Recipients Recognized
A high school unity group and a former refugee received the
Annual Manitoba Human Rights Youth Award and Commitment Award on December 9, 2005. At an awards luncheon
both the Maples Unity Group and Marceline Ndayumvire, a
settlement councilor with Welcome Place received standing
ovations for their work.
The Manitoba Human Rights Youth Award recognizes a
group or individual who has had an impact on the advancement
of human rights as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and human rights legislation. This year’s
Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award recognized the
work of those who have contributed to the improvement of
women’s rights in the field of employment. The awards were
presented jointly by the Canadian Human Rights Commission,
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Manitoba
Association for Rights and Liberties to celebrate International
Human Rights Day on December 10th.
The keynote speaker at the event was Beverly Suek,
former CEO of the Women’s Enterprise Centre and past Chair
of the Manitoba Advisory Council on Women. Ms Suek spoke
of women’s progress and continuing challenges in the workplace.
Students
Promote
Equal
Rights
Eleven years
go, when
Chuck Duboff
first initiated
The Maples
Unity Group,
The Maples Unity Group celebrates with
he was met
Member of Parliament Judy Wasylycia-Leis.
with skepticism
and a lack of support from the media as well as other teachers
at the school. He says however, the group overcame the
resistance by “believing in our values, by understanding what
we wanted to accomplish and by sheer determination and
perseverance.” By 2005, not only does the group enjoy
complete support within the school and the media, it is also the
recipient of the Manitoba Human Rights Youth Award.
Awards continued on page 2
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The Rights Connection
By Janet Baldwin Chairperson
Celebrating 35 years of human rights
legislation in Manitoba
Human rights protections in Manitoba have evolved
considerably since The Human Rights Act was first
passed in 1970 based on the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, which was later embedded in the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1987
The Act was replaced by The Human Rights Code,
a model piece of legislation, which we are working
closely with the Minister to review and update to
become a human rights code for the 21st century.
Protected grounds of discrimination have expanded
since 1970 to include grounds such as disability,
sexual orientation, political belief and source of
income. Prohibited discrimination has expanded to
include harassment based on a protected
characteristic, as well as failure to reasonably
accommodate special needs based on protected
characteristics. Our understanding of equality
rights has evolved, and many communities have
fought hard to achieve a substantive understanding
and recognition of human rights.
To a great extent, the nature of discrimination has
changed from overt prejudicial treatment to more
subtle and systemic discrimination. Discrimination
based on ancestry and social and economic
disadvantage are issues of particular concern to us
as we try to protect human rights in times of fear.
We must strive to avoid riots such as those seen
recently in France and Sydney, Australia.
We have gone about our work by receiving,
investigating and mediating complaints of
discrimination, by educating about human rights
and by promoting human rights. Our work, while
informed by the international and national context,
has always focused closely on the daily lives of
Manitobans.
Much has been accomplished in these past 35 years.
Let us all continue our work with determination,
commitment and creativity to build on this legacy
of protection and promotion of human rights
in Manitoba.
Awards continued from page 1
The Maples Collegiate Unity Group has participated in such
activities as bringing guest speakers and movies concerning
human rights and anti-racism to their school, organizing the
annual 12 km Unity March to the Legislature to draw attention to, and show leadership in, the fight for human rights and
against racism. The group also planned and hosted a human
rights dinner attended by over 200 people, produced and
distributed a newsletter, which details both the Unity Group’s
activities and human rights issues. As well, these students
volunteer at Winnipeg Harvest and homeless shelters.
Maples Collegiate is a high school with a population
composed of students from war affected countries, racially
intolerant societies and poverty stricken homes. The school
prides itself in providing a safe home for these students and
an environment in which they are treated with respect.
Former Refugee
Rises to Life’s
Challenges
Marceline Ndayumvire, the
recipient of the 2005
Manitoba Human Rights
Commitment Award, is an
extraordinary woman who
has faced discrimination,
family tragedy and domestic
In accepting her award,
abuse.
Marceline Ndayumvire said she
Ms Ndayumvire
was humbled by the award.
works as a settlement
counselor with Welcome
Place, where she teaches women about education and work
opportunities available to them. She also helps the brothers,
fathers, sons and husbands of immigrant and refugee women
by expanding their views on the rights of their female family
members. In addition to empowering her clients, Ms
Ndayumvire advocates for sufficient and appropriate resources
for housing, childcare and education.
Born in Burundi, she would become the first girl in the
Burundi Protestant School system to receive a high school
diploma. She later moved to India with her husband only to
learn that her father, five brothers and one of her two sisters
were massacred as part of selective genocide. She later
immigrated to Canada where she eventually separated from
her abusive husband and became the sole supporter of her
young children while obtaining a Bachelor of Arts and
Education Degree.
In his introduction to Ms. Ndayumvire, Vice
Chairperson of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Jerry Woods referred to her as “a woman whose
dedication knows no bounds and whose strength has
inspired others.”
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission thanks the
Honourable John Harvard P.C. O.M., Lieutenant
Governor of Manitoba, and Her Honour Lenore Berscheid
B.A. M.ED, who hosted a reception at Government House
on December 13, 2005, in celebration of 35 years of
human rights legislation in Manitoba.
A Celebration
of Manitoba
Human Rights
It was a celebration
reflecting the past, present
and future of human rights
Lieutenant Governor John Harvard
legislation in Manitoba.
welcomes the guests to the 35th
In 1968, as part of the
anniversary celebration.
20th anniversary of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly, a national conference on human
rights was convened in
Ottawa to encourage
human rights legislation in
all the provinces.
Two years later, the
Lieutenant Governor of
Manitoba gave Royal
Assent to the Manitoba
Human Rights Act. On
December 13, 2005 a
Guests were entertained by the flute quartet
reception was held at
So-La-Ti-Da, which includes Sara Lugtig,
Government House,
Legal Counsel (right) for the Commission.
hosted by Lieutenant
Governor John Harvard and his wife Ms Lenore Berscheid to
celebrate the 35th anniversary of that legislation.
In attendance were present and past staff, commissioners, attorneys general and special guests including Gail Asper,
Kevin Chief, Sherri Walsh
and Art Shofley. The
Honourable John Harvard
welcomed the eighty
guests, revealing his own
personal interest in human
rights. Chairperson Janet
Baldwin’s remarks
included the evolution of
human rights over the
Past Attorney General Roland Penner
years and Attorney
chats with present Attorney General
Gord Mackintosh.
General Gord Mackintosh
reminisced about his days working at the Manitoba Human
Rights Commission.
Happy New Y
ear
Year