BY CRAIG GILBERT
Racism is a dirty word, and its practice doesnÂ?t wash in Greater Sudbury.
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ThatÂ?s the message from Mayor David Courtemanche, Ward 4 Councillor Ted Callaghan and other proponents of the cityÂ?s new Diversity Thrives Here! program.
Sudbury MP Diane Marleau joined members of multicultural groups and city councillors Friday morning to announce a $118,000 investment in the
program on behalf of Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Status of Women Jean Augustine.
The funding will go to the MayorÂ?s Community Multicultural and Race Relations Working Group, which is chaired by Callaghan.
Various activities will take place over the summer leading to a Diversity Summit in October.
They include a series of consultative forums and roundtables, youth leadership training and bridge building activities.
Â?This money will ensure this community continues to ensure every citizen who comes to live here has a chance to thrive,Â? Marleau said. Â?The federal government is very anxious to encourage more people to come here and feel at home.
Â?ThatÂ?s how Sudbury was built in the first place.Â?
Courtemanche, who Callaghan said Â?picked up the gauntletÂ? with the committee 18 months ago, said heÂ?s proud to be part of such a positive project.
Â?Social inclusion is a big part of this project, and weÂ?re recognized provincially and nationally for it.Â?
He mentioned Ward 6 Councillor Janet GaspariniÂ?s recent trip to Kingston to speak about just that.
Â?They wanted to know what we are doing on this.Â?
Quoting some wisdom he has gleaned from a book on the Buddist faith and its philosophies, he asked rhetorically what kind of garden Greater
Sudbury would like to grow.
There are seeds in every person, he said: seeds of anger, joy, tolerance and hatred.
Â?What seeds are we going to water? Will we grow the weeds of racism or the fruit of diversity and tolerance?Â?
The city has to take full advantage of the senior levels of government working together now on immigration strategies, said Callaghan.
Â?To take part in something, you have to be positioned. When the ideas on how to diversify, attract immigrants and make this a safer community come out, we have to be ready.Â?
With Diversity Thrives Here!, Greater Sudbury hopes to be that safer, more attractive community, he said.
Â?We can be a model for Northeastern Ontario in developing economic development that reflects the 21st century. And without incorporating
diversity and immigration, youÂ?re going nowhere.Â?
