- Start playing the video
- Click CC at bottom right
- Click the gear icon to its right
- Click Subtitles/CC
- Click Auto-translate
- Select language you want
City of Toronto celebrates 2023 Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards
By Fred Alvarado
Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
On December 7th, City of Toronto celebrated the 2023 Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards, which recognize people and organizations that have helped build a more equitable city by advancing reconciliation and justice, addressing discrimination and working to eliminate barriers to equality.
The 2023 awards recipients were:
* Joyce Carpenter and Shannon Simpson – Mino Bimaadiziwin Award (Indigenous Award): Joyce is an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. Shannon is Senior Director of Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Toronto.
* Shakhlo Sharipova – Disability Access Award: Shakhlo is founder of the Thorncliffe Park Autism Support Network.
* Centre of Learning and Development in Regent Park received the Constance E. Hamilton Award for Women’s Equality: Centre of Learning and Development is an organization building capacity, community engagement, confidence and employability of women-identifying participants.
* Safia Parveen – Constance E. Hamilton Award for Women’s Equality: Safia is lead of Thorncliffe Wellness Cafe Group, a community organization aimed at bringing mental health awareness to women of South Asian backgrounds.
* Moe Akel – Pride Award: Moe is a 2SLGBTQ+ rights activist and equity, diversity and inclusion educator.
* Francis Jeffers – William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award: Francis is a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics advocate for youth, African-Canadian and low-income communities.
The awards ceremony was hosted by Councillor Chris Moise (Ward-13 Toronto Centre). Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York) delivered remarks on behalf of Mayor Olivia Chow. The ceremony featured an opening invocation and thanksgiving by Bob Goulais of the Eagle Clan, Nipissing First Nation, as well as musical performances by Toronto artists Divine Lightbody and Bitter & Broke.
The City’s Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards are community-driven, with nominations submitted by the public. Recipients are selected by an independent panel of community members with relevant expertise, lived experience and knowledge of the subject for each award category.
Add new comment
FOCUS Media Arts Centre (FOCUS) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1990 to counter negative media stereotypes of low income communities and provide relevant information to residents living in the Regent Park area and surrounding communities.
We seek to empower marginalized individuals and under represented communities to have a voice, through the use of professional training, mentorships and participatory based media practices that enable the sharing of stories, experiences and perspectives on relevant matters and issues. In brief our mandate is to empower marginalized individuals and under-serviced communities to have a voice and tell their own stories.
Recent Media
Regent Park Town Hall: Councillor Chris Moise Updates Residents on Key Issues
Regent Park Marks 34th Annual Sunday in the Park Celebration
Building Healing Pathways for Families: Inside Native Child’s Work in Toronto
We encourage comments which further the dialogue about the stories we post. Comments will be moderated and posted if they follow these guidelines:
The Community Media Portal reserves the right to reject any comments which do not adhere to these minimum standards.