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Annual Reports > Annual Report 1999 Branch and Local Group Programmes, Initiatives and Activities Much of the effective community outreach of the Association is the result of the tremendous initiatives undertaken by our Branches and Local Groups Much of the credit for this ongoing work goes to a core of imaginative and dedicated volunteers. The following brief summaries only touch on the full range of their efforts. Calgary Branch
The year 1999 was one of rebuilding for the Calgary Branch, from a group of five people in May to over 200 members by yearend. Monthly meetings were established at McDougall Centre, hosted by the Office of the Premier and presenting a multitude of speakers including IYOP Alberta’s Diane Osberg; UN Peacekeeper Col. Donald Ethell; UNICEF Alberta chair Madeleine King; UNA-Canada Regional Vice-President Guy Blood; Calgary 2000 director Carol Ryder; and the kickoff of the International Year for
the Culture of Peace with a proclamation by Mayor Al Duerr and address by Alderman Jon Lord. The Branch also established eight working committees, developed a local website and issued the first bimonthly newsletters.
International Day for Literacy (in conjunction with the Junior League of Calgary and the Calgary Board of Education) International Year of Older Persons (with 900 in attendance in conjunction with IYOP Alberta and featuring awards, with host Don Harron) United Nations Day (with over 2,000 in attendance at Devonian Gardens for an afternoon of family entertainment and the unveiling of the UNESCO endorsed Multicultural Activity Guide) Universal Children’s Day (with 500 in attendance at the Palliser Hotel, in conjunction with DareARTS Foundation).
UNAC Calgary served initially as the secretariat for the Southern Alberta Coalition for the Culture of Peace comprised of 248 community associations, NGOs and institutions. An ambitious Culture of Peace programme serves as a model for others in Canada.
In the past year, the activities of the Edmonton branch can be captured in the concepts of “deepening” and “widening.” The Branch has attempted to deepen the educational focus of its monthly meetings, by adding a learning-activity segment to the agenda. In the past year, they dealt with topics such as the genocide in Rwanda, Kosovo, the Middle East conflict, and indigenous peoples and the UN. The objective was to enhance the understanding of members of critical world issues. Based on this deepened knowledge, the core group of members also participated in a variety of activities within the community to promote the work of the UN. With the support of the Wild Rose Foundation, the Branch was able to open an office and hire an Executive Assistant, Minla Sadasiwan, to maintain records and coordinate promotional activities of the Branch. The following are pertinent activities undertaken or sponsored by the Branch: A Model UN was held at Grant MacEwan College from March 5 to 7 on the topic of Human Rights Development for the next Millennium. This Alberta UN Assembly, which alternates between Mount Royal College and Grant MacEwan, included students from Western Canada. A UN flag-raising ceremony was held at Grant MacEwan College on Friday, October 22, 1999 to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the UN as well as the celebration of the proclamation of the Year 2000 as “The International Year for the Culture of Peace.” In Edmonton. David Malone, President of the International Peace Academy, and the Former Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the UN, gave a presentation to Branch members on November 4, 1999 on the topic “The UN-NATO and Kosovo.” He also spoke to students and staff at the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan. On December 10, Human Rights Day, the Branch sponsored a Citizenship Ceremony at Grant MacEwan College featuring the Minister of Justice Anne McLellan, Paul Byrne (President of Grant MacEwan), and Janet Riopel (Board Chair of Grant MacEwan). The Ceremony was presided over by Citizenship Court Judge Gurcharan Bhatia, O.C. The Past President of the Branch, Randy Palivoda, represented the Branch at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Edmonton. The Branch participated in the University of Alberta International Week by sponsoring the launch of Professor Andy Knight’s (Department of Political Science (U of A) book on the political, legal, operational and financial aspects of applying verification in the context of UN arms embargoes. The Branch was also pleased to host the National Annual General Meeting of UNA-Canada in June at the University of Alberta. Looking forward, the current Executive has approached the Board of Directors of the popular Heritage Festival to participate in the Year 2000 Festival. Acceptance of the Branch’s application would provide an opportunity to promote the UN as well as the specific issue of the Culture of Peace. Hamilton Branch The Hamilton Branch recognizes that many members are also part of like-minded organizations and therefore continues to partner with these groups in organizing public events The Branch co-operated with the Baha’i community in the poster contest for elementary schools that again focused on Human Rights issues. The participants are recognized at an awards gala where the winning posters are displayed. On March 1, the Branch arranged for a class of school children to stage a bell-ringing event to celebrate the Landmine Treaty becoming international law. A UN flag was presented to the class. On March 21 the Mayor’s Committee Against Racism and Discrimination hosted a large public event at City Hall focusing on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On April 1 a UN flag was presented to the Saltfleet District High School at the One World multicultural evening of ethnic music and dance. During environmental week in June, the Branch participated in the 20th annual Environmentalists of the Year dinner, which honoured Dr. Bob Koral for a lifetime of achievement, Lynda Lukasik as Environmentalist of the Year, and an Award of Merit to the Junior Naturalists. The Global Movement for Active Aging is a World Health Organization initiative for those interested in moving policies and practices towards Active Aging. On October 2, the Branch participated in the Global Embrace, an around-the-clock-around-the-globe festivity, by co-sponsoring a walk with the Friends of the Redhill Valley led off Dr. Ray Lowes, the 88-year-old founder of the Bruce Trail. December 10 marked the last United Nations Human Rights Day of the millennium. A large gathering at Hamilton City Hall, organized by Operation Lifeline and Amnesty International, and co-sponsored by community organizations, heard of the conditions in East Timor, and from prisoners of conscience from Peru and Sudan. The evening concluded with a rousing musical presentation by a group from Africa. The Branch attended the launching of the UNESCO Garden Party Project, a video-ecology project linking the youth in Cuba, the Six Nations and Hamilton. The ceremony was hosted by Sir John A. Macdonald High School, with representatives from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the City of Hamilton, the Board of Education, and the Six Nations. The Hamilton Branch presents an annual Bursary Award. The recipient for 1999 was Eric Crighton, a graduate student in the School of Geology and Geography at McMaster University whose research deals with the Impacts of an Environmental Disaster on Psycho-social Health and Wellbeing: A case study of Karakalpakastan. Kootenay Region Branch In keeping with their usual programme initiatives, the Kootenay Region Branch undertook a series of activities, often in close collaboration with other community groups and in a number of the communities in the region. Those events included a symbolic signing of the Anti Personnel Landmines Treaty at Selkirk College on March 1; an Earth Day Programme at the Doukhobor Village Museum on April 22; a Hiroshima Day remembrance ceremony on August 6 at the Peace Park on Zuckerberg Island and an International Day of Peace Vigil in both Grand Forks and Castlegar on September 21. Over the summer they supported local Rails and Trails Groups in efforts to build a linear park along a former railway line. The Branch also collaborates in an annual series of projects during the fall to raise funds in support of a designated relief or development project. In 1999 the monies ($1,900) were raised in support of aids orphans in Zimbabwe (through the Red Cross). There is also an annual contribution to the Canadian Relief Fund for Chernobyl Victims in Belarus. Montreal Branch The Montreal Branch was involved in a number of significant public events during the year. It was very involved in the March 1 celebrations to mark the entry into force of the Anti Personnel Landmines Treaty, in collaboration with the City of Montreal, UNICEF Québec, the diocese of Montreal and several other non-governmental organizations. The Branch hosted a workshop on Older Persons: Violence Tolerance and Peace as a contribution to the debate during the International Year of Older Persons. There was also collaboration with Paulette Vigeant and other organizations on a presentation on the Earth Charter. Last, but certainly not least, the Branch supported the National Office in the orchestration of the very successful gala event with H.E. Kofi Annan. Thanks to the generous support of Trizec Hahn, the Branch has a central office space which is staffed on a part-time basis by volunteers. A local committee is looking to develop an educational outreach programme on the UN, aimed at the secondary school level. During the year preliminary work was also done towards the building of a Montreal Branch web page. The Montreal President, Paul Gagner, is the key person in the production of a regular Quebec Region newsletter, sent five time a year to all members of the three Branches in the Region. It is an invaluable tool through which to share news of events and general information. National Capital Region Branch National Capital Region Branch (NCRB) volunteers and executive members compressed a respectable number of events, and a great deal of effort into the 1999 year. Speakers for the season were frequently offered jointly with other local organizations, and included controversial former diplomat, Graham Green, who spoke in February about his view of Foreign Minister Axworthy’s “Soft Diplomacy”. Newton Bowles, Senior Advisor on Children and War with UNICEF, entitled his annual presentation to UNA-Canada and the Group of 78 on the state of the General Assembly, Virtual Virtue: Who Cares? Executive member Diana Armour coordinated a Branch presence in the gathering of funds for the UNHCR efforts in East Timor. Geoffrey Pearson, then vice-president of UNA-Canada, spoke at the NCRB’s annual general meeting and offered a stimulating focus for discussion of the reasons for the absence of the UN during the conflict. The Branch aided the National Office’s joint effort with the World Federalists to highlight the financial crisis at the United Nations at the fourth annual UN candlelight vigil on the eve of UN Day . NCRB continued to make significant contributions to Mines Action Canada (MAC), the landmines ban coalition, through representation on MAC’s steering committee and work to ensure the success of MAC’s second annual demining technology competition in Canadian university engineering faculties. The Branch contributed to UNA-Canada’s statement calling for Canada to vote “yes” at the General Assembly on the New Agenda Coalition vote urging a faster pace towards a nuclear weapons convention. In May, Shane Roberts guided 25 bright students in grades 6, 7 and 8 through a miniModel UN Assembly at the University of Ottawa, and worked with Grades 9 through 13 on a simulated crisis in a separate mini-MUNA at Lisgar Collegiate. The early stages of a “forum” to coordinate communications and events among Ottawa-area NGOs was proposed and developed in 1999. This is expected to reduce the response time to current events in the key UN areas of Sustainable Development, Human Rights, Environment and Disarmament/Peace/Security. NCRB hopes the forum will ultimately better acquaint different groups’ constituencies with each other’s areas of expertise... and reduce the frequency of “event competition” and volunteer burnout. Quebec Branch The Quebec City Branch built on the interests and energy of its key volunteers to ensure a public profile in its city. They were active participants, in collaboration with other organizations, in a range of issues including anti-personnel landmines, desertification, human rights (especially children and women), and urban development, as well as events to mark both the International Year of Older Persons and the launching of the International Year of the Culture of Peace. Outreach also included several presentations in schools and at the CEGEP Sainte-Foy. Quinte Branch The 3rd annual Model United Nations for local high school students was held in October. The topic this year was Abuse of Human Rights – Intervention. As opposed to the usual situation, the topic was more current in October than when it was originally chosen. Students from 14 schools, representing 26 countries and their stands on human rights participated. Special thanks go to organizers Wendy Whitehead, Martina Prokop and Bill Walker and everyone who did the background work. On Sunday, October 24, the Baha’i Community joined in sponsoring a celebration at the East Minister United Church featuring dancers from the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute in Stratford, Ontario. Their presentation entitled “Dancing to make a Difference” dealt with the issue of prejudice. Model UN participants then reported on the findings of their debates. A goodwill offering for the United Way was taken. Special thanks go to Aruna Alexander, Doris Bosch-Teuber and Rick and Heather Alexander. As with past years, the Branch sold UNICEF cards at Christmas and at various community functions throughout the year.
A group of very active members works in collaboration with a number of organizations in the Saguenay/Lac St-Jean Region to promote the UN agenda in a wide range of ways. Within the local community key connections have included la Société Terrestre pour l’Obtention de la Paix (S.T.O.P), le Centre de solidarité internationale (CSI), and la Fondation Québec internationale des cultures à partager. There have been public lectures, school presentations, regional peace awards to individuals and groups, and participation in festivals to mark international solidarity, the commencement of the new academic year, etc. Individual members have represented the Branch at a variety of conferences outside of the Region dealing with international issues (including the Hague Appeal for Peace). Courses which focus on UN issues have been developed at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, including a new programme in international cooperation. The Branch is also working to develop a website.
As in previous years, the Saint John Local Group sponsored events and flag-raising ceremonies to recognize International Women’s Day , UN Day, Human Rights Day, and International Day for the Elimination of Racism. For the last date they co-sponsored an event with the Multicultural Association, Canada Citizenship Federation and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association To expand awareness, the Group sponsored a series of public lectures on other countries entitled “as seen from the inside.” They were also active in promoting a Human Rights Programme at district schools as part of a campaign to continually promote the importance of human rights. There was also action related to Kosovo refugees. The Group was a supporter of the Multicultural Association of Saint John in its Millennium project, the establishment of a grove of trees, with each tree representing a different country.
As with past years, the St. John’s Branch spent much of 1999 focusing on their local Model United Nations. A record number of participants (over 250), representing every high school in the St. John’s area, attended the sessions, which took place in December at Memorial University. The UN Club of Memorial University, under the supervision of Dr. Gunther Hartmann, provided secretariat support and organizational assistance. Resolutions focused on Chechnya, child prostitution, rights of older persons, rights of women, and conventional weapons. To facilitate the distribution of materials, a web site, http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~modun ,was created. The branch would like to thank all those who have contributed to the work of the UN in Newfoundland and Labrador in the past year. Toronto Branch The year 1999 was very busy for UNAC-Toronto. The Annual General Meeting on April 15 saw the adoption of a new set of Branch By-laws and the election of a slate of Board members for the following year Valerie Oosterveld, Director, International Human Rights Program, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto outlined the importance of the International Criminal Court and her role in working on its approval in Rome. The Branch continued to maintain a small office in central Toronto with the help of a core of dedicated volunteers. It was also was represented at a number of important functions and conferences throughout the year. Shirley Farlinger, the Branch President, attended the consultation in Toronto in early February with the government and NGOs to provide input for the Cairo + 5 meeting at the UN in June and the Commission on the Status of Women annual conference at the United Nations, Feb. 28 to March 6. She made a presentation to the hearings on the World Trade Organization and multilateral trade agreements on April 27 and attended the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference in the Hague May 11-16. On August 6, she also spoke at the Hiroshima/Nagasaki remembrance at City Hall which one of our Board members helped to organize. A representative spoke on the topic of the UN to the Rotary Club of Oakville, the Sunrise Rotary Club, the Toronto Council of Women, a Refugee and Immigration Department event, and at first Unitarian Church. The Branch met with a group interested in restarting the Toronto Disarmament Network and some initiatives have since been begun. They co-sponsored and helped organize the Toronto Human Rights Day Run on December 12. A major activity was the dinner to focus on The United Nations in the New Millennium, held on October 24 at the Ontario Club. The 120 guests heard from the National President, Geoffrey Pearson, and National Board Member Elizabeth Dowdeswell. Nine people were honoured with a Certificate of Appreciation for their work.
The year 1999 was one of restructuring for the Vancouver Branch, after a number of months of relative inactivity. A belated annual general meeting on October 24, 1999, in conjunction with a major public exhibition on the work of John Humphrey and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, saw the election of a new Board under Greg Wilson as President. Reactivation plans include efforts to ensure that the office is open at least one day a week; the resumption of publication of a quarterly local newsletter; and public forums and events in collaboration with other community-based organizations. There are also plans to hire a part-time staff member to field inquiries from the general public and assist with programming.
For the past three years, the Victoria Branch has been involved with the Ashton Garrison Museum, which is among the largest military museums in Canada. Recently the United Nations has donated twenty medals and ribbons, flags, and other artifacts for permanent display. They will join a collection of every medal that has been given out in the name of peace-keeping, including the UN and NATO and also the medal for the Kosovo war that had not yet been given to military personnel. The organizers are looking forward to a grand opening in the fall of 2000. Over the past year and a half the Victoria Branch has been working on the Valuing the Culture of Peace conference scheduled to take place at the University of Victoria on August 9-12, 2000. The conference has a province-wide scope that will give community leaders and teachers support and information to deal with violence in the community. This conference will integrate the annual Sri Chinmoy Peace run. Further province wide initiatives will evolve after the conference. On a continuing basis the Branch maintains a small office with the assistance of a group of volunteers. It continues to offer information and assistance to educators, including an exciting event in a local school to mark United Nations Day (October 24).
There is no longer a formal Local Group in Waterloo but several individuals “showed the UN flag” in a variety of community events. That included participation in a September conference Defending Human Security organized by Project Ploughshares, Conrad Grebel College, University of Waterloo, and in the conference The New Diplomacy: The United Nations, Like-Minded Countries and Non Governmental Organizations organized by the Centre on Foreign Policy and Federalism, the University of Waterloo, and the United Nations University. Two editorials by Alistair Edgar were published in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, one dealing with the International Criminal Court and a second on Kosovo. He was also interviewed on local television and radio regarding the Kosovo conflict, and the democratic elections in South Africa.
The Winnipeg Branch continues to enjoy the support of the Board of Education and operates out of space in the educational resource centre, with a part-time co-ordinator and a very active contingent of volunteers. The computer cataloguing of the resource centre materials was a significant undertaking in terms of effective information assistance. There were also major developments of the Branch website to make it more comprehensive and user-friendly. The Branch also continues to publish a newsletter (three in the year) as a channel of communications to local members. In 1999 the Branch looked in particular to an expansion in its emphasis on programming for youth. In addition to the annual cooperation with the organizers and students in the Rotary High School Model UN and the Human Rights Seminar for High School students in conjunction with Human Rights Day (December 10) the Branch organized what they hope will be the first annual public speaking contest, again aimed at the secondary school population. The annual UN Day (October 24) flag-raising ceremony at the Legislature involved both school students and seniors, as it focused on inter-generational themes to mark the International Year of Older Persons. A great deal of energy was devoted to efforts to establish a United Nations Chair at the Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba (with St. Boniface and Brandon Universities also involved). Thanks to tireless efforts on the part of key volunteers and funding from both the federal and provincial governments, Phase I was completed. An office has been opened at the University of Winnipeg (which administers the programme) and the initial annual lecture was delivered by the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy.
A small core of dedicated volunteers worked to reactivate a Local Group in the Yellowknife area. They are looking forward to the development of initiatives in the year 2000.
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