Anti-Black Racism Town Hall

Anti-Black Racism Town Hall


Watch a full recording of the event. Closed captioning is available.

View the full transcript of the event.

View the Anti-Black Racism Final Report.

On August 6, Durham Region residents were invited to ask questions, listen in, and share stories/ideas about how the Region can address systemic anti-Black racism in our community.

Durham Regional Chair John Henry invited Durham Regional Police Chief Paul Martin to join in the discussion, along with the following Durham residents:

  • Sean Mauricette, Award-winning Motivational Speaker, Artist and Youth Worker (Moderator)
  • Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Consultant and Former Member of Parliament
  • David Mitchell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Youth Justice Division of the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
  • Ann Marie Morrison, incoming President for the Black Student Success Network, Durham College

Your voice is important

No form of racism is acceptable. Yet, we know that people continue to experience unfair treatment because of the colour of their skin or their cultural background—some more frequently than others. Your advice will allow us to better understand the scope of the situation here in Durham Region; and how Regional programs and policies can help address systemic anti-Black racism in our community.


Watch a full recording of the event. Closed captioning is available.

View the full transcript of the event.

View the Anti-Black Racism Final Report.

On August 6, Durham Region residents were invited to ask questions, listen in, and share stories/ideas about how the Region can address systemic anti-Black racism in our community.

Durham Regional Chair John Henry invited Durham Regional Police Chief Paul Martin to join in the discussion, along with the following Durham residents:

  • Sean Mauricette, Award-winning Motivational Speaker, Artist and Youth Worker (Moderator)
  • Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Consultant and Former Member of Parliament
  • David Mitchell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Youth Justice Division of the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
  • Ann Marie Morrison, incoming President for the Black Student Success Network, Durham College

Your voice is important

No form of racism is acceptable. Yet, we know that people continue to experience unfair treatment because of the colour of their skin or their cultural background—some more frequently than others. Your advice will allow us to better understand the scope of the situation here in Durham Region; and how Regional programs and policies can help address systemic anti-Black racism in our community.

Share your experience

If you feel comfortable doing so, please share your stories of experiencing anti-Black racism in Durham Region. This will allow us to better understand the scope of the situation here in Durham Region; understanding how Regional programs and policies can help address systemic anti-Black racism in our community. We are listening.

If you would prefer to share your story by email, please send it to DurhamStrong@durham.ca.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

  • My biracial 9 year old son!

    by Tmoreton, over 4 years ago

    My 9 year old biracial son has been called the n word 3 times this year in school and was stabbed with a pair of scissors in school. The boy was white and 10 years old and was only suspended for 1 day. How is this called a punishment? My son was then told to use the washroom fir one person. My son had to stay in at recesses and I brought him home for lunch. Why was my son the one to be segregated when he was the one that was stabbed? The school system needs to change and... Continue reading

  • You Can Effect Change

    by Willie Woo, over 4 years ago

    During my time on the Regional Council, I always enjoyed my encounters with former Liberal MP for Whitby, Celina Caesar-Chavannes. I never had an opportunity to say how much I admired and respected Celina for stepping down from the Liberal Party after she described what was a “hostile” exchange with the Prime Minister. Listening to today's discussion, Celina spoke about a "toxic environment". Sometimes the tone about systemic racism and harassment is set at the top and it flows downstream. We may look south of the border but we have it here. Celina spoke of it happening right here in... Continue reading

  • Wellness Checks

    by Emily, over 4 years ago

    Are psychologists and or psychiatrists involved in the training of police staff and are there psychologists and or psychiatrists involved in the de-escalation of crisis situations?

  • Community Policing

    by Richard (Brooklin Resident), over 4 years ago

    Good evening Panel, Chief Martin;

    thank you for the opportunity to converse with this panel this evening on the issues regarding Anti-black racism within the Durham Region. Let me 1st share a bit of my background with you for perspective.

    My family(myself, wife and son) moved to Canada from the Caribbean approximately 21 years ago and specifically the Durham region 19 years ago. My connections with Canada has been through one of this country's largest International Financial institutions with whom I had been employed for almost 28 years, 20 of which I served here in Canada having been given numerous... Continue reading

  • Mental Health Support is Needed for Black Youth

    by ladyatomica, over 4 years ago

    How does the Region of Durham plan to provide on-going mental health support, and therapy for black youth that have have been victims of racism and discrimination?


    Ashley Gayle

  • Question

    by Selina Bavlnka-Davy, over 4 years ago

    Will the Region be engaging with black youth and looking into how they've experienced racism within academic systems (from jk to post secendary) in Durham? as well as with the contact with the DRP...will their experiences and voices help the region to shape future policies and ways various settings and systems attempt to build relationships with them?

  • Institution change

    by Calvind , over 4 years ago

    How are you going to change the institutional of every sector in Durham Region including the mentality of the police force to reduce Black racism?

  • Solutions for Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism

    by Kirk Mark, over 4 years ago

    This is Kirk Mark, a resident of Pickering, and a retired senior administrator with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. I have had the pleasure to know Celina and David, and many thanks to all who are participating. My question for the panelists is as follows: What do you recommend as the first steps for cities and towns in Durham to address Systemic Anti-Black Racism?

  • Find non-lethal and excessive force means to de-escalate situations

    by SarahA, over 4 years ago

    There have been psychological studies done that people who are not black can assume that a black person is angry or aggressive or even "bad" simply by the way they look and the way we perceive them.

    This test can be done with the police force and other authority figures to help them figure out if they are inherently racist. Without judgment, what are the police force and other authority figures doing to learn how not to react to black people and people of color in an instantly suspicious or negative manner?

    For example, a police officer might pull over... Continue reading

  • Anti-racsim

    by Elaine Gardner , over 4 years ago

    I was watching the live Anti-racism town hall meeting, and the live stream stopped working

    Out for about 20mins now