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.

  • Include Black history in schools- not only in February & not only slavery

    by tee, over 4 years ago

    Black history did not start with slavery. Educate the teachers on Black history so that they can educate the children. Share the culture, talk about the great Black Leaders, before, during and after slavery. This will help children understand the history and the value and contribution of Blacks throughout the world.

    Also BLM is not the only movement surrounding anti Black racism. Let us teach our children to see colour and the beauty in our differences, but treat each other with love and respect because we are all from one race- the human race..


  • BLM - Both sides of the story

    by Concerned Mom, over 4 years ago

    My concerns lie with the other side of the BLM movement that is not being shared. The hate filled, discriminative, violent protest groups that are causing more divide than unity amongst our community, even going as far as to support defunding our police.

    Myself and MANY other parents believe that BLM has NO place in our schools and we will stand up against it.

    BLM is a self proclaimed dangerous Marxist group that has very little evidence of supporting any local black inituatives at all.

    A co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto argued that white people are “recessive genetic defects”... Continue reading

  • racism in kindergarten

    by Momoftwo, over 4 years ago

    My child is in Junior Kindergarten, and attends school in North Oshawa. She was distinctly told by one of her peers that she couldn't invite her to her party because she was black. This is a reflection of the parents and the feeling of hatred in the community. How do you explain to your 4 year old what racism is? That her skin color will cause her to be slighted

  • WHITBY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ANTI-BLACK.

    by Rick777, over 4 years ago

    I was falsely acused and then banned with malice by Whitby library of promoting business because I'm seen as "Black". This library refuses to hire Black men in their staffing.

  • Uxbridge residents looking to ban all symbols of hate and racial intolerance

    by TMur, over 4 years ago

    On June 22nd, 2020 a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens presented to Council our collective concerns around a racist incident involving the display of a Confederate flag during a peaceful Black Lives Matter stand-in organized by Zed Pickering and Maggie Finlayson. The attached presentation discussion and powerpoint was co-created by a group of concerned Uxbridge citizens.

    We requested the following action be taken at the council meeting:

    1. In response to the Uxbridge #BlackLivesMatter stand-in on June 5th, 2020, where our families experienced a hateful act involving the Confederate Flag, we are urging council to immediately prohibit visible symbols of... Continue reading

  • Racism exists in schools

    by Hemanshu, over 4 years ago

    Our 5 year son who is now 14 was called dark brown in his elementary school in Whitby. This is sooo wrong on sooo many levels how can kids that age distinguish each other by the colour of their skin. Even if it was done innocently it's something the child learned somewhere and most likely at home.

    Our son has all types of friends from different heritages and he is not the one to distinguish based on the colour of one's skin. He understands that we are all human even though we might look different.

    I have been called names... Continue reading