Reminder: Special Committee of the Whole called for Nov. 25
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Tune into public meeting to advance Vaughan’s anti-racism initiatives
A Special Committee of the Whole meeting is taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. to address issues of racism and further advance the City of Vaughan’s diversity, inclusion and anti-racism efforts. Citizens are encouraged to participate and share their thoughts virtually through various methods, including phone, teleconference and email. A live broadcast of the meeting will be available at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil.
Public consultation is vital to the development and success of these initiatives. As a result, the public meeting will include a large agenda with presentations by staff and stakeholders. While City Hall remains closed to the public, there are many ways citizens can participate and have their voices heard, including:
- speaking live via teleconference to Mayor Bevilacqua and Members of Council during the meeting. To pre-register to be an electronic speaker, send a completed form (PDF) to clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. Participants will be provided instructions on how to connect to the meeting. A test meeting will also be held before every electronic-participation meeting to allow participants to test their connection and software. Members of the public can connect through their own computer, smartphone or tablet.
- speaking live from a telephone (regular landline or cellphone) during the meeting. To pre-register to be a telephone speaker, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca or call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
- submitting a written communication for review by Members of Council as part of an agenda item. All written communications can be emailed to the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@vaughan.ca.
- watching the live broadcast available at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil. A feed will become available at the start of the meeting.
All speaker requests and written submissions must be received by noon on the last business day before the meeting. In addition, they must also relate to a matter on the agenda, clearly state the request or message trying to be conveyed and include the name and contact information of the participant. The name and address for any citizens submitting a communication – written, electronic or by telephone – will appear in the public record and will be posted online following the meeting. For additional details about submitting a communication or being a live speaker, visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay. A meeting agenda can also be viewed at vaughan.ca/CouncilMeetings.
The Special Committee of the Whole meeting coincides with several initiatives currently underway, including Council’s decision to establish the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. This new working group has a mandate to guide the development of policies that promote fairness, mutual respect and inclusion. Public recruitment was recently completed for community representatives to serve alongside Members of Council.
To receive the City’s latest updates on COVID-19, check vaughan.ca/COVID19, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Those who feel unwell, and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19, should contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on COVID-19, including physical distancing tips and advice from Public Health officials, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
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