Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee

The mandate of the Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee (formerly known as the Cultural Communities Advisory Committee*) is to advise Council on enhancing access and inclusion for Vancouver's diverse cultural communities to fully participate in City services and civic life.

Committee name change approved by Council on March 6, 2019.

Meeting Updates

Meeting Format:

Civic Agency meetings may be in-person, electronic (as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law), or a hybrid of the two. Meeting agendas and minutes are posted online under the ‘Meetings’ tab below.

Virtual Meeting Platform:

Virtual meetings use Cisco WebEx Webinars (formerly Webex Events). No software download is required.

Attending Meetings:

  • To view a meeting online or listen by phone, follow instructions provided below.
  • Join link is made available at least 24 hours before the meeting.
  • For in-person attendance at City Hall, seek directions to the meeting room from Security staff. If arriving after 5:00 pm, enter via the 12th Avenue entrance by using the intercom (this entrance is equipped with a wheelchair ramp).

Note:

Unlike meetings of City Council, there is usually no public speaking option during Civic Agency meetings. Virtual attendees will be muted and unseen by meeting participants. If you wish to get in touch with a Civic Agency, please see the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Next Meeting Details:

  • Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
  • Time: 5:30 pm
  • Location: Cascadia Room, 3rd Floor, City Hall; Virtual (Webex Webinars)
  • Meeting Password: RECE (Dial 7323 from telephone keypad)

Joining via Webinar:

  • Click Join the Meeting
  • Enter the meeting password when prompted: RECE

Joining by Phone (Audio Only):

  • Dial 1-604-646-8916 (Local) or 1-855-699-3239 (Canada/US Toll-Free)
  • Enter the access code followed by pound: TBD
  • Enter numeric meeting password followed by pound: 7323#

Consent - Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy:

To view or participate in meetings virtually, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information outside Canada as described below. The City of Vancouver collects your personal information in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for purposes of organizing and administering civic agency meetings. For virtual Civic Agency meetings, your contact information will be shared with the City’s web conferencing provider, Cisco WebEx. Information submitted to WebEx will be stored on servers in the United States and may be accessed in the United States or internationally for technical support purposes. If you have questions about the collection of this information, please contact the Director of Access to Information and Privacy by emailing privacy@vancouver.ca or mailing a letter to 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4.

Mandate and scope

  • Advises Council and staff on the development, implementation, and assessment of City policies and services related to strengthening ethno-cultural engagement, addressing racism, and racial inequities, and promoting racial justice and equity in the City
  • Advises Council and staff on enhancing access and inclusion for racialized communities to fully participate in City services and civic life
  • Advises Council and staff on cultural celebrations and events in the City
  • Works collaboratively with counterparts from other civic agencies to identify opportunities for joint action on issues of mutual interest
  • Works co-operatively with external agencies and groups whose activities affect constituent communities
  • Engages in outreach to disseminate information and encourage participation from constituent communities

Meeting and administrative procedures

  • The Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee holds six regular meetings per year, in addition to working sessions generally scheduled during intervening months throughout the year.
  • Type A Advisory Committees may, at their discretion, establish sub-committees focused on relevant topics of interest, non-members may participate in sub-committees and attend regular meetings if invited.
  • A member who is absent from more than two consecutive regular meetings without a leave of absence is deemed to have resigned.

Remuneration

  • Type A Advisory Committee members and alternate members are eligible to receive reimbursement for certain meeting-related expenses.
  • Non-member subcommittee participants are not eligible to receive reimbursement.
  • A light meal will be provided to Type A Advisory Committee members attending in-person regular meetings held over lunch or dinner hours.

Eligibility

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

  • Not be employed by the City of Vancouver
  • Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver
  • Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver
  • Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body
  • Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity

Term limit

Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve for more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

Terms of Reference

Membership

Appointment ends December 31, 2024

  • Nimrah Anwar
  • Harjot Banwait
  • Victoria Barclay
  • Benedicta Bawo
  • Alexandra Gunn
  • Steph Kallstrom (Chair)
  • Alemu Nenko
  • Ajay Puri
  • Jeremiah Rojas
  • Lydia Tang
  • Pavandeep Toor
  • Naina Varshney (Vice-Chair)

Liaisons​

Council Liaisons:

  • Councillor Pete Fry
  • Councillor Lenny Zhou

Staff Liaison:

  • April Sumter-Freitag, Social Planner, Social Policy and Projects

Vancouver Police Department Liaison:

  • Sgt. Chad McRae

Park Board Commissioner Liaison:

  • Commissioner Angela Haer

 

Terms and Membership Composition

Persons appointed to a Type A Advisory Committee shall meet the following essential criteria:

  • Not be employed by the City of Vancouver;
  • Live or work in Vancouver, or have a significant body of experience with issues related to the mandate of the advisory body in Vancouver;
  • Have connections to relevant communities, groups, and/or organizations in Vancouver;
  • Be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities and skills related to the mandate of the advisory body;
  • Be able to work in a team environment with intercultural sensitivity.

Composition:

  • Up to 12 members of the public (quorum is a majority of appointed members);
  • All of said members’ seats shall be filled by people who identify as a member of a racialized or cultural minority community;;
  • Up to 2 non-voting Council liaisons (appointed by Mayor);
  • Up to 2 non-voting staff liaisons (appointed by City Manager);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioner liaison and/or staff liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver School Board Trustee liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Public Library staff liaison (optional);
  • 1 non-voting Vancouver Police Department staff liaison (optional).

Length of term:

  • Term ends immediately before the first Monday after November 1 in the year of a general local election. However, no regular meeting shall be held between the last day of the nomination period and general voting day.
  • Members are appointed until December 31, 2024, at which point appointments are automatically renewable to the end of the term, and recruitment shall be conducted to fill any vacancies arising.
  • Beginning in 2019, no member of the public shall serve in more than eight consecutive years on the same Type A Advisory Committee. A former member is eligible for reappointment after one year of non-membership.

In addition to the regular meetings listed here, the Committee also meets several times per year for informal working sessions. Please contact the Meeting Coordinator for more information.

The meetings listed below are open to the public. 

2024 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 11, 2024 Agenda Minutes
January 31, 2024 (Special Meeting) Agenda Minutes
March 21, 2024  Agenda Minutes
May 23, 2024  Agenda Minutes
July 18, 2024 Agenda Minutes
September 19, 2024 Agenda Minutes
November 21, 2024    

2023 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
July 6, 2023 Agenda Minutes
September 7, 2023 Agenda Minutes
November 9, 2023 Agenda Minutes

2022 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 13, 2022 Agenda Minutes
March 10, 2022 Agenda Minutes
May 12, 2022 Agenda Minutes
July 14, 2022 Agenda Minutes
September 8, 2022 Agenda

Minutes

2021 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 14, 2021 Agenda Minutes 
March 18, 2021 Agenda Minutes
July 15, 2021 Agenda Minutes
September 9, 2021 Agenda Minutes
November 25, 2021 Agenda Minutes

2020 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 16, 2020 Agenda Minutes
March 26, 2020  CANCELLED -
May 21, 2020  CANCELLED -
June 4, 2020  Agenda Minutes   
July 16, 2020 - Special  Agenda  Minutes
September 24, 2020  - Cancelled  Agenda -
November 19, 2020  Agenda Minutes

2019 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
June 20, 2019  Agenda Minutes
September 5, 2019 Agenda Minutes
November 14, 2019  Agenda Minutes

2018 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
January 11, 2018 cancelled Agenda Minutes
March 8, 2018 Agenda Minutes
May 10, 2018 cancelled Agenda Minutes
July 19, 2018 Agenda Minutes
October 11, 2018 Agenda Minutes

2017 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
February 16, 2017 cancelled Agenda Minutes
May 25, 2017 Agenda Minutes
July 20, 2017 Agenda Minutes
August 25, 2017 (Special Meeting) Agenda Minutes
September 14, 2017 Agenda Minutes
November 9, 2017 Agenda Minutes

2016 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
February 18, 2016 Agenda Minutes
April 21, 2016 Agenda Minutes
May 26, 2016 Agenda Minutes
October 13, 2016 cancelled Agenda  
November 3, 2016 cancelled Agenda Minutes
December 8, 2016 Agenda Minutes

2015 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
April 9, 2015 Agenda  Minutes
June 4, 2015 Agenda  Minutes
October 8, 2015 Agenda  Minutes
November 26, 2015 Agenda  Minutes

2014 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
February 12, 2014 Agenda Minutes
April 10, 2014 Agenda Minutes
May 21, 2014 Agenda Minutes
September 3, 2014 cancelled Agenda Minutes

2013 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
March 7, 2013 Agenda Minutes
July 4, 2013 cancelled Agenda -
October 2, 2013 Agenda  Minutes
December 5, 2013 Agenda Minutes

2012 meetings, agendas, and minutes

Meeting date Agenda Minutes
April 10, 2012 Agenda Minutes
October 11, 2012 Agenda Minutes
November 8, 2012 Agenda Minutes
December 13, 2012 cancelled Agenda Cancelled

2023 - 2026 Work Plan

Report of Activities, 2021–2022

An overview of the committee's 2022 accomplishments.
View the Committee's report (pdf)

September 22, 2022

The Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee writes a letter to City Council regarding Anti-Black Racism.

Read the Letter PDF file (302 KB)

April 26, 2022

The City of Vancouver Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee writes letter of support for Van Black Library to Mayor and Council and VPL.

Read the letter of support PDF file (321 KB)

June 8, 2020

The City of Vancouver Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee calls for Race-based health data collection in British Columbia.

Read the news release (342 KB)

October 19, 2018

On October 19, 2018, the CCAC released their Spaces Report as well as a Final Report, upon the completion of their term.

2017 in review

An overview of the committee's 2017 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on October 12, 2017.

August 28, 2017

On August 28, 2017 the CCAC released a statement condemning the recent rise in anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic protests, violence, and vitriol.

2017-2018 work plan

The 2017-2018 Work Plan summarizes the high priority objectives for the committee term and establishes an action plan to achieve those objectives.

2016 in review

An overview of the committee's 2016 accomplishments and future goals as presented at the Council of Council's on November 9, 2016.

2012-2014 term in review

An overview of the committee's closing term accomplishments and recommendations for continuation of the work was presented at the Council of Council's December 2014.

Resources for Civic Agency members

Staff Contacts

Staff Liaison
 
April Sumter-Freitag, Social Planner, Social Policy and Projects
604-871-6424
 

*Contact the Staff Liaison for subject matter expertise and information on City programs, services, and initiatives.

Clerk
 
Olivia Kam, Meeting Coordinator
604-829-2054
 

*Contact the Clerk for information on meetings, schedules, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and procedure.