QUIS Raises Awareness to Combat Discrimination

March 21, 2009 marked both a grim anniversary and a step towards becoming a better society. On that day in 1960 a South African Township called Sharpeville was the site of a massacre perpetrated by white policemen.

Forty-nine years later the day was marked with a pledge to continue the noble struggle against the myriad forms of racism and discrimination.

The UN has dubbed this day the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and in 1989 the Department of Canadian Heritage introduced the now familiar Racism. Stop It! Campaign.

On March 21 this year QUIS held an event in the Kindness Court area of the Quinte Mall in Belleville. In addition, they held a Racism in Canada workshop at the Bridge Street United church on March 26 for high school students grades 9–12 from several local schools.

“This is our first public awareness event that we are going to hold for March 21,” said Sheilagh Marchand-Pegg, QUIS office manager and head of the HOST program. Getting Kindness Court as a venue for this years event was a stroke of good luck for QUIS.

"We are all immigrants," says Marchand-Pegg a sentiment is shared by QUIS outreach worker Yvonne Ferguson who says "We are all in the same boat and I think it’s important to remember that."

The purpose of this years function was to raise community awareness of the message and meaning of March 21 and more importantly try to reach the youngest members of our society. “If you can get to the youth you can change the world and that is so important,” says Marchand-Pegg

The QUIS volunteers and employees shared stories, music and styles of dress from a wide gamut of cultures to help illustrate the diverse nature of Canada and "Why it [March 21] is a day that people need to take notice of," says Marchand-Pegg.