December 3, 2007
Recipients of the Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award and the Sybil Shack
Human Rights Youth Award to be honoured on December 10, 2007
WINNIPEG – On Monday December 10, 2007 the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the
Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, and the Manitoba Human Rights
Commission will jointly present the Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award and
the Sybil Shack Memorial Human Rights Youth Award at a luncheon celebrating
International Human Rights Day.
The awards recognize a group or person in Manitoba who has significantly
promoted respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. This year’s
Commitment Award recognizes activities which have advanced human rights by
overcoming discrimination based on mental disability. The Sybil Shack Memorial
Human Rights Youth Award acknowledges work that has an impact on the advancement
of human rights as guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom and
human rights legislation.
The 2007 recipients of Annual Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award are the
teachers, principal, and students involved in the The Bridges FASD Intermediate
Program at David Livingstone Community School. Teacher Deb Thordarson, says that
“through the students’ perseverance and courage in speaking out about their
disability, they demonstrate to everyone what incredible gifts they are. They
are living proof that individuals with FASD are so much more than how they are
portrayed, or how they are valued by society.”
The 2007 recipient of the Sybil Shack Memorial Manitoba Human Rights Youth Award
is Krupa Kotecha, a grade 12 student at Balmoral Hall School. Krupa was
nominated by her teachers because they “believe that she deserves to be
recognized for her unwavering persistence in promoting human rights and
anti-racism in Manitoba.” Krupa initially learned about the consequences of
racism through her mother, a former Ugandan who lived through the dictatorship
of Idi Amin. Krupa, along with two friends, produced a national award winning
video about a young girl being bullied because of her race. She also wrote and
performed a monologue about the prejudice faced by a teenage Indian immigrant to
Canada. Krupa writes about barriers to equality and continues to work towards
raising awareness of multiculturalism and diversity.
The keynote speaker at the International Human Rights Day luncheon is Jane
Burpee, who is the education coordinator for the Schizophrenia Society and a
wonderful actress. Jane will perform two monologues about women dealing with
issues related to mental disability.
The luncheon and award ceremony will take place on Monday, December 10, 2007
from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, at Radisson Hotel, 280 Portage Avenue.
Tickets are on sale now at a cost of $25.00 per person and $200.00 for a table
of 8.
December 10th is International Human Rights Day, which marks the anniversary of
the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The Universal
Declaration is the basis of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For tickets to honour these recipients on December 10, contact: The Manitoba
Human Rights Commission 945-3007 and ask for Beatrice Watson .
For more information about the Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award and Sybil
Shack Memorial Human Rights Youth Award, contact:
Patricia Knipe
Communications Director
945-5112
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