When: April 30 (8:00 am – 6:00 pm) & May 1 (8:30 am – 3:00 pm)

Location: Stonebridge Hotel, Grande Prairie, Alberta CANADA

Cost: Regular Rate: $175 + GST (Deadline April 24)

Student Rate: $75 + GST (Deadline April 24)

* Note that a limited number of sponsored registrations are available for anyone with financial restrictions. Please call 780-538-0380 to inquire about a sponsored registration.

FOSTERING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH AWARENESS, ADVOCACY & ACTION

Hosted by;

City of Grande Prairie - Community Social Development

The Fostering Diverse Communities Conference will focus on topics related to building welcoming and inclusive communities in Alberta. The conference will include plenary sessions with key note speakers on both days as well as an entertaining speaker to wrap up the conference. All of the presentations are related to topics of diversity and inclusion and many of them will be interactive including wisdom circles where delegates will share lived experiences and best practices related to diversity. The conference will be informative, meaningful and unique.

WHAT IS THE CONFERENCE ABOUT?

The 2015 Fostering Diverse Communities Conference's emphasis is on current topics of interest to municipalities, businesses, non-profit organizations, immigrant-serving agencies, and the community at large. Presenters come from a variety of backgrounds and have an excellent understanding of what it takes to build welcoming and inclusive communities.

Our keynote speaker on Day One is Zarqa Nawaz, creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie. Topics being covered throughout the Conference include learning about Aboriginal customs and traditions, integration of newcomer youth, sharing of newcomers’ stories, culture shock, how to develop and implement a Welcoming Communities Plan, the Temporary Foreign Worker program – challenges and misconceptions, and Canada’s Multiculturalism Act and policies. See the Conference Agenda below for details.

To wind up the conference we have the very entertaining Ahmed Knowmadic, a Somali-Canadian poet who will share his story of coming to Canada and living as a homeless person when his family went back to Somalia.

CONFERENCE AGENDA and SPEAKER BIOS

Click here for Day One Agenda

Click here for Day Two Agenda

Click here for Speaker Bios

CONFERENCE HOTEL INFORMATION

The Fostering Diverse Communities Conference is being held at the Stonebridge Hotel in Grande Prairie. The address is 12102 - 100 Street.

Book a Hotel Room at the Stonebridge Hotel

The Stonebridge Hotel has a limited number of guest rooms reserved for out of town guests. Click here to go to the hotel website and book your room. Use the code “DIVERSITY” when booking to ensure you receive their special conference rate of $119 plus taxes. Book before March 29.

Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.

WHY GRANDE PRAIRIE?

In 2006 Grande Prairie City Council passed a motion to join the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CCMARD) subsequently created a Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) Committee. The Committee is made up of representatives from local agencies including the Grande Prairie Centre for Newcomers, l’association canadienne-française de l’Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning, Crime Prevention Cultural Integration Academy, and Grande Prairie Public Library. The Committee is headed by Lisa Watson at Community Social Development (CSD). CSD was approached by past Grande Prairie resident and former committee member Tymmarah Zehr, M.A., with a proposal to host a conference in response to her thesis research findings.

As part of Zehr’s thesis research Grande Prairie residents attended an art exhibit by local artists whose visual and performance artwork reflected the stories of newcomers to Canada in the City. Attendees completed a survey that was used to create a report and action plan with ideas to help make the community more welcoming to future newcomers. Respondents indicated a deep desire to learn more about newcomers and to reduce racism and discrimination in the community. This conference is in response to these interests.

FAQs

Who may I speak to if I have any questions?

Questions may be directed to Conference organizers:

Tymmarah Zehr: tymmarah@gmail.com or 780-850-8966

Lisa Watson: lwatson@cityofgp.com or 780-538-0345

Is my registration transferrable?

If you are an Early Bird or Regular Registrant, yes, until the registration deadline April 17, 2015. Please contact Tymmarah Zehr (see above) to advise who the new registrant will be.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes. Please contact Tymmarah Zehr (see above) with any changes you may have. Changes will be accepted until the registration deadline April 24, 2015.

I have food restrictions/allergies. Will this be taken into consideration during the Conference?

Yes. When you register you will be able to identify yourself as a vegetarian, vegan or someone with food allergies and will be prompted to provide details. Also, please identify your food restriction at the Registration Desk during the Conference.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No. There are no tickets for this event. Please check in with the registration desk when you arrive at the Conference.

What is the refund policy?

Refund of 2015 Fostering Diverse Communities Conference registration fee, less an administrative fee of 25%, will be made if written notice of cancellation is made no later than March 31, 2015. Refund of 2015 Fostering Diverse Communities Conference registration fee, less an administrative fee of 50%, will be made if written notice of cancellation is made no later than April 24, 2015. Registrants whose cancellation requests are made after April 24, 2015 will NOT be entitled to a refund. Cancellation of registration for this event must be made via email to tymmarah@gmail.com and will not be considered accepted unless you receive a reply back confirming receipt of your cancellation.

Will free wifi be available during the Conference?

Yes. The wifi login and password will be in the Conference program.

Is social media being used for this Conference?

Yes. Facebook and Twitter are being used to promote this event and to share information about the event. The hashtag for the event is #FDCC2015. Live Tweeting during the event is encouraged and will be projected on a screen during the Conference.

Conference delegates will also have the opportunity to upload photos taken during the Conference to share with other delegates. Details will be included in your Conference program available at the registration desk when you check in.

Are there any pre-conference events happening in Grande Prairie?

Yes. These workshops are separate from the Conference and you must register/purchase tickets separately. See details below.

APRIL 29TH PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS - SAFE HARBOUR: RESPECT FOR ALL

Safe Harbour: Respect for All is a long-standing program that puts vision into action: creating opportunities for storefront businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities to celebrate our differences, helping to create more welcoming communities that support diversity and reject discrimination. The Safe Harbour: Respect for All designation allows organizations to demonstrate their inclusive values to their employees, customers or clients, and their communities.

The Safe Harbour: Respect for All program invites local businesses, financial institutions, non-profit agencies, public institutions and municipalities to make an ongoing commitment to providing equitable service to all community members.

To become a Safe Harbour certified location, one or more managers or frontline staff complete the interactive 3 hour Safe Harbour workshop and sign the Commitment Form on behalf of their store, agency, branch, department or office. Participants will receive a workbook, certificate, window decal, and promotional materials and will be listed as a certified location in the media release sent out after the workshops. Find out more about the Safe Harbour: Respect for All program here.

When: April 29, 2015
Times: Pre-Conference Workshop 1 is 9 am to noon
Pre-Conference Workshop 2 is 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Cost: $50/person + GST

Click here to register for a Pre-Conference Safe Harbour: Respect for All Workshop.