The Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation hosted our second All Candidates Town Hall on May 18, 2022. Instead of a debate, this event invited the political candidates for the 2022 Provincial Election together to discuss how their respective platforms will support Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) as well as other underrepresented groups in Canada and our community. Canadian Colours of Kingston Foundation was created to bring different cultures, mindsets and backgrounds together to foster understanding and communication and embrace change to create a diverse and inclusive community. We believe this responsibility also lies with educating and understanding not only our community members, but also our politicians about the issues being faced in our community. This event will provide an opportunity for candidates to discuss how their platforms will support the BIPOC and underrepresented communities over the next four years and get a chance to hear from some of the underrepresented groups in Kingston. The Candidates and Their Platforms: Ted Hsu – Liberal Party of Ontario https://www.tedhsu.ca/ Gary Bennett – Conservative Party of Ontario https://kati.ontariopc.ca/ Mary Rita Holland – New Democratic Party of Ontario https://www.maryritaholland.com/ Zachary Typhair – Green Party of Ontario https://gpo.ca/candidate/zachary-typhair/ Dr. Shalea Beckwith - The Ontario Party https://shaleabeckwith.ca/ Steven Skyvington - New Blue Party of Ontario https://www.newblueontario.com/kingston-and-the-islands Shelley Galloway - Independent Sebastian Vallencourt - The Communist Party of Ontario (Absent) https://communistpartyontario.ca/candidates/kingston-and-the-islands-sebastian-vaillancourt/ https://voterinformationservice.elections.on.ca/en/election/4-general-election-jun-2-2022/46-kingston-and-the-islands?tab=candidates View the full town hall discussion from YourTV Kingston below: (Canadian Colours) What, if any, issues and policies at Queen’s Park would you consider your ‘top priority’ in terms of changes to be made, and in what ways would you ensure that these policy changes include equitable, diverse and inclusive perspectives?   (LGBTQ+ Community) According to The United Way’s most recent report on youth homelessness, youth from marginalized communities represent a disproportionate share of homeless in the region.

• • 30% self-identify as Indigenous
  • 37% as LGBQ+
  • 11% as transgender or gender non-conforming

For many, being homeless is the rejection by family members to accept their sexual orientation or gender identity. What solutions do you propose to help address these challenges and to find a way to help these youth at this vulnerable time in their lives? (Jewish Council, Indigenous Community) The K-12 school curriculum in Ontario pays very little attention to the experiences of the Black, Indigenous, and new immigrant communities, and rarely conveys references to the struggles of religious and other ethnic groups in Canada’s history. What would your candidacy do to support the creation of a school curriculum that is more inclusive, informed by expert research and works to ‘decolonize’ and fight racism in schools? (LGBTQ+ Community) Kingston is home to the greatest population of Canadians who self-identify as transgender or non-binary per capita in all of Ontario, and the 5th most gender diverse urban centre within Canada. Currently, healthcare and social services available do not reflect the needs of this growing population in Kingston, and Ontario, meaning that local residents find they need to seek help for professional services in Toronto or Ottawa, making access to health care expensive and hard to obtain. What will you do to improve the availability of health and social services to meet these needs? (Muslim Community) What plans do you have to reduce acts of hate including Islamophobia in the province to become a leader amongst the provinces? How will you support the London family act?  (Canadian Colours) If elected, how will you ensure that the voices of your constituents is representative of the entire community, including underrepresented populations, rather than maintaining the status quo and listening to those speaking loudest?  

Celebrating Humanity and Spreading Love with Project Red Rose this Valentine’s Day KINGSTON, ONTARIO, February 14th - Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation (CCKF) continues 5th annual Project Red Rose, an event that partners with organizations that support marginalized members of the community to make a meal available to people during Valentine's Day. Canadian Colours of Kingston Foundation was created to bring our different cultures together and to foster understanding and communication, by changing the narrative and understanding of what true diversity is. Project Red stands by this mission and wants to bring unity among the Kingston community on Valentine’s Day.   Prior to COVID-19, Project Red Rose offered a full-course Valentine’s Day meal. Due to restrictions, CCFK has partnered with Pizza Pizza 705 on Bath Rd. to spread the love on Valentine's Day, one slice at a time. This year, CCKF aims to feed over 500 Kingstonians on Monday (February 14th) through Martha’s Table, St. Vincent De Paul & Elizabeth Fry Society of Kingston and through Dawn House and Lunch by George on Tuesday (February 15th). 

“These associations, and many others in Kingston, are continuously helping marginalized individuals in the Kingston community to make sure people are supported and most importantly fed. It is up to the generosity of the community to ensure these groups can continue to operate year around,” says CCFK President, Jimmy Hassan. “I am happy that CCFK can help raise awareness about the resources available with initiatives such as this.”

Consider spreading the love yourself, and assist or donate, to any one of these wonderful organizations. These associations are constantly helping individuals in the Kingston community, and would welcome support from others wanting to contribute.  Happy Valentine’s Day from Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation to all. Let’s all spread the love together this Valentine’s Day, and all the days following.  ----- About Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to encourage and promote diversity within Kingston. CCKF believes that diversity shouldn’t contradict Canadian values and true diversity is non-political, colour blind, and that everyone should be treated equally. CCKF was created to bring our different cultures together and to foster understanding and communication, by changing the narrative and understanding of diversity.   About Martha's Table Kingston Martha’s Table is a community centre that provides a comforting place where people in need can have a loving meal and find social support within the community of volunteers and friends.  http://www.marthastable.ca/    About St. Vincent De Paul St Vincent De Paul offers a hot meal during lunch, five days a week and all year long. They provide a WearHouse which supplies free household items and clothing to those who visit. Lastly, they offer an Emergency Food Pantry to aid those in the community who are short on food supplies.  http://www.svdpkingston.com/    About Lunch by George Lunch by George coordinates resources to provide food and clothing to the vulnerable and extend financial support to charitable agencies that serve children and/or abused women in the City of Kingston.  https://lunchbygeorge.ca/    About Dawn House Kingston Dawn House Kingston is a local charity supporting and empowering homeless, vulnerably housed, and marginalized women living in poverty. The organization currently provides affordable supportive housing, transitional housing, and wellness supports.  https://www.dawnhouse.ca/    About Elizabeth Fry Society Kingston Elizabeth Fry Society Kingston is an organization which empowers women through community outreach, social justice services, and affordable housing.  https://www.efrykingston.ca/