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EQUITY & HUMAN RIGHTS THE OFL TEAM EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE OFFICERS: Shannon Devine, Executive Assistant OFL & ODRT DIRECTORS Melisa Bayon, Campaign Organizer Joel Duff, Communications Director Vern Edwards, Health & Safety Director Rob Halpin, Director of Research and Education & ODRT Project Coordinator Laurie Hardwick, Organization Services Director Jane Liu, Controller Carrol Anne Sceviour, Human Rights and Women’s Director Elizabeth Smith-VanBeek, Director of Administration OFL & ODRT STAFF Judy Chow, Executive Secretary (SecretaryTreasurer & Administration) Paulette Hazel, Secretary Brian Morgan, DocuTech Operator Kathy Neumann, Executive Secretary (President and Exec. V.P.) Ethiraju Ramachandar, Secretary / Bookkeeper Sylvia Stewart, Secretary LABOUR & HUMAN RIGHTS DATES April 23 Anniversary of the CLC (1956) Apr 28 Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job May Asian & South Asian Heritage Month May 1 May Day May 17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Injured Workers’ Day June 1 June 1-7 Sexual Harassment Awareness Week June 12 World Day Against Child Labour June 21 National Aboriginal Day June 27 National Multicultural Day July LGBTQ Pride Month July 1 Canada Day Aug. 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People Sep. 5 Labour Day 18 DAY OF PINK TAKES ON BULLYING Every year, LGBTQ students, workers and their allies celebrate the second Wednesday of April as the Day of Pink. The OFL called upon workers across the province to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities to challenge bullying in all its forms, including homophobic and transphobic bullying. The Day of Pink got its start in Nova Scotia when two straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The two students decided to wear pink shirts in solidarity with their classmate and, a few days later, got everyone at school to share in this expression of support by wearing pink to class. By creating a “sea of pink” in their school, these students helped to trigger an international movement to challenge homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools. In Canada, three-quarters of students and 61 percent of students with LGBTQ parents report that they feel unsafe at school, according to the EGALE Canada national school survey. “Bullying, intimidation, prejudice and discrimination has an impact on everyone, not just the people who are targeted by it. When we allow members of any community to be marginalized and dehumanized, we contribute to a hidden form of violence,” said OFL Secretary-Treasurer Patty Coates. OFL Officers and staff join the Pride and Solidarity Committee in recognizing April 13, 2016 as the “Day of Pink.” Photo: Brian Morgan Apr. 29 – May 8: Guelph Pride www.guelphpride.com May 27 – May 29 Elliot Lake Pride www.elpride.ca May 28 – Jun. 4 Pride Niagara www.prideniagara.com Jun. 18 Jun. 4 Kingston Pride www.kingstonpride.ca Jun. 1 – Jun. 5 Pride Durham www.pridedurham.com Barrie Pride www.barriepride.com Jun.6 – Jun. 11 Timmins Pride www.timminspride.com Jun. 11 – Jun. 18 Thunder Bay Pride www.thunderpride.com Jun.11 – Jun. 19 York Pride www.yorkpridefest.com Jun. 18 Jun. 18 Hamilton Pride www.pridehamilton.ca Brantford Pride www.brantfordpride.ca Jun. 24 – Jun. 26 Kenora Pride Facebook “Kenora Pride” ONTARIO PRIDE EVENTS Jun. 24 – Jul. 3 Pride Toronto www.pridetoronto.com Jul. 16 – Jul. 23 Belleville Pride www.bellevillepride.ca Jul. 18 – Jul. 23 Sudbury Pride www.sudburypride.com Jul. 15 – Jul. 24 Muskoka Pride www.gaymuskoka.com Jul. 11 – Jul. 16 Peel Pride www.peelpride.ca Brockville Pride Jul. 16 https://sites.google.com/site/ brockvillepride Jul. 14 – Jul. 24 Pride London www.pridelondon.ca Jul. 28 – Aug. 6 Simcoe County Pride www.simcoepride.com Aug. 3 – Aug. 7 Windsor-Essex Pride Festival www.wepridefest.com Aug. 15 – Aug. 21 Capital Pride (Ottawa) www.capitalpride.ca Sep. 17 – Sep. 24 Peterborough Pride www.peterboroughpride.ca This list of LGBTQ Pride events across Ontario is accurate at the time of printing. Please check your local listings for the most current updates. SPRING 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2