Media Release – Stratford Highlights Diversity in New Committee Member Appointments
For Immediate Release: January 18, 2017
The Town of Stratford recently took an important step to ensure that its appointed committee members are more representative of its community. Councillor Gail MacDonald moved the resolution to approve the new Town of Stratford Committee member appointments last Wednesday at the Stratford Town Council meeting, noting a special focus on diversity and inclusion. Council developed a new committee appointment process in 2016 in an effort to ensure that town advisory committees better represent and reflect the diverse demographics of our residents. Residents were invited to formally apply to sit on a committee, highlighting their background and experience as well as their committee preference. A Volunteer Selection Subcommittee was formed last month to review and organize the applications submitted by prospective committee volunteers, and make recommendations for the new 2017-2018 committees and subcommittees. The volunteer selection subcommittee consisted of Mayor David Dunphy, Councillor MacDonald, and the Chair of the Town's Diversity and Inclusion committee Thilak Tennekone, with the assistance of Community Engagement Coordinator Erin Clarke.
The selection committee took into consideration each applicant's experience and specialized skills set, while endeavoring to achieve age and gender balance, and increase diversity within the committees. "We want our committees to better represent the residents of our multicultural and inclusive community," says Mayor Dunphy.
As a result, the new committees are now comprised of 45% women and 55% men from a variety of age demographics. There were 18 new committee members appointed who will bring a fresh perspective to their particular committee. The Town of Stratford is fortunate to have newer immigrants represent 10% of the committee membership. Having diverse opinions and views within the committees will help to create a more inclusive culture ensuring decisions are made that address the diversity of needs within the community. The Town hopes to see even more females, and people from all ethno-cultural backgrounds and gender identification apply in the future so that town committees are as diverse as Stratford's population.
Mayor David Dunphy also announced the official appointment of the new Chairs and Vice-Chairs earlier in the month for the 2017-18 Stratford Town Council Committees. Traditionally, Mayor Dunphy appoints councillors to new committees every two years, in order to give them additional experience with the various departments within the Town. As the committees are constituted for a two-year term, Mayor Dunphy is aligning the new assignment of Chair and Vice-Chair responsibilities with the new committee cycle. The appointment of former Councillor Diane Griffin to the Senate of Canada also created a few Chair and Vice-Chair vacancies to be filled.
Mayor Dunphy adds, "Our new members bring unique perspectives and expertise to our committees. Their experience, combined with the knowledge and abilities of our new committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs, will contribute to a very promising future for our community." A copy of the new Council Chairs and Vice-Chairs is attached.
-30-
For more information please contact:
Erin Clarke, Community Engagement Coordinator
Town of Stratford
T: (902) 569-6921
E: [email protected]
New Town Council Committee Appointments
The official appointments to the 2017-18 Town Committees are as follows:
- Councillor Gary Clow
- Chair of the Safety Services Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Accountability and Engagement Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Human Resources Committee
- Councillor Randy Cooper
- Deputy Mayor
- Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee
- Chair of the Human Resources Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Infrastructure Committee
- Member of the Planning Committee
- Councillor Gail MacDonald
- Chair of the Recreation, Culture and Events Committee
- Chair of the Stratford Seniors' Complex Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee
- Member of the Human Resources Committee
- Councillor Keith MacLean
- Chair of the Planning Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Sustainability Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee
- Member of the Human Resources Committee
- Councillor Steve Ogden
- Chair of the Accountability and Engagement Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Safety Services Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Recreation, Culture and Events Committee
- Member of the Human Resources Committee
Mayor Dunphy, who sits on each of the Committees in an ex-officio capacity, will act as the Chair of the Sustainability Committee and the Infrastructure Committee, and serve as a member of the Human Resources Committee.