Physical disability topos BC Human
Rights Commission complaints

Hu Rights complaints based on
physical disability topped all areas
of complaints received by the BC
Human Rights Commission between
April 1, 1998 and March 31, 1999,
according to the commission’s 1998-
1999 annual report.

In the 1998-99 fiscal year, the
commission dealt with 1,636 cases,
including 760 new cases. The remaining
were backlog cases. Physical disability
complaints represented more than 20
per cent of all those received, followed
by sex complaints at 17.6 per cent, race
at 15.4 per cent and sexual harassment
at 14.5 per cent.

“The sad reality is that people with
disabilities continue to face
discrimination in British Columbia,’
says Mary-Woo Sims, Commission
chair. “I encourage all employers,
unions, businesses and service providers
to be proactive and ensure their policies

and practices are not discriminatory.”

The commission has initiated
discussion with various disability
groups to identify strategies to address
the discrimination.

“Contrary to the findings of the
Human Rights Commission, Capilano
College is fortunate to have employees
who are supportive and knowledgeable
about working with students with
disabilities,’ says Jolene Bordewick,
College Disability Services officer and
chair, Human Rights Committee.
“While Disability Services has had a
200 per cent increase in student
numbers over the past five years, we
have yet to address any direct
complaints of discrimination at our
institution. I believe this is due to the
value placed on student service
initiatives and the generally supportive
learning environment for each student,
regardless of his or her status.

“The College is also fortunate to
have an advocate from the Students’
Union,” Jolene adds, “who actively
engages both students and faculty in
dialogue to ensure they better
understand and support the needs of
this diverse population.”

The commission also announced
that its case investigation backlog has
been eliminated. “With the backlog
gone, we will now be able to
concentrate more on developing
educational initiatives and providing
long-term solutions to systemic
human rights abuses,’ Mary-Woo
says.

Copies of the Human Rights report
are available by calling (604)
660-6811.

Submitted by Jolene Bordewick

Art contest to
raise awareness
of homophobia

mployees and students of Vancouver

Community College invite the
employees and students from all Lower
Mainland colleges to compete in an art
contest on the theme of homophobia.
VCC’s Safer Campus Committee is
sponsoring the competition titled
Respect & Dignity: Confrontin
homophobia through art.

Any art medium will be accepted,
including painting, collage, drawing,
sculpture, video, music and
performance. There will be a $1,000
first place prize, $500 second place
prize, $300 third place prize, plus gift
certificates.

Deadline for submissions is February
16, 2000 at 10 a.m. Art will be
displayed or demonstrated and judged
on February 23, 2000 at 12:15 p.m. at
VCC City Centre, 250 West Pender
Street, Vancouver. There will be a
second showing February 24 at the King
Edward campus located on Broadway
Street.

For more information, call Wayne at
443-8434, or Rob at 871-7040.

College and
university days
at Manning Park

anning Park Resort is offering

special pricing for college and
university students and employees and
their families on December 16 and 17.

For two days only, lift tickets will
be $15, including GST.
Accommodation will be $35 per
person, plus taxes, based on double
occupancy. There is no charge for
children 11 and under when
occupying the same room as their
parents. All rooms have two queen-
sized beds and full bath.

Group accommodation is $21 per
person, plus taxes, for organized
groups (pricing based on one person
per bed) in facilities complete with
kitchen. These facilities include:
cabins (seven people), chalets (12
people) and last resort (25-45 people).
Affiliation and identification is
required.

Visit Manning Park’s Web site for
more information at:
www.manningparkresort.com.

@nformer