Project Remember Rwanda
Toronto Initiatives
Minutes

June 11, 2002
7:30 – 9:30 pm
Jewish Community Center
70 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario

Present: Alphonse Barikage, Léo Kabalisa, Béatrice Mukayiranga, Ntare Sharangabo, Annonciata Mutarabayire, John Rukumbura, Callixte Kayijuka, Laura Uwase, Solange Umwali, Imanzi Habamenshi, Joy Mukarage, Paul Rwigema, Elie Shumbusho, Zeff Gahamanyi, Gerry Caplan, Carole Ann Reed

 

No.

Issue

Action

Who?

Bring Forward
1. Approval of Minutes N/A as no minutes were taken at our previous meeting    
2.

Selection of a Chairperson

 Béa was the only nominee and was chosen by acclamation    
3. Selection of a meeting record keeper Alphonse was the only nominee and was chosen by acclamation     
4. Suggestions for local initiatives The following initiatives were put forward: 

1.  An Information/ Educational
    conference to be organized in
    partnership with a university

2.  Organize a protest march at
     UN headquarters NY

3.  Collection of testimonies of
     survivors living in Toronto

4.  Put forward a  request to City of Toronto to designate a space in a Toronto Park to commemorate the Rwandan Genocide 

5.  Bisesero:  send contributions
     to help build a commemorative
     site already being built there

6.   Heritage moments with
     Heritage Canada: Ask Heritage
     Canada to feature Rwandan
     Genocide Survivors who have
     now become Canadian
     Citizens as a way of
     commemorating the Rwandan
     Genocide

7.   Toronto – have a city wide
     commemorative week

8.   Help develop a curriculum/ have
     speakers available for schools

9.   Start a bank fund

10. Organize an African wide essay
     contest on the Genocide

After discussion, it was agreed to start with the following initiatives:  

1.      Hold a conference in partnership with a university

2.      Collect survivors testimonies

3.      Build a commemorative space in a Park

4.   A city wide commemorative week
 

    
5. Form committees Only two committees were formed to deal with all four initiatives:

1. The first committee will deal with both the conference and the collection of survivor testimonies

2. The second committee will deal with the building of a memorial space in a Park and will organize a city wide commemorative week

 * It was agreed to form the two committees right away
 *The committees will be allow new members to join a committee their choice at any time		 Volunteers for the first Committee are:

Leo Kabalisa, Carole Ann Reed, Ntare Sharangabo, Imanzi Habamenshi Elie Shumbusho, Paul
 RwigemaVolunteers for 2nd Comm:

Paul Rwigema, Callixte Kayijuka, John Rukumbura, Elie Shumbusho , Alphonse Barikage, Leo Kabalisa 		Bring forward item as a standing item
6. Choose meetings for committees and next plenary report back meeting Bring forward item in next meeting
A.O.B.
1. Rwandan Conference of June 29, 2002 in Montreal Handouts about Project Remember Rwanda to be taken to Montreal for distribution at the conference Ntare Sharangabo and Paul Rwigema

Next  Meeting:  July 9, 2002