Local Community Engagement on Human Rights Day

On December 10, 2010 Dr. Toni Samek participated in the Human Rights Day Symposium at Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park, Alberta alongside fellow speakers Mark McCormack (Make Poverty History), Siavash Saffari (Palestinian Solidarity Network), Karen Chinaleong-Brooks (Peace Ambassador Project - The Centre for Race and Culture), Sergeant G. Cook (Edmonton Police Service and member of RCMP Peacekeeping Operations Branch that completed a nine month mission in the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo Province in 2002 ), Maureen Towns (Barrister and Solicitor and Director of School Review Act Initiative at Alberta Education), Chelsea Evan-Rymes (Legislative Consultant, Alberta Education), Isabelle Nash and Cathy Garvey (Amnesty International), Maigan van der Giessen (John Humphrey Center for Peace and Human Rights), Howie Phung (The Responsibility to Protect Vulnerable Populations in Burma/Myanmar). Throughout the day, grade 10-12 social studies students rotated to sessions with each panelist and engaged in open conversation about the theme for Human Rights Day 2010: human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. Dr. Samek's educational focus was intellectual freedom. The annual event was organized by Janice Sundar (Teacher-Librarian, Salisbury Composite High School).