Diversity march planned for Saturday

In an effort to welcome people of diverse backgrounds to the community, a group of young people are hosting an event featuring a march and music in Cedarvale Park on Saturday. Welcoming Diversity-- A March and Music will be held from 2-8 p.m. The march begins at Remembrance Park at 2 p.m. and heads down Main Street's sidewalk to Cedarvale Park where there will be food and entertainment. Everyone who supports welcoming diversity is encouraged to participate and people are asked to bring flags of various countries or the Pride flag, as well as signs supporting human rights issues. The event is the inspiration of a group of youth involved in Peer Outreach Support Services & Education (POSSE) Project in north Halton who believe everyone has the right to feel safe in the community regardless of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, class, sub-culture or abilities. "Georgetown and a lot of Halton is known for racism, so it seemed like a good place to start," said Delta Hillyard, 19, a former Georgetown resident who is one of the organizers of the event. "If I'm walking down the street with someone of colour or someone who is outwardly gay, names and looks are thrown our way because of them." She said she hopes the march will in the future allow people of all origins to "feel welcome and safe" here. The event is in part a response to the appearance of hooded KKK members on Main St. Georgetown 15 years ago. That's why the group has decided to march through that area of town. "We want to reclaim that space," said Teri Doell, 18, of Georgetown, another organizer of the event. She said one of the goals of Welcoming Diversity is to "make people acknowledge that safety in a community is a human right." Before the march begins there will be speeches and flag raisings. Participants are encouraged to get to Remembrance Park between 1:30-1:45 p.m. They are asked to park their cars at Cedarvale Park and walk to Remembrance Park located at Princess Anne Dr. and Charles St. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening there will be entertainment and food in Cedarvale Park. A steel drum band will perform 3-3:45 p.m., followed by African Story Telling, 4-5 p.m. followed by a reggae band, 5-7 p.m. Falafels, samosas, pakoras, hot dogs and sausages will be sold. The event is in partnership with POSSE Project, Halton Multi-Cultural Council, North Halton Cultural Awareness

Welcoming Diversity - A March and Music, set for Saturday, is the inspiration of a group of youths involved with the Peer Outreach Support Services & Education (POSSE) Project. Organizers of the event include from left Delta Hillyard, Kimm Kent of POSSE and Teri Doell. Council, Halton Organization of Pride & Education (HOPE), Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton, Metis Women's Circle, Fraser Direct Ltd., and the Ontario Trillium Foundation ($2,000). For more information on the event call POSSE Project at 519-853-5908.