Tar ponds cleanup on agenda of session
By Greg McNeil
Cape Breton Post
Mon., Oct. 22, 2007
SYDNEY - The tar ponds site and the
potential role of the local African Nova
Scotia community in its cleanup will
highlight the agenda of today’s information
session at Menelik Hall in
Whitney Pier.
The session was initiated by the
Sydney Tar Ponds Agency in conjunction
with the African Nova Scotian
Employment Centre.
Officials with the employment centre
hope the day-long meeting will help
to build upon an already positive relationship
between the two groups.
"We’ve been working with them in
partnership and there have been developments,"
said Karen Green MacIver,
executive director of the centre.
"However, there is still more that
needs to be developed. We need to get
this message out to the contractors to
say ‘how about looking at your equity
policies and make them a little more
inclusive to include us.’"
The session will review important
events within the local African Nova
Scotian community, such as the history
of their arrival in Whitney Pier.
Hopes and aspirations for the future
and ways to build upon the current
relationship will also be discussed.
"We will express some of the present
challenges in order to place the session
in the present context of development."
After similar discussions with the
local aboriginal community, the Sydney
Tar Ponds Agency approached the
African Nova Scotian Employment
Centre about the sessions.
"It is for information purposes to
learn more about the culture, their history
and the connection to the site,"
said communications officer Tanya
Collier-MacDonald.
"It will help us be more aware of
issues facing African Nova Scotians."
gmcneil@cbpost.com
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