Meet 3 Londoners looking to land spots on city diversity committee
CBC
On Monday London city council's Corporate Services Committee will fill three vacancies on a citizens committee that advises council on issues related to diversity, inclusion and anti-oppression.
Three new members will be named to the Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Community Advisory Committee.
CBC News reached out to candidates running for the committee slots. Here's what three had to say about why they're running.
A French speaker born in Cameroon, Chantal Kamgne Tagatzi has her own translation business and wants to improve access to services in French at the city and all levels of government.
The 45-year-old came to Canada in 2010, spending two years in Quebec before coming to London.
"I absolutely love London," she said.
London has a small Cameroonian community and a large Francophone community, she said.
Tagatzi noted that the committee aims to have at least one French speaker on its board, a need she's keen to fill.
"I saw that's something they are looking for, and I think I can help with that," she said.
She wants to expand access to city services in French. Currently the city's website has a "translate" button for various languages. But the function is what Tagatzi calls "automatic" translation which she said creates a less than optimal translation.
"I just think the city could do better," she said. "Sometimes people can be looking for service in French but not know where to find those services."
Born in Bosnia, Ramic came to Canada in 2018 to work as the Imam at Bosnian Canadian Islamic Centre. Back home, he majored in Islamic studies and law.
Ramic is married with three children. As a potential committee member, he brings the experience of a community that's faced persecution and attempted genocide in the Balkan war which engulfed the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
"I came here because I saw my people struggling," he said. "People who were running for their life, they came to Canada and I came here to work with them. I'm glad I came here because we have an amazing community."
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