In December 2004, the Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity partnered with the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board to present a writing contest entitled "In Your Words" to students from across the Durham Region.

The writing contest invited students from grades 2 to 12 to submit a written piece to the statement "It is important that I help stop discrimination because ...". The response to the writing contest was overwhelming with over 300 entries received. A distinguished panel of judges have reviewed the entries and selected three winning entries per age category.

Special thanks to our distinguished panel of judges:

• Mark Holland, Member of Parliament Ajax-Pickering
• Cynthia Mearns, Chief Executive Officer, Pickering Public Library
• Danielle Milley, Staff Writer, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser
• David Stell, News Editor, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser
• Youssef Mroueh, President, Canadian Multicultural Forum
• Muttukumaru Chadndrakumaran, President, Durham Tamil Association

Winners of the "In Your Words" Writing Contest are:
Category One (Grade 2-5)
First Place:
Brittany Beharry, Grade 5
Lester B. Pearson Public School

Second Place:
Ian Heritage, Grade 5
Lester B. Pearson Public School

Third Place:
Raquel Bramble, Grade 3
St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School

Category Two (Grade 6-8)
First Place:
Tiera Dookhie, Grade 8
Dr. Roberta Bondar Public School

Second Place:
Lisa Crowder, Grade 8
Sir William Stephenson Public School

Third Place:
Brynn Thistle, Grade 8
E.A. Fairmand Public School

Category Three (Grade 9-12)
First Place:
Melissa Brown, Grade 12
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School

Second Place:
Nala Balarajan, Grade 10
Dunbarton High School

Third Place:
Matthew D'Souza, Grade 12
Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School

The Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity showcased the winning entries in a display in the lobby of the Pickering Civic Complex and on the city's website at cityofpickering.com during the month of March 2005.  The first place winning entry in each category was also printed in the Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser on March 30^th, 2005.

It is fitting that the winning entries of this writing contest were featured in March, as March is also the month for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  Since 1966, March 21^st has been recognized by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in response to the killing of 70 peaceful demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa in 1960.

In order to commemorate March 21^st, the Pickering Advisory Committee on Race Relations & Equity also hosted the 2005 Race Relations Forum on Wednesday, March 23^rd, 2005 at 7pm in Council Chambers of the Pickering Civic Complex.  The 2005 Race Relations Forum provided a platform for students to share their winning entries.  The 2005 Race Relations Forum also featured guest speaker Zanana Akande, President of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations.

Writing Contest winners with Writing Contest Judges - Back Row features judges (Left to Right) Danielle Milley, Staff Writing, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser, Muttukumaru Chandrakumaran, President, Durham Tamil Association, Councillor Pickles, Chair, Pickering Advisory Committee of Race Relations & Equity, David Stell, News Editor, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser, Youssef Mroueh, President Canadian Multicultural Forum.

Writing Contest winners with Councillor Pickles, Chair, Pickering Advisory Committee of Race Relations & Equity and members of Council.