Cornwall Marks Upcoming Human Rights Day with Thoughtful Celebration

Tonight, I attended Cornwall’s Human Rights Day Celebration, an event that brought together community members to reflect on the importance of human rights and the ongoing efforts to promote equality and justice.

The evening, a collaboration of United for Human Rights Canada and Youth for Human Rights Canada, in partnership with the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area, featured a lineup of thoughtful speakers, namely Ricky Veerappan, Emamsy Mbossa and Alan John Hobbins. Their talks were both engaging and thought-provoking.

Nicole Crellin, the director of United for Human Rights Canada, was the MC for the evening. She guided the program with ease, weaving in her own reflections on the importance of local efforts in advancing human rights.

City Councillor Fred Ngoundjo standing in for the Mayor, reported that council officially declared December 10th as Human Rights Day in the city. It was a meaningful gesture, showing the council’s commitment to recognizing and supporting human rights in our community.

Eric GE Gaye, director of United for Human Rights Cornwall, also spoke about the work being done in our community. His remarks emphasized the importance of education and advocacy at the local level, reminding everyone of the role we can all play in making a difference.

While the event was secular in theory, I feel it is worth noting that United for Human Rights Canada seems to be affiliated with the Church of Scientology. The organization functions under the umbrella of United for Human Rights, a non-profit managed by Church of Scientology International. Its initiatives include promoting both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on human rights. But I digress.

A short documentary was projected, video entertainment by Pamela Boyer was also shown and a few awards were presented.

Light refreshments were provided by the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area, giving attendees a chance to connect with one another and continue the conversations sparked by the evening’s speakers.

It was a calm and thoughtful event, one that left me reflecting on how far we’ve come and how much work remains to be done. Events like this are a good reminder of the importance of community and collective action in creating meaningful change.

If you missed it this year, I highly recommend marking your calendar for next time.