The following proclamations, signed by Mayor Danny Breen in 2022, recognize the efforts groups make to enhance our community.
See the archived list of past proclamations (prior to September 2020).
March |
Woman, Life, Freedom Month
|
February |
Black History MonthWHEREAS: Black History Month is an internationally recognized annual celebration designed to highlight and recognize the actions, achievements and contributions of Black people around the world. WHEREAS: We currently live on unceded Indigenous territory, and Black Lives Matter NL knows that as there is no Black liberation on stolen land; and WHEREAS: Black Lives Matter NL asks the City of St. John’s to recognize and strengthen the historical relationships between Indigenous Peoples and the Black community; and WHEREAS: Black people have been a part of Canada, since the early 1600’s, and have contributed to the country’s and province’s growth, despite the presence of systemic anti-Black racism and other forms of systemic oppression; WHEREAS: The City of St. John’s recognizes the significant cultural, social, political and economic contributions that Black people continue to make to the City of St. John’s and across the province. WHEREAS: Black Lives Matter NL is a non-profit organization that fights against anti-Black racism, supports the Black community of Newfoundland and Labrador, fosters Black-centric networks, and works towards liberation from all state-sanctioned forms of oppression, injustice violence and brutality against vulnerable and marginalized communities; and WHEREAS: We ask that The City of St. John’s and community partners of BLMNL pledge to host inclusive events and activities which focus on celebrating Black peoples within the province in the month of February and throughout the year; and WHEREAS: BLMNL also pledges to host online events, such as ‘Coils, Curls and Conversations: Redefining Our Standards of Beauty’ designed to celebrate the multiplicity of Black people and cultures in NL, as well as educate and create awareness about racism, colourism and texturism; and WHEREAS: The City recognizes that proclaiming February as Black History Month is only one small step in the long journey towards dismantling systemic racism and oppression of Black people and other marginalized groups in our community, and thus The City of St. John’s commits to take more steps towards this goal; and THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February as Black History Month in the City of St. John’s. Signed at City Hall, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on February 2, 2023.
Violence Prevention MonthWHEREAS: the Violence Prevention Initiative of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is based on a vision that the people of our province will live in safe, caring communities, where there is an inherent respect for each other, and violence of any sort is unacceptable; and WHEREAS: the solution to eradicating violence against those most at risk in our society—women, children, and youth, Aboriginal women and children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and others who are victims of violence because of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic status—is through a collaborative effort between the Provincial Government and the community to improve services and to educate all residents of our province about violence prevention; and WHEREAS: the City of St. John’s, with its community partners has been working to improve services to victims of violence and violence prevention programs for many years; and, WHEREAS: the City of St. John’s promotes self-reliant, healthy, educated individuals and families living in safe, nurturing communities; and WHEREAS: the City of St. John’s has made a commitment to partner with the community to seek long-term solutions to violence; THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February as Violence Prevention Month in the City of St. John’s, February 6, 2023.
Eating Disorders Awareness WeekWHEREAS: An Eating Disorder is a serious mental illness with often devastating physical implications; and WHEREAS: Eating Disorders affect many individuals and families in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador; and WHEREAS: Recovery from an eating disorder is a journey that includes support from families and caregivers; and WHEREAS: The Eating Disorder Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador is the leading advocacy group dedicated to promoting support, treatment services, and providing public support services and information about matters related to eating disorders throughout the province; and WHEREAS: February 1–7, 2023, is dedicated across Newfoundland and Labrador and the entire country as a special time when many educational and awareness activities take place to help raise the level of understanding of Eating Disorder Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery; and WHEREAS: The theme for Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023 is “Transforming the Narrative from Asks to Action”; THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February 1, 2023 as Eating Disorders Awareness Week in the City of St. John’s. Signed at City Hall, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on this Thirtieth day of January 2023.
International Walk and Wheel to School DayWHEREAS: The City of St. John’s recognizes that February is International Winter Walk and Wheel to School month (iWALK-iWHEEL). iWALK-iWHEEL gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of active transportation; and WHEREAS: The City of St. John’s Recreation Division has celebrated iWALK-iWHEEL for 13 years, and would like to continue to bring awareness to this event in our community; and WHEREAS: In recognition of iWALK-iWHEEL 2023, the City of St. John’s is encouraging all students in St. John’s to participate by walking or wheeling to school on February first . The City of St. John’s is supporting this initiative by encouraging schools to host school walks and providing brochures containing safe walking tips to distribute to students, and resource packages for teachers to encourage walking and wheeling to school. Furthermore, City of St. John’s After School Programs are participating by providing participants with the opportunity to walk and wheel after school; and WHEREAS: By walking and wheeling to and from school, students can experience firsthand how easy it is to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives; THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February 1, 2023 as International Walk & Wheel to School Day in the City of St. John’s. Signed at City Hall, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador on January 30, 2023.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital MutilationWHEREAS International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an opportunity to honour everyone— including women, girls, boys, men and gender diverse people—who is actively and courageously working towards an end to this harmful practice, and WHEREAS 4.1 million girls are still at risk of mutilation each year, including girls in Canada, and WHEREAS female genital mutilation (FGM) is an issue in more than 90 countries on every continent except Antarctica, and there are at least 200 million FGM survivors in the world, including an estimated 100,000 or more survivors in Canada, and WHEREAS FGM has no benefits and causes only harm, including death, difficulties with urination, menstruation and sexual intimacy; post-traumatic stress disorder, gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia and increased maternal and child mortality—and is recognized by the United Nations and other global organizations as child abuse and an abuse of a girl’s fundamental human rights, and WHEREAS International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate all national and international efforts, especially grassroots efforts, to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which calls for the elimination of FGM and other harmful practices by 2030, and WHEREAS the city of St. John’s, in the Province of Newfoundland Labrador supports the human rights of women and girls so they can live a life free from the violence that is female genital mutilation; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that February 6, 2023, shall be known as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Wear Red Canada DayWHEREAS: Heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death for Canadian women, a fact unknown to many women and their healthcare providers; and WHEREAS: The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance is an organization of volunteer health professionals and patients working hard to improve women’s heart health; and WHEREAS: Wear Red Canada Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness for all Canadians, but especially Canadian women, to be mindful, curious, and proactive in the management of their heart health and wellness; and WHEREAS: We want to see better prevention, diagnosis, and care and fewer women dying prematurely from heart disease; THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February, 13, 2023 Wear Red Canada Day in the City of St. John’s. Signed at City Hall, St John’s, NL February 13, 2023.
Heritage Day and WeekWHEREAS: The third Monday in February is recognized nationally as Heritage Day; and WHEREAS: Heritage Day and Heritage Week are a time to reflect on the achievements of past generations and to accept responsibility for protecting our heritage; and WHEREAS: Our citizens should be encouraged to celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador’s uniqueness and to rejoice in our heritage and environment; and WHEREAS: In 2023 the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will celebrate our rich and diverse heritage; THEREFORE: I, Mayor Danny Breen, do hereby proclaim February 20, 2023 as Heritage Day and February 20th-26th as Heritage Week in the City of St. John’s, and call upon all citizens to celebrate the richness of our past and the promise of our future. Signed at City Hall, St. John’s, NL February 20, 2023.
|
Contact Us