International Mother Language Day

February 21 is International Mother Language Day. This year, I joined many others to celebrate in Winnipeg on February 20. I joined many in our community who have roots in Bangladesh as well as other from other countries who also joined the celebration. The origin of International Mother Language Day is in Bangladesh. When a decision was made in the early 1950s that the Bengali language would not be an official language of Pakistan (Bangladesh was then East Pakistan), there were many protests, with one particularly notable one on February 21, 1952. In time, by 1956, Bengali was accepted as an official language of Pakistan. However the differences between East and West Pakistan were large and in 1971 Bangladesh became independent. The importance of a person's mother language was recognized first as Mother Language Day in Bangladesh. By 1999, February 21 was recognized as International Mother Language Day by the United Nations. Today, it is celebrated around the world. The importance of a person's mother language is increasingly recognized. It is important for a child to have roots in the child's mother language and culture. Language and culture are closely tied together. A grounding in a person's mother language and culture is important to be able to reach out with strength to others around the world and to part of the diversity that is the increasingly recognized as a strength of human organizations and human societies. During the celebration many young people were recognized for their drawings and paintings and their dancing. One is below. And further below is a photo of the International Mother Language Plaza in Winnipeg with councillors Janice Lukes and Markus Chambers were able to help achieve.

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Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March. South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory. The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions. This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14. Manitoba ( red line ) started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then. South Dakota ( blue line ) has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4. Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed. In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue. We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject. Please come out to the Forum. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link

The Gerrard Report

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