This month, our REALTalk Series will explore ways to engage in the upcoming municipal election.
Presented by NEXTNiagara and Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association.
We will discuss how to engage in the political process other than putting your name on a ballot; understanding roles to be filled other than candidacy; and the importance of showing up to vote on October 24.
Panelists:
Evelyn Bailey, Niagara Falls Arts & Culture Committee
Evelyn Bailey is a traditional artist with a Degree in the art of Animation. She began her journey in Niagara by participating in the Artists discovery program under the mentorship of Antoine Gaber. She currently sits on the Art and Culture Committee in Niagara Falls for 4 years and is the feature artist of the Brilliant Minded Women’s Foundation and organization. She is a mother of twin boys and passionate entrepreneur, recently launching her digital art production company Enlightened Art Inc.
Luca Bonifacio, Former Campaign Manager
Luca Bonifacio-Proietto was raised in St. Catharines. Luca is a graduate of Queen’s University and the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, having completed his undergraduate degree at the former and his Master’s degree at the latter. From January 2022 to June 2022, he acted as the campaign manager for Ryan Madill, the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the riding of St. Catharines in the 2022 Ontario provincial election. Luca is passionate about governance at all three levels of government, and he is an avid soccer fan.
Liz Hay, Vice Chair of Niagara Region Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee
A lifelong Niagara Region resident, Liz Hay is a Brock alumnus, and recently attained a post-degree diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Waterloo. Liz is a lifelong volunteer, from helping craft the first mission statement for what is now Hospice Niagara to volunteering as an ESL tutor or selling fudge at the Book Riot for Women’s Place of South Niagara. In the last three years, Liz has served on the Niagara Region’s Accessibility Advisory Committee and on the Niagara Region Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. As a disabled person, she is eager to ensure that disabled people are not only invited into spaces, but that their perspectives are sought and included in decision making as well. Accessibility isn’t just about ramps and door openers.
Vicki-Lynn Smith, Member of Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association
Vicki-Lynn Smith is a fifth-generation St.Catharines resident. Her ancestor, freedom-seeker Adam Nickelson, settled here after travelling the Underground Railroad. Vicki-Lynn and her 4 siblings faced discrimination growing up in St.Catharines, but always fought back. It inspired Vicki-Lynn’s activism. A federal civil servant in Toronto and Ottawa for 36 years, she was deeply involved in her Union. Upon retirement in 2016 Vicki-Lynn returned home and joined the fight against the development of Thundering Waters Forest and the Niagara Anti-Racism Coalition Which was disbanded because of some problems and them. Vicki-Lynn has been involved with the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association sine inception and is also a former member of the St. Catharines Anti-Racism Advisory Committee.
Welcome by:
Saleh Waziruddin, Executive Committee Member, Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association
Moderated by:
Aima Khan, Member, NEXTNiagara Council
