'Much of our history is nothing to be proud of': Dignity Forum premieres new Alberta human-rights documentary
A new documentary highlighting the history of discrimination and prejudice in Alberta is set to premiere this month at Mount Royal University.
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The documentary, titled Human Rights: Fact or Fiction? A History of Human Rights in Alberta, was created by the Dignity Forum, an Alberta organization that advocates for human-rights protections.
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'It really is an educational piece in the sense that it traces the history of human rights in Alberta right up to the present day,' said Ron Ghitter, chair of the Dignity Forum and former MLA and senator. 'Much of our history is nothing to be proud of.'
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Ghitter has dedicated 45 years to human-rights policy development and advocacy, which has opened his eyes to the extent of discrimination throughout Alberta's history.
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'All the major human-rights cases, really, that have gone to the Supreme Court of Canada have gone out of Alberta — from the Vriend case to the Taylor case to the Keegstra case,' he said.
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'These were cases which really set a standard in human rights in the country.'
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Ghitter said the documentary aims to inform and to advocate for change.
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'I think people have never really come to grips with what human rights in Alberta has been all about historically,' he said. 'And it's not all negative.
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'We're trying to look to the future, as well.'
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Business leader and philanthropist Mike Shaikh, who formerly chaired the Calgary police commission, is one of the panellists featured in the documentary. Shaikh said he has high hopes for what the documentary can accomplish.
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'Diversity and inclusion deserve our attention,' he said. 'I believe this documentary will help create stronger communities and improve lives in Canada.'
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For Shaikh, creating more inclusive communities for newcomers was a major motivation behind his involvement in the project.
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'I've always been a proponent of helping new immigrants, all newcomers to Canada, to see how they can make the Canadian dream come true,' he said.
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Shaikh also found that he gained a lot personally from the experience, particularly from working with the other panellists.
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'I loved listening to Chief Phil Fontaine,' he said. 'He's the one who pioneered the exposure of the residential schools. He was the first one to stand up and speak up — and be heard.'
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The inspiration for the documentary came from a variety of discussions between Ghitter and others in the Dignity Forum community concerning the increasing cases of discrimination they've seen throughout Alberta — and a desire to bring those concerns to light.
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'We can't sit back and just think it'll take care of itself,' Ghitter said. 'You have to respond when you see bigotry, discrimination, stereotyping.'
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