‘People follow by example’: Shelburne vows to lead charge for diversity with anti-racism task force
‘People follow by example’: Shelburne vows to lead charge for diversity with anti-racism task force
By Alexandra Heck
Just the image of Shelburne’s anti-racism march organizers standing together paints a strong picture.
According to Deputy Mayor Steve Anderson, that image is familiar.
The symbolism of the two of them speaking reminded him of the same image that he and Mayor Wade Mills painted when they ran for office two years ago.
“The symbolism was powerful in the image that it showed,” said Anderson, talking about when they shook hands in the front steps of town hall; a black man and a white man, hand in hand.
“Shelburne is stronger together,” said Anderson, explaining that their pact that day meant that they would be working to build a community in Shelburne that is safe and inclusive.
He says that the Town of Shelburne, Dufferin County’s most ethnically diverse municipality, is paving the way equity and change.
In response to recent protests across the globe, sparked by the death of George Floyd, the town has vowed to create an anti-racism task force aimed at tackling issues in the community.
“This really feels different this time and I think all of you know what I’m talking about,” said Mills, standing on the front steps of town hall, speaking to a crowd of protesters who marched across Shelburne on June 14.
“We are engaged right now in a great social reckoning, a reckoning that has been in the making for 400 years, one that has finally grown tired of waiting.”
He said that silence is just as damaging as hatred at this point.
“It is time for all of us to choose sides,” Mills said, explaining that the safety and security of the middle ground is eroding.
“The formation of this task force is only an initial step,” he said, explaining that difficult and uncomfortable work has to be done. “These issues must be solved in heart and in the homes of every single resident.”
Jay Wagstaff of Compass Church said that Shelburne has a certain “rugged independence,” and now is the opportunity to flex some of that.
“I believe that we have the opportunity in Shelburne not just to be followers for equity and justice, but to be leaders,” he said.
Wagstaff said that Shelburne could model diversity and inclusion for the rest of the county.
“All of us here today have been given a gift and we’ve been given a responsibility,” he said, explaining that every person has the ability to influence others. “People follow by example, not by opinion.”