Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security
About the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security:
The Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security (CCRS) engages Canadians and the Government of Canada in a long-term dialogue on matters related to national security. The CCRS brings together 15 members from various communities across Canada. Roundtable members provide advice on emerging developments in national security matters and their impact on Canada’s diverse society.
Members of the CCRS aim to promote the protection of civil order, mutual respect and common understanding by facilitating an open and meaningful exchange on national security issues between the Government and Canada’s diverse communities. Its members provide valuable insight into security policy and program development and have facilitated several community outreach events focussing on national security.
About the New Appointees:
Dr. Frank Dimant of Ontario was educated at Yeshiva University and McGill’s Graduate School of Sociology. In May of 2004, Dr. Dimant received an honorary doctorate from Canada Christian College. He serves on several community boards in Israel and Canada, including York Region Neighbourhood Services, the Ramot Shapiro Youth Town and the World Zionist Assembly. In January 2005, he became a member of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights Advisory Council. He was appointed to the Mayor’s Community Task Force on Safety and Security, as well as serving on the Toronto Police Chief’s Advisory Board. In recognition of his commitment to human rights, Dr. Dimant was inducted as Honourary Chief of First Nations Keewatin Tribal Council. He is currently the Executive Vice President of B’nai Brith Canada and the CEO of the organization’s Institute for International Affairs and the League for Human Rights. He also serves as publisher of Canada’s largest Anglo-Jewish publication, The Jewish Tribune. Dr. Dimant is a frequent lecturer, writer and media commentator on both Israeli and Middle Eastern affairs and world Jewish issues.
Mr. Peter Dinsdale of Ontario holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Laurentian University. He is currently the Executive Director of the National Association of Friendship Centres. He has been involved with a number of urban Aboriginal organizations, both as an employee and a board member. While employed with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Mr. Dinsdale worked on provincial urban Aboriginal homelessness programming, and youth employment and training initiatives. Previously, he worked with urban Aboriginal youth at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, developing alternative education programs. Mr. Dinsdale is a member of Curve Lake First Nation.
Ms. Bronwyn Shoush of Alberta is an Aboriginal lawyer, member of the Law Society of Alberta, and a member of the Executive Committees of Alberta Justice and Attorney General, and Alberta Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Security. As the Director of Aboriginal Justice Initiatives, she builds relationships and works with Aboriginal communities and other stakeholders to promote safe communities, respect for the law, confidence in the justice system, and youth leadership. She is a member of the Premier’s Taskforce on Crystal Methamphetamine, a Board Member of the Alberta Cancer Board and the University of Alberta Centre for Constitutional Studies. Bronwyn was a founding Board Member of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative (CBCRI) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (IAPH), and served as a member of the Canada Employment and Immigration Advisory Council (CEIAC). She has a longstanding interest in constitutional law, human rights and civil liberties, health law and ethics, and international humanitarian law; and has spoken at provincial, national, and international conferences on justice, health, and security themes. In 1992, she received the Canada 125 medal for outstanding service to community.
Mr. Sukvinder Singh Badh of British Columbia holds a Masters in Economics from Simon Fraser University. He is currently an instructor at the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Department of Economics and the Douglas College Department of Economics. Mr. Badh’s qualifications to serve the ethnic community are enhanced by his work in International Business Studies at the University College of the Cariboo, along with a number of active roles in student and curriculum/program development. His many service roles include his participation on the Advisory Committee on the Environment to City Council for the City of Richmond, his role as Trustee for the CKNW Radio Orphans’ Fund, Chair of the Richmond Hospital Foundation, and as a Richmond Youth Soccer coach.
Ms. Anju Virmani of Ontario holds a B.Sc. and B.Ed. from the University of Delhi, India, and an MBA from Baruch College, City University of New York. She has a keen interest in corporate governance and holds the designation of Charter Director of McMaster University. Since 2001, she has been the Chief Information Officer of Cargojet Canada, the country’s cargo airline. Ms. Virmani has been an adviser and consultant in the field of information technology for more than 20 years in both Canada and the U.S. She currently serves on the Advisory Council for National Security, a body that advises the Prime Minister on all issues related to national security. Ms. Virmani also serves on the board of TiE, The Indus Entrepreneurs, a global, non-profit organization of entrepreneurs and professionals that nurture entrepreneurship through networking, mentoring and knowledge sharing. She has served on the Trade Committee of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of Spatialview, Inc., and has served as a member of the Panorama India Board. Ms. Virmani is involved in activities and leadership conferences that bridge the gaps between India and Canada and bring both countries together.