News Briefs: Calgary Antisemite Charged After Confrontation With Dog-Walker

Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas was apologetic the day after a November 16 council meeting, but a Jewish council member was standing her ground.

According to a report in the Suburban, after a yet-undisclosed antisemetic slur was heard at the session, an elementary school teacher who represents District 4 with the Island of Montreal municipality announced on her Facebook account, “I will no longer attend meetings where I must sit at the same table but receive a briefing from colleagues and exchange with staffers instead.”

Tara Stainforth, who is chair of the city’s Diversity and Social Inclusion Committee, didn’t disclose who said it or what was said. She continued, “Furthermore, I will use the rest of the 2022 (sic) to contemplate whether or not I shall continue as a Councillor in such an environment.”

“Rather than admit wrongdoing and commit to do better,” Stainforth wrote, “this person tried to excuse using a slur as my perception of the expression.”

“We’re not always aware,” Stainforth explained to the Suburban, “that things we say have racist connotations.” She tried and failed to get it dealt with immediately but got no backing from her cohorts, even after she threatened to go public if the mayor did not offer a written apology. “I also let my fellow councillors know that I was disappointed in their lack of immediate action.”