On Monday night, city council members took a step forward in addressing issues of racism and discrimination in the community.

They voted unanimously in support of joining the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination.

The motion was put forward during last week's council meeting by community groups, various local minority organizations and the two local First Nations.

The coalition, a UNESCO initiative, advocates a 10-part initiative to address issues of racism and provide education and support and promote equality in Canadian communities.

Monday's decision will place Whitehorse among 52 Canadian municipalities which have joined the coalition so far, from major centres like Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver to Saguenay, Que., Caledon, Ont. and New Glasgow, N.S.

Council rejected a similar proposal to join the coalition in 2006, citing the need for more information.

For the second week in a row, council chambers were filled Monday with local citizens, urging council members to state their commitment to fighting racism by joining the coalition.

"I can say that, having grown up here, that Whitehorse is not without its issues of racism and discrimination,” said Melissa Atkinson, a local lawyer and a former chair of the Yukon Human Rights Commission.

"I myself have experienced that, as a youth, as a woman and as a First Nations person.”

The message was affirmed by local lawyer Rod Snow, a former president of the Canadian Bar Association, who also addressed council.

"You have an opportunity to send a message to the community, and I urge you, let it not be a negative message from a divided council.

"Let it be a positive message from a unanimous council, that racism and discrimination have no place in our city today,” he said.

Some concern about the coalition had been raised among council members at last week's meeting — particularly that a commitment of financial and staff resources may be expected by joining.

In fact, that's not the case.

A majority of council members indicated they were uncomfortable signing on without more information.

The following week, citizens from across Whitehorse spoke out on behalf of joining the coalition through letters to the editor and calls to members of council.

"I was really excited to see it passed unanimously, especially in light of their relation to it last week,” Fia Jampolsky, the rights commission's chair, told the Star Tuesday.

"I think in the end, it may have had a lot to do with the public coming forward, showing council that this is what the people of Whitehorse want.”

During the meeting, members of council expressed their personal views on their final decision to join.

Mayor Bev Buckway, who is ill and addressed council by phone, expressed concern with how some citizens had chosen to voice their concern.

"I have to go on the record to state that some of the disparaging comments made to members of council have been interesting through the last week, given the topic, but I will support the motion,” she said.

Coun. Dave Austin appeared to have been influenced by the public outcry.

"If I offended anyone with my comments last week, I apologize,” said Austin.

"I am just trying to do what every councillor at this table does: letting you know that we have to do a little bit of due diligence.”

Coun. Florence Roberts echoed her statement last week that the city, as a corporation, already has measures in place to prohibit racism and discrimination.

She said that although she has not experienced racism, it was an important issue for council to address.

"I've been here for years, and I don't think racism has come into my life, because people are people, no matter what colour or creed they are,” she said. "But we are such a diverse bunch that if we don't get along, we won't survive.”

Coun. Kirk Cameron is highly supportive of the coalition.

"I want to live and build and grow in this place, along with everybody else,” he said.

"I don't care what nationality or what culture or what language background the individuals come from ... this is where we want to go, this is the society, this is the place we want to be.”

Coun. Dave Stockdale went as far as to admit his own past racism as a factor in his decision-making.

"You don't think about this a lot, but I am sure that over the years that I have been a racist, and I am sure others have been as well,” he said.

"It really opened my eyes when both my sons went abroad to teach. One married a Chinese girl and one married a Japanese girl, so my comments and my opinions of some of those countries had to seriously change.”

Coun. Betty Irwin agrees with signing the document, but reminded council that other forms of discrimination permeate our community as well.

"I as a woman have fought discrimination, and we really haven't zeroed in on this, but there is still gender discrimination, there is still discrimination for people with disabilities,” she said.

Following the address, the room erupted into applause.

Whitehorse will officially join the coalition on March 21, coinciding with the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, when Deputy Mayor Ranj Pillai will officially sign over the city's support.

"In 2 1/2 years of being here, I haven't seen this much strength behind a motion as we see here tonight,” said Pillai.

"When this (council term) wraps up in October, this will be the most important thing that I had an opportunity to be part of over the last three years.”

After seven years of pushing for Whitehorse to join, coalition organizers are relieved to finally claim victory.

"I am so glad this has happened,” said Fumi Torigai, president of the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon.

"People need to speak up, not just the city, but the whole community should speak against racism.

"This type of thing goes a long way, and it sends a message that goes well beyond Whitehorse, to all corners of the nation.”