September 12, 2005 Source: Simon Fraser University:
http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/news_releases/archives/news09120501.htm Former Carnegie director honoured with Gandhi-inspired award Contact:
Don Grayston, humanities, 604.291.3544, donald_grayston@sfu.ca
Harsh Thakore, 604.291.2235 (h) 604.666.8074 (o) 604.970.8540 (cell) September 12, 2005
Michael Clague, the former director of Vancouver's Carnegie Community Centre and a long-serving community educator and planner, is being honoured as the recipient of the Thakore Foundation Visiting Scholar award. He will receive the award on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at an annual event commemorating the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, at SFU's Images Theatre, Burnaby campus. Clague is being recognized for his commitment to community education and social development, and for overseeing the centre as a place of renewal, support and challenge to residents of the Downtown Eastide in their struggles for identity, health and employment. He retired as director in April. “Carnegie challenged every facet of my being, my personal and professional self,” he says. “Here in one place were manifest the cultures of the globe and the consequences of our domestic public policies that contribute to dependency and marginalization. “My instinctive response in my first months was simply to listen, to build trust and relationships,” he adds, “and then to move along those avenues where we could do some things together.” The efforts of residents led to such victories as saving the Carnegie library, securing social housing and a community garden, and new programs for drug users. The award is co-sponsored by the institute, in cooperation with the Thakore Charitable Foundation and the India Club of Vancouver. It was created in 1991 by former SFU faculty member Natverlal Thakore to honour individuals who show a concern for truth, justice and non-violence in public life, qualities that Gandhi valued. Clague says the award will put a spotlight on the work of the centre as well as the accomplishments of Downtown Eastside residents, efforts that Gandhi would have admired. - 30 -
| 