At mid day on December 10, 1998, approximately 50 people commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration by dedicating space for the development of a human rights garden and mural at the corner of Albert Street and 15th Avenue in Regina.

Carolyn Lehmann, Murray Patzwald, Donalda Ford and others spoke briefly. The gathering then lighted candles as a symbol of their desire to make the garden a reality.

The garden is intended to remind others that the seeds of the human rights struggle were planted fifty years ago. That struggle, like the garden, must be tended and nurtured in order to flourish and provide people with nourishment and protection. To complement the garden, artists will create a human rights mural on the wall of an adjacent building owned by Regina businessman Fred Soofi.

The project is the result of collaboration by Imperial Oil, the Cathedral Area Community Association, Fred Soofi, South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre, Community Action Alliance Regina, Regina Social Services, Oxfam Canada, the City of Regina, and others.

"From Issues to Action"- League for Human Rights, B'nai Brith Canada

Identifying issues and formulating strategies for change was the focus of a national human rights conference held in Regina on December 5-7, 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The conference was sponsored by the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada and supported by many organizations, including the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.

At the opening ceremonies, keynote speaker David Matas described Canada's track record with human rights as "uneven." He noted, in particular, the barriers to refugees seeking asylum and Canada's failure to protect citizens from hate literature or incitement to discrimination.

Plenary sessions and workshops on December 6 and 7 addressed racial crimes, hate groups on the Internet, rights of children and their families, implementing equity, and many other topics. Speakers at the conference included Chief Commissioner/Director Donna Scott and Assistant Director Donalda Ford of the Human Rights Commission.

The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada is planning to publish conference proceedings in 1999.