OmniTRAX/Broe Quest Series
Antonio J. (Tony) Tavares
Tony Tavares was born in Ovar, Portugal and immigrated to Canada in 1961. He spent his formative years in Winnipeg's inner city where he was exposed to the rich diversity of the people and cultures that are represented in Manitoba. In his early teens, his active engagement in the Portuguese Canadian community and exposure to the movement for democratic reform in Portugal helped to form a personal and professional interest in social/community activism, multiculturalism, equality rights, and bilingualism.
His interest in these areas led him to the study of Canadian public policy, human rights, and international relations at the University of Manitoba where he completed a B.A. and M.A. in Political Studies.
Currently, Tony is a consultant with the Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment Branch of Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. His responsibilities include policy, curriculum development, and implementation and teacher education in regard to:
- Multicultural/antiracism education
- English as a Second Language
- International/Heritage languages
Tony led the recent K-S4 ESL Program Review that was undertaken in Manitoba and is the lead for a three-year action plan to improve educational programming and support for learners with English is an additional language and refugee and war affected backgrounds.
Tony has been a guest lecturer/speaker at the faculties of Education at the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg, and conferences and symposiums in Manitoba and nationally. From 1989-1994 he co-facilitated a series of summer institutes on antiracism education at the University of Manitoba. Several years ago, he co-authored and instructed a course on the Dynamics of Racism for the Intercultural Trainers Certificate at Red River Community College. More recently, he has been a sessional instructor on cross-cultural education at the Faculty of Education, U of M.
His long standing and continuing interest and involvement in community and social activism is reflected in the variety of organizations that he has actively supported and has served in various capacities. Some of these were:
- Co-Chair of the Manitoba Immigration Advisory Council Secretary of the Manitoba Intercultural Council
- President of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties
- President, Manitoba Association for Multicultural Education (MAME)
- Secretary of the Portuguese Students Organization (U of M)
- President of the Portuguese Association of Manitoba
- Board member, Portuguese National Congress
- Board
Vice-President of the Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg
- Treasurer, Community Education Development Association
- Board Member Manitoba Multicultural Resources Centre
- Board Member of Winnipeg Child and Family Services
- Member of the Committee for the Elimination of Racism, Winnipeg Social Planning Council