More than 120 organizations from Dawson Creek to Victoria and communities in between are receiving a total of $300,000 in Multiculturalism Grants to help celebrate British Columbia’s rich multicultural heritage and promote empathy and inclusiveness in B.C.

“British Columbia was built by many hands from various cultures, traditions and backgrounds,” said Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism. “By supporting these 121 organizations, we help them to celebrate the unique multicultural history of our province and promote empathy in communities throughout B.C.”

The Multiculturalism Grant Program celebrates British Columbia’s cultural diversity by funding projects that raise awareness of B.C.’s multicultural identity. This can include festivals, community forums or cultural celebrations that support positive expressions of multiculturalism. The grants also support projects that challenge racism and hate, especially those that utilize a collaborative community approach.

Each community organization will receive up to $2,480 and the funding will go to a variety of projects customized for each community’s needs. For example, one school will use the grant to establish a Multicultural Week to learn and celebrate the various cultures that make up the school’s population. Another organization will create a video series featuring refugees and immigrants sharing compelling moments from their journey to Canada.

“The diversity of our province is one of British Columbia's greatest strengths, and it is inspiring to see so many members of the community striving to make B.C. more prosperous and inclusive,” said Tenzin Khangsar, Multicultural Advisory Council chair. “By providing these organizations with funding to promote British Columbia’s rich multicultural heritage, we help promote intercultural understanding and build a more cohesive B.C.”

Applications for the 2015-16 Multiculturalism Grant program opened Oct. 26, 2015, and closed on Dec. 13, 2015. Applications for 2016-17 funding will be accepted later this year.

Quick Facts:

• The most ethnically diverse province in Canada, almost 30% of British Columbians have emigrated from another country.
• Over the past three years, an average of $1.7 million has been spent annually on programs that promote multiculturalism and address racism in British Columbia.
• British Columbia created its own Multiculturalism Act in 1993 and now the third week of November is designated as Multiculturalism Week in B.C.
• In November 2015, the British Columbia government provided $240,000 in total to 14 organizations belonging to the Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) network to support the work they do to address racism in B.C.
• In January 2016, the British Columbia government contributed $262,898 to 14 community organizations for the delivery of anti-racism projects throughout B.C.

Learn More:

To see which organizations in your community received funding, see: http://ow.ly/106j1g 

Learn about what the province is doing to promote multiculturalism and address racism in British Columbia:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/multiculturalism-anti-racism

Interested in applying for a grant? Criteria are posted online and applications will be accepted later this year: https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/grants/multiculturalism.htm

WelcomeBC – Information and services for new British Columbians: http://www.welcomebc.ca/home.aspx

Take the Unlearn Racism challenge: http://unlearnracism.ca/