The 21st annual Report on Multiculturalism (ROM) presented in the legislature today by Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism, highlights government’s commitment to diversify the B.C. Public Service to ensure it is inclusive of all British Columbians.

Each year, government ministries and corporations submit reports to the minister which outline work being done to foster multiculturalism and establish a culture of acceptance, understanding and respect across the B.C. public sector. This includes attracting, developing and retaining a public sector workforce that reflects cultural diversity in British Columbia.

Examples of 2014-15 provincial actions taken to celebrate and promote British Columbia’s multicultural values include:

• Multicultural Advisory Council facilitated by the Ministry of International Trade to advise on government multicultural initiatives.
• The Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons funded through the Ministry of Justice to maintain dialogues and partnerships with immigrant, refugee, multicultural and Aboriginal organizations to identify and provide culturally sensitive services to trafficked persons.
• Knowledge Network content which offer views of the sweeping social, economic and cultural changes shaping modern China, explorations of India, and programs to tell the stories of British Columbia’s Aboriginal communities.
• Royal BC Museum exhibitions including Our Living Languages, which won a prestigious award from the American Alliance of Museums, Tradition in Felicities-Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria’s Chinatown, and a travelling exhibition about Japanese-British Columbian internment experiences during the Second World War.

Other events aimed at better understanding multicultural issues were also held during 2014-15, such as the Provincial Nesika Awards (now known as the British Columbia Multicultural Awards) where government honours organizations, businesses and individuals in all corners of the province working to promote multiculturalism, eliminate racism and support inclusion.

To view the report on multiculturalism click here: http://ow.ly/4nkBFH