Media Contacts

Media Relations

Ministry of International Trade and Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 356-9801

Backgrounders

Project proponent’s summary of proposals

Abbotsford Community Services
Increase indigenous representation on the Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition by participating in local aboriginal events and creating a strategic plan aimed at strengthening partnerships with aboriginal groups and focusing on future anti-racism activities.

Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC (Vancouver)
Hold workshops with community stakeholders to help establish Vancouver’s first Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) network, with a focus on building dialogue and producing a protocol for dealing with incidents of racism.

Bulkley Valley Social Planning Society (Smithers)
Host storytelling events as tools to build to build cross-cultural understanding and support the development of meaningful relationships.

Burnaby Family Life
Hold workshops with community stakeholders to help establish Burnaby’s first OARH network with a focus on building dialogue and producing a protocol for dealing with incidents of racism.

Cariboo Chilcotin Canadian Mental Health Association (Williams Lake)
Develop a community-based arts project that addresses racism and privilege to encourage people to work together. 

Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (100 Mile House)
Utilizing a World Café Model, host a series of community dinners to engage youth regarding refugees and proactively dispel misinformation.

Carrier Sekani Family Services (Vanderhoof)
Create an anti-racism educational quiz show and play, and offer community multicultural food preparation events to promote cultural exchange. 

Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (Nanaimo)
Host a dialogue on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with storytellers from various cultural backgrounds, including youth and recently arrived Syrian families who will share stories about their culture and challenges with racism.

College of New Caledonia (Fort St. James)
Organize a photo exhibition featuring community members in traditional dress to emphasize the cultural diversity of Fort St. James.

Community Justice Centre (Courtenay/Comox Valley)
Develop a community engagement strategy that includes distribution of educational materials, newsletters, and anti-racism posters.

Cowichan Intercultural Society
Offer a “Welcome New Neighbours” program to train youth ambassadors to provide anti-racism lessons for elementary school students with a focus on welcoming Syrian refugees.

Dawson Creek Literacy Society
Host public workshops highlighting local cultural and linguistic groups to build awareness and promote understanding, celebration concert held on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and training session for OARH members on supporting diverse groups. 

East Kootenay Organization for Human Dignity and Equality (Cranbrook)
Host multiple public education events to coincide with various International Day celebrations and OARH Network roundtable with a focus on anti-racism awareness.

Elk Valley Métis Association (Fernie)
Create anti-racism events to promote healing and facilitate education and awareness through creativity.

Free Rein Associates (Hope)
Host community anti-racism meetings, historical exhibition during popular health fair, and intergenerational program in local schools to facilitate dialogue between youth and adults about experiences with racism.

Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George
Develop project to promote the understanding of the power dynamics of racism through a series of community dialogues for community partners, service providers, public institutions and youth. 

Kitimat Child Development Centre
Train students to become “change agents” for challenging racism in the community. Students will also participate in an anti-racism community dialogue.

MOSAIC (Surrey)
Hold workshops with community stakeholders to help establish Surrey’s first OARH network, with a focus on building dialogue and producing a protocol for dealing with incidents of racism.

Multicultural and Immigrant Services Association of North Vancouver Island (Campbell River)
Host multicultural media events which feature films that focus on racism and discrimination followed by dialogue and discussions to increase awareness and create a more inclusive community.

North Coast Immigrant and Multiculturalism Services Society (Prince Rupert)
Hold anti-racism community events during multicultural fair, student art contest, and ambassador training for the general public, and in particular youth, to challenge racism. 

Northwest Community College (Houston)
Offer Bentwood Box workshops led by local First Nations to promote diversity and foster understanding and inclusion. Boxes will be displayed on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

Okanagan College (Revelstoke)
Host anti-racism workshops for local social service and school staff, businesses, parents and the public.

Port Alberni Friendship Centre
Produce anti-racism play ‘Divided We Fall” to be shown in local schools in collaboration with local RCMP.

Powell River Diversity Initiative
Offer public education event to address cross cultural communication and barriers to community integration.  

Richmond Multicultural Community Services
Hold workshops with community stakeholders to help establish Richmond’s first OARH network, with a focus on building dialogue and producing a protocol for dealing with incidents of racism.

Skeena Diversity Society (Terrace)
Promote cross-cultural bridging by hosting monthly film nights, weekly multicultural cooking sessions, and a community dialogue and storytelling event to support the settlement of new immigrants and refugees.   

Thompson Okanagan Respect Network (Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm/Shuswap and Vernon)
Collaborate on joint project, the ‘Respect Lives Here’ series, which includes public events to celebrate diversity, honour multiculturalism and better understand and address racism. Series is also supported by regional OARH networking meetings.

Tsi'yanne Buts'udilhlti Friendship Centre Society (Burns Lake)
Hold community engagement meeting and stakeholder workshop to build inter-cultural relationships.

Wit Works Ltd. (Sunshine Coast)
Host film festival and dialogue, cultural competency training workshops and circle training sessions with Sechelt First Nation, and OARH Committee recruitment initiative with cultural competency training workshop, local diversity survey and protocol development.