The Province is providing an additional $372,500 to the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network to help organizations combat racism in communities throughout B.C.

Thirty-six organizations will receive the increased funding to support local anti-racism initiatives in 57 communities around B.C.

"Racism is real and it’s pervasive in our communities. We must take action to combat racism in our local communities,” said Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives. “Our government is increasing funding for the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network to empower British Columbians to identify and help stamp out discrimination.”

The Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network delivers co-ordinated services by connecting communities with the information, supports and training they need to respond to and prevent future incidents of racism and hate. Recently, the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network created multilingual videos to promote what to do if someone witnesses or is the victim of a hate crime.

The 36 organizations, representing 57 communities, will each receive $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 to address a recent increase in racism, especially anti-Asian and anti-Indigenous hate activity, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This one-time funding increase will enable communities to engage in additional projects that provide anti-racism resources and support.

“In response to the recent increases in racist attacks and incidents, this funding increase will help Resilience BC expand our capacity to work with communities to help combat racism,” said Ravi Saxena, executive director, Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George. “Hate has no place in B.C., and every person in British Columbia has a right to feel safe.”

Three of the 36 organizations receiving support from the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network are:

• Richmond Multicultural Community Services (Richmond): The funding will be used to promote and further implement a community response protocol that outlines procedures to respond to racist incidents and to facilitate focus groups to understand how to better support victims of hate.
• Immigrant Multicultural Services Society of Prince George (Prince George): The funding will be used to create a manual for the public on the impacts of racism on health, especially in the context of COVID-19, and to raise awareness and lessen the number of racist incidences in the health sector.
• The Tamitik Status of Women Association (Kitimat): The funding will be used towards holding a “Women's Gathering” event and engage local government to adopt diversity policies, as well as run various local events focused on Indigenous anti-racism.

For the full list of organizations, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/4-16-21_ResilienceBC.pdf

Learn More:

For more information about Resilience BC, and to find support in your community, visit: https://www.resiliencebc.ca/find-your-community-network/

If you are the victim of a hate crime, find support online: https://www.resiliencebc.ca/report-support/hate-crimes-in-bc/

A backgrounder follows.