BC Gov News

Government initiatives to combat racism include:

• An anti-hate community support fund that supports marginalized and at-risk groups with funding for security equipment, graffiti removal and repairs to damaged property.
• The Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network that connects communities with the information, supports and training they need to respond to and prevent future incidents of racism and hate.
• The Safer Communities Action Plan— a comprehensive, cross-government plan to make B.C. safer for all that includes key actions to tackle incidents of hate or discrimination.
• The B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants, which provide funding to support projects that tackle racial inequity and foster inter-cultural understanding across the province.
• Anti-racism legislation coming this spring, targeting systemic racism within government programs and services, and building on the Anti-Racism Data Act.
• A racist-incident support line that will be launched in spring 2024 to make it easier for people to get support and recover from racist incidents.

All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition, and award recipients will receive a trophy. The recipient of the Emerging Leader award will also receive $5,000 to donate to a not-for-profit organization of their choice, to further promote multiculturalism and anti-racism in B.C.

Intercultural Trust – for an outstanding individual or organization for their work in building intercultural trust and understanding and/or reducing racism and hate between communities.

2024 recipients:

• VIDEA was established more than 40 years ago, with the mission to end global poverty and create a more just and equitable world. More than half of the staff and board members of VIDEA identify as Métis, Inuit, First Nations, Black or African. Their programs have reached more than 200,000 individuals.
• Thais Pimentel Cabral is a teacher whose innovative teaching methods prioritize students’ identities and cultural connections, creating a classroom environment rooted in shared values. Her initiatives actively combat racism, foster inclusivity and empower students to take pride in their identities. She has played a key role in furthering the province’s anti-racism initiatives in K-12 schooling.

Honourable mentions:

• The OTHER People was created by Rabbi Philip Bregman in 2021 with the goal of helping dismantle the “us vs. them” divide. It is comprised of community leaders and anti-racism organizations across the racial, religious and cultural mosaic.
• The Lekwungen Traditional Dancers was founded in 1978 at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. The group is one of the most sought-after to represent the Lək̓ʷəŋən people at significant events throughout B.C. Through their song and dance, they honour their ancestors and showcase their Nation’s values.
• Cherie Chai Kar Yee is an artist, teacher and the founder of the Speak Write Academy, which was started in October 2020. Through her cultural workshops, Cherie Chai aims to fight racism, promote intercultural trust through the power of language and arts, and contribute to Indigenous language revitalization efforts.

Breaking Barriers – handed to an outstanding individual or organization for their work in tackling systemic or institutional racism and reducing barriers for marginalized communities.

2024 recipients:

• The Rainbow Refugee Society was established in 2000 to help refugees and new immigrants to Canada fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and HIV+ diagnoses. The organization collaborates directly with government and social service partners to address intersectional barriers faced by forcibly displaced 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Anetha Kashuba is the main driving force behind Connecting the Dots, an Indigenous learning tour that emphasizes the importance of education in breaking down barriers and ownership over one’s own journey toward truth and reconciliation. Anetha is proudly Métis and works at the Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Service Society.

Honourable mentions:

• Lama Mugabo is a former refugee from Rwanda who works as a racial justice and housing organizer in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He primarily focuses on making B.C. a better place for Black and racialized people, supporting newcomers, creating pathways to food justice and confronting anti-Black racism, including through his Black leadership program.
• Anthea Williams oversees an outreach program in downtown Vancouver that offers crucial assistance to youth facing issues such as homelessness, poverty, substance-use disorders, mental-health challenges and exploitation. They are also a passionate advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, especially young refugees and newcomers.

Emerging Leader – handed to an outstanding young person, aged 15 to 30, for their work in building intercultural trust, tackling racism or reducing barriers for marginalized communities.

2024 recipient:

• Dacious Richardson was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and moved to Canada in 2011. He now works for the Surrey School District as a liaison and mentor. He is active in his community’s initiatives targeting systemic racism, discrimination and cultural barriers. He is also an advocate for young refugees, immigrants and newcomers.

Honourable mention:

• Paolo Bigit has been leading the Youth for Youth (Y4Y) Program of Kamloops Immigrant Services for the last year. The program fosters inclusivity and connection within Indigenous, Black and people of colour communities through open dialogue, education and shared experiences.