{"id":274138,"date":"2020-11-05T03:18:24","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T08:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=274138"},"modified":"2020-11-05T03:18:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T08:18:24","slug":"building-a-more-inclusive-canada-government-of-canada-supports-anti-racism-projects-in-british-columbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2020\/11\/05\/building-a-more-inclusive-canada-government-of-canada-supports-anti-racism-projects-in-british-columbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a More Inclusive Canada: Government of Canada Supports Anti-Racism Projects in British Columbia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Racism and all forms of discrimination are some of the main causes of social and economic barriers for many Canadians. While progress has been made, much more remains to be done. (File photo: Jason Hafso\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, highlights 13 anti-racism projects in\u00a0British Columbia<\/span>\u00a0that address systemic barriers faced by racialized communities, religious minorities, and Indigenous Peoples<\/p>\n

VANCOUVER, BC <\/span>– Strengthening diversity and inclusion is fundamental to building a consciously more inclusive society, where everyone is able to participate fully. Racism and all forms of discrimination are some of the main causes of social and economic barriers for many Canadians. While progress has been made, much more remains to be done.<\/p>\n

The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, along with the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Digital Government and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra, highlighted 13 anti-racism projects in British Columbia<\/span>\u00a0that were recently announced as part of the Anti-Racism Action Program. Examples of these projects include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Tools for Equity: ICA Equity Training Program,\u00a0<\/b>led by the Inter-Cultural Association of\u00a0Greater Victoria<\/span>. This project is a multi-layered diversity, equity, and inclusion training program for businesses and organizations in\u00a0Victoria<\/span>. It will support the development of workshop modules and organizational audit tools, with the goal of providing an all-round service for local businesses and organizations to increase their diversity understanding and inclusionary practices in an authentic and lasting way.<\/li>\n
  • Knowledge is the road to empowerment: a digital campaign to empower Muslim women to experience meaningful and positive participation in Canadian society<\/b>. The NISA Foundation will work with young Muslim women, aged 14 to 25, who are living in communities with a low Muslim population and limited access to culturally appropriate resources, often making it challenging to fully participate in society. This project will focus on three main areas where these young women face particular challenges: community legal education, digital media literacy, and community leadership building.<\/li>\n
  • Holding Space for QTBIPOC Artists and Audiences<\/b>, delivered by the Pride in Art Society, is a project that will address barriers to employing and engaging QTBIPOC artists and communities, as well as provide opportunities to strengthen Indigenous and racialized LGBTQ2 artists, whose intersectional identities often present additional barriers and increased marginalization. The project will also support the continued development of QTBIPOC artists through the coordination of workshops and exhibits that will highlight QTBIPOC artists and their intersecting identities, and provide opportunities to educate the community on the lived experiences of QTBIPOC people, as well as the historical roots of racism and discrimination in\u00a0Canada<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    These important initiatives will support communities in\u00a0British Columbia<\/span>\u00a0to engage in critical work needed to create meaningful change and lasting impact on a number of systemic issues, including barriers in the workplace and equity in the arts.<\/p>\n

    The\u00a0$15-million<\/span>\u00a0Anti-Racism Action Program funded 85 local, regional, and national initiatives, as well as outcomes-based activities that address racism and discrimination in all forms. This support is an important way that the Government of\u00a0Canada<\/span>\u00a0is implementing its anti-racism strategy to continue the work of combatting systemic racism and building an even stronger and more consciously inclusive society.<\/p>\n

    Quotes<\/b><\/p>\n

    “Our commitment to combatting all forms of racism and discrimination is unwavering. These projects will help address the systemic barriers preventing Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and religious minorities from participating fully and equitably in all aspects of society. We will continue our work as allies and partners with all equity-seeking communities to combat racism as we build an even better and consciously more inclusive society.”<\/p>\n

    \u2014The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth<\/p>\n

    “Promoting inclusion, removing stigma and eliminating discrimination require action and commitment from each of us. These important\u00a0British Columbia<\/span>-based projects put the needs and experiences of LGBTQ2 communities, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities front and centre in ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive.”<\/p>\n

    \u2014The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Digital Government and Member of Parliament (Vancouver Quadra)<\/p>\n

    “To create a community where everyone can fully participate and have an equal opportunity to succeed, we must address the historical roots of racism and discrimination that impact racialized and religious minority communities. This includes systemic and institutional racism that exists in many workplaces, in education, healthcare institutions, and our communities. ICA’s Tools for Equity training program will address racial disparities and employment barriers faced by immigrants, refugees, and communities of colour in the Capital Regional District.”<\/p>\n

    \u2014\u00a0Jean McRae<\/span>, Chief Executive Officer, Inter-Cultural Association of\u00a0Greater Victoria<\/span><\/p>\n

    “Through outreach and education we can equip minority women with the confidence and skills needed to thrive and positively contribute to Canadian communities. We are humbled and grateful to accept the support of the federal government’s Anti-Racism Action Program. With this funding, we will continue to empower women to overcome barriers faced due to race or religious identities.”<\/p>\n

    \u2014Tanweer Ebrahim, Executive Director, NISA Helpline | NISA Foundation<\/p>\n

    “Pride in Art thanks Canadian Heritage for this contribution toward our continued work programming QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) artists and curators at the Queer Arts Festival and SUM gallery, at this time\u00a0Canada’s<\/span>\u00a0only gallery mandated for queer art. By interrupting the cyclical narrative of exclusion, we increase work experience, income and influence for QTBIPOC curators and artists. We shift the culture to understand QTBIPOC identity not as a mark of disenfranchisement, but as a site for creative self-authorship. When we, as an organization mandated specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ art, present engaging and critically acclaimed programming with 80 percent or more QTBIPOC artists, we demonstrate that arts presenters with more broadly defined mandates should be easily able to achieve diverse programming.”<\/p>\n

    \u2014SD Holman, Artistic and Executive Director, Pride in Art Society<\/p>\n

    Quick Facts<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Building a Foundation for Change:\u00a0Canada’s<\/span>\u00a0Anti-Racism Strategy,<\/i>\u00a0which was released\u00a0June 25, 2019<\/span>\u00a0after extensive cross-country consultations, is a\u00a0$45-million<\/span>\u00a0investment to build long-term changes in supporting communities and improving policies, initiatives, and practices in our federal institutions.<\/li>\n
    • As part of the Anti-Racism Strategy, a\u00a0$15-million<\/span>\u00a0call for proposals for the Anti-Racism Action Program was launched on\u00a0September 3, 2019<\/span>.<\/li>\n
    • The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiative also received\u00a0$15 million<\/span>\u00a0as part of the strategy.<\/li>\n
    • The Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat website was recently launched. It is a resource for all Canadians to find information on the work of the secretariat, upcoming events, and funding opportunities across government.<\/li>\n
    • On\u00a0September 23, 2020<\/span>, the Speech from the Throne outlined the Government of\u00a0Canada’s<\/span>\u00a0priorities, including its ongoing efforts to address systemic racism by working with racialized communities and Indigenous Peoples<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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