Resources, Campaigns and Events
Information is available about various resources and events that help promote multiculturalism and eliminate racism in British Columbia.
Resources
BC People: Portraits of Diversity in BC
End Hate Crime: B.C. Hate Crime Team Roles and Responsibilities
Change Agent Handbook
Change Agent Discussion Guide for Parents and Teachers
Diverse Communities – History and Milestones of the Aboriginal Peoples of British Columbia
Multiculturalism in Communities: A Guide to Developing and Sustaining Dialogue
Safe Harbour: Respect for All
Make A Case Against Racism
Research
Promising Practices and New Directions in Multiculturalism and Anti-racism Programming: A Scoping Review
Anti-Racism and Diversity Trainers: Core Competencies and Leading Training Practices, A Literature and Scoping Review
Anti-Racism, Diversity and Intercultural Training in BC: Surveying the Fields and Advancing the Work
Toolkit for Municipalities, Organizations and Citizens - Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination
Events
March 21: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Multiculturalism Week
Provincial Nesika Awards
Embracing Difference, Engaging Community Symposium
BC People: Portraits of Diversity in BC
Julie Gordon & Associates has produced a unique storytelling project that showcases cultural and ethnic diversity in British Columbia by allowing people to share their personal stories and perspectives.
Based on a series of interviews with 50 people from all regions of the province, BC People combines video, audio and photographic recordings in a documentary format that raises awareness and understanding of multiculturalism. The result – both heartwarming and entertaining – provokes thought and dialogue about the topic of diversity.
Order free copies of the BC People DVD
End Hate Crime: B.C. Hate Crime Team Roles and Responsibilities
The B.C. Hate Crime Team tracks and follows up on reports of hate crimes, coordinating with local police as appropriate.
End Hate Crime: B.C. Hate Crime Team Roles and Responsibilities provides definitions, descriptions of the role of police, victim services and Crown council, links with the community that can help address hate and bias crime, and options for addressing incidents that are motivated by hate but are not criminal offences.
The B.C. Hate Crime Team can be reached at 604-598-4903 or 604-598-4243. People may call to obtain general information or to speak to police about a hate incident.
Designed for youth aged 15-20, this handbook provides information such as myths and facts about racism, questions to consider, and definitions. It can be used by youth to develop personal pride and accountability in creating positive change in their communities and to understand that as individuals, they have the ability to prevent racism.
Change Agent Discussion Guide for Parents and Teachers
This guide was designed as a companion to the Change Agent Myths and Facts About Racism Handbook to guide parents and teachers through discussions about racism, in particular the concepts of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination.
Diverse Communities – History and Milestones of the Aboriginal Peoples of British Columbia
The Diverse Communities – History and Milestones of the Aboriginal Peoples of British Columbia is a brochure that provides general information for visitors and newcomers settling in British Columbia about indigenous peoples’ history and diverse cultures.
Order free copies of the brochure.
Multiculturalism in Communities: A Guide to Developing and Sustaining Dialogue
In support of EmbraceBC's Community Dialogues, Multiculturalism in Communities: A guide to Developing and Sustaining Dialogue guide and video provide information about hosting a dialogue and the dialogue process.
Safe Harbour: Respect for All creates opportunities for storefront businesses, institutions, agencies, and entire municipalities to celebrate our differences, helping to create safer, more welcoming communities that support diversity and reject discrimination.
Participating businesses and organizations display the window decal, a certificate, and other signage that proudly announces to their community that their management and staff welcome and support newcomers, visible minorities, people with disabilities, youth, seniors, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirited community, and other diverse groups.
Staff at Safe Harbour-certified locations are prepared to offer immediate and temporary safe refuge for anyone facing mistreatment or discrimination.
Visit Safe Harbour - British Columbia
Make A Case Against Racism encourages grade 4 to 7 students to take personal responsibility for preventing racism, while celebrating the province’s cultural diversity through music and art. Designed to complement provincial school curriculum, the initiative uses a proactive approach to examining discrimination.
At the heart of the program is a music and artwork contest which culminates in the production of a compilation CD. Songs provided by B.C. musicians were used to produce a “Top 10 Countdown” that provides background information about the music and how it encourages respect for people and diversity.
Students were encouraged to listen to the countdown to inspire the creation of original artwork, and a jury of youth selected the student artwork submissions to be featured on the cover of a professionally produced CD featuring the music that the students listened to for inspiration of their artwork.
Visit Make a Case Against Racism artwork gallery
Listen to the Top 10 Countdown
Promising Practices and New Directions in Multiculturalism and Anti-racism Programming: A Scoping Review
In 2008, as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthen multiculturalism and eliminate racism in British Columbia, the Province commissioned a scoping review that identified eight emerging and promising practices in multiculturalism and anti-racism programming from several jurisdictions including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Anti-Racism and Diversity Trainers: Core Competencies and Leading Training Practices, A Literature and Scoping Review
Through a cross-jurisdictional scan of programs and practice, this review explores core competences for, and leading practice in, preparing effective anti-racism and diversity professionals, and suggests issues to consider when developing new trainer-training services.
Anti-Racism, Diversity and Intercultural Training in BC: Surveying the Fields and Advancing the Work
This report by Karen Rolston and Rhonda Margolis from the University of British Columbia presents research conducted in 2010 on anti-racism and diversity training across B.C. The research addresses questions about the nature of the work and what it will take to move the work forward. The methodology included online surveys, focus groups and individual interviews with trainers and organizational representatives throughout BC.This report will be of interest to trainers, academics, policy-makers and organizations who are interested in the development and growth of the field of anti-racism and diversity training.
Toolkit for Municipalities, Organizations and Citizens - Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination
The Toolkit provides practical information to support the work of municipalities and their partners in strengthening local initiatives and policies against racism and discrimination. Topics include how to approach your municipality to join, how to develop an action plan, Aboriginal engagement, youth engagement, and promising practices.
March 21: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa, police killed 69 people who were peacefully demonstrating against pass laws. Pass laws were legislated by the government of South Africa to segregate the white and non-white citizens by regulating the movement of black Africans in urban areas. The pass laws were a dominant feature of the country’s apartheid system.
The United Nations proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966. Every year, March 21 is recognized as a day where the international community can come together in an effort to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. The Government of British Columbia first proclaimed the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1989.
Find out how you can prevent racism in your community with the Change Agent Handbook and Discussion Guide.
Every year, the third week of November in British Columbia is proclaimed as Multiculturalism Week. This year, to help celebrate and acknowledge multiculturalism in British Columbia, EmbraceBC hosted an interactive public art installation at Robson Square in Vancouver, November 18 - 24, 2012.
This installation took the form of a maple tree that symbolizes how as British Columbians we each have strong cultural roots that are wide spread, but which come together as a beautiful, unified icon at the surface. People were encouraged to think about and share how they live multiculturalism in their daily lives, at home, at work, or at school, and record their thoughts on colourful leaves that will be added to the tree branches to make the tree blossom throughout the week.
The tree is now planted in Stanley Park as a living monument to multiculturalism in British Columbia.
Nesika (Ne-SAY-ka) is Chinook for “we, us, our.” It comes from a trade language used by many different Aboriginal linguistic groups along the west coast of North America. Chinook was used extensively in British Columbia during the 19th and early 20th centuries to help Aboriginal people communicate, first among themselves and then with European newcomers.
First proclaimed in February 2008, the Provincial Nesika Awards are organized and sponsored by the Multicultural Advisory Council to honour and celebrate British Columbia’s cultural diversity and indigenous communities. They recognize the people, organizations and businesses whose exceptional work helps bring our diverse cultures together.
The fourth annual 2012 Provincial Nesika Awards event took place at Bonsor Recreation Centre, Burnaby, British Columbia on Friday, November 23, 2012. Hon. John Yap, Minister for Advanced Education, Innovation, and Technology and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, and Mo Dhaliwal, Chair of the Multicultural Advisory Council honoured the Awards recipients and the 160 nominees.
More than four-hundred participants attended the program. The event also featured a multicultural musical performance by Big World Band. Information about 2013 Provincial Nesika Awards will be posted when available.
The winners in each category were announced on November 23, 2012. For more information visit the News Release.
2012 Provincial Nesika Awards nominees' profiles:
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Individual (PDF)
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Organization (PDF)
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Business (PDF)
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Youth (PDF)
Embracing Difference, Engaging Community Symposium
On October 11th and 12th, 2012 EmbraceBC hosted the Embracing Difference, Engaging Community symposium in Vancouver. The symposium featured presentations relevant to people working in the field of anti-racism and multiculturalism.
Detailed symposium information can be found here.