Seven organizations based in the Tri-Cities are receiving grants that hope to shape and implement legislation on anti-racism.
Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver groups are getting a combined $122,500 to host a series of community engagement sessions — each applicant was eligible for up to $25,000 to have an in-person or virtual event.
"We made a commitment to move forward on anti-racism data legislation in partnership with communities, and I'm thrilled to see so many organizations stepping up to support this work," said parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives and Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh, noting 70 total organizations across B.C. were selected.
"I look forward to joining some of the community engagement sessions to hear first-hand their thoughts on how best to build and implement the legislation to support our work to address systemic racism and barriers in government programs and services."
In a news release, the province says the engagement sessions can also include a workshop component.
The ultimate goal is to bring together any and all marginalized groups to share their experiences of discrimination and systemic racism, which includes youth and the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Engagement sessions are set to be conducted by the end of January 2022.
Tri-City and Metro Vancouver organizations included in the funding distribution are as follows:
- Foundation for a Path Forward = $20,000
- Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, Abbotsford, Delta, Chilliwack, Provincewide (remote)
- Surrey Women Centre = $20,000
- Coquitlam, Surrey, Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver
- The Grenadian Cultural Association of British Columbia = $20,000
- Tri-Cities
- African Stages Association of BC = $20,000
- Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley
- South Asian Legal Clinic Society of British Columbia = $17,500
- Metro Vancouver, Provincewide (virtually)
- Africa-Canada Education Foundation = $15,000
- Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley
- Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society = $10,000
- Delta (in-person), Metro Vancouver (virtually)
In addition to the community-led engagement, the province is also extending its data collection deadline to Jan. 31, 2022, for an online anti-racism survey.
The provincial government is developing the legislation with Indigenous partners, based on input over several years from key stakeholders, including the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner, racialized communities and Indigenous organizations.
The summaries are set to be shared by the spring.
