There has been a long history of civil war and conflict between the two African countries of Eritrea… Read more
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What’s Victoria Day all about?
May 15, 2019
This weekend is a long weekend in Canada because it’s Victoria Day on Monday May 20! But what… Read more
Understanding Ramadan – May 6 to June 4
May 6, 2019
Ramadan has begun for 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, including more than one million Muslims in Canada.… Read more
The Journey from Volunteer to DIVERSEcity Employee
April 10, 2019
Rachna was a senior manager in India’s banking industry for 18 years before moving to Canada in 2014.… Read more
Why Volunteering is a Good Thing — for your Life and Career
April 8, 2019
It’s National Volunteer Week this week, April 7–13, 2019, in Canada. It’s a time to recognize the important… Read more
Aina Arora’s Teaching Dreams
April 1, 2019
A client of DIVERSEcity’s Future Leaders Program, Aina Arora was the winner of the 2019 Youth Achievement Award… Read more
Hate happens … but why?![]()
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Whether it manifests in overt or more subtle ways, there is no single cause.![]()
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Systemic inequality and oppression in our systems and structures lay the groundwork for hate, reinforcing racist and intolerant behaviours. ![]()
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Hate can be something we learn from the people around us — in our homes, communities and increasingly online. Children learn about the world around them from their parents and other influential figures in their lives. Their biases are passed along, normalized.![]()
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As people grow, they begin searching for who they are and where they belong. ![]()
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In this search for identity, some find themselves in groups or communities shaped by hate speech and a false sense of power or superiority. Once a part of these spaces, hatred for other groups often follows — and in extreme cases, so does radicalization.![]()
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Extremism, as a manifestation of hate, remains a significant concern in Canada, with an estimated 300 active far-right extremist groups, according to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.![]()
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People who are struggling with isolation, mental health or feelings of injustice are particularly vulnerable to hatred and extremism. ![]()
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Through DIVERSEcity’s Together Against Hate workshops, we are exploring some of these causes of hate, to better understand how we can educate ourselves and overcome hate, together. ![]()
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Join us for our first virtual workshop on understanding and overcoming anti-Islamic hate on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.![]()
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Register and learn more about our upcoming workshops here: www.dcrs.ca/resources/together-against-hate-project/![]()
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#TogetherAgainstHate #Racism #Stophate #Workshops #ForPeopleForCommunities
Have you registered for our first “Together Against Hate” workshop this Wednesday? ![]()
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Breaking Barriers: Understanding and Overcoming Islamophobia is being held in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attacks and Action Against Islamophobia on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. This virtual workshop that aims to understand where Islamophobia comes from and how it affects people. ![]()
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Participants will learn how to correct wrong ideas, challenge stereotypes and support your community. Leave the session feeling better equipped to deal with Islamophobia by addressing both personal and larger social biases. ![]()
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Let’s bring communities together, standing together against hate.![]()
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When: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 ![]()
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Time: 6–8 pm ![]()
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Where: Virtual ![]()
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Register today and learn more about the project here www.dcrs.ca/resources/together-against-hate-project/ ![]()
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#ForPeopleForCommunities #TogetherAgainstHate #unitedwaybc
Today marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, also known as the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It’s a day to honour the memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. ![]()
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As hate continues to rise, it is as important as ever to recognize to recognize the lessons of Holocaust history. ![]()
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#HolocaustRemembranceDay
DIVERSEcity is so lucky to have Chase Gray and Nova Wolf’s “Siyey̓e” mural displayed at our main DIVERSEcity Surrey Community Campus location, which we unveiled earlier today.![]()
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Lead artist Chase describes the mural this way: ![]()
“I think of riverbeds, sunlit mornings and stories told for time immemorial. On the bottom is a representation of the land, and the sʔi:ɬqəy̓ (double-headed serpent) carving out the creeks with its massive body, leaving the seeds of the məθkʷəy̓ plant behind it, which will grow into the namesake of Musqueam. Then, of course, there is the river, the reeds and the creatures who care for the river. We have ooligans swimming in the river, which once sustained the people. We have a canoe headed to visit relatives across the waters, being visited by Killer Whale along the way. Eagle and Raven are keeping watch from the skies, while Heron keeps watch from the waters of the Fraser River, which flows throughout the province connecting many different peoples. Every little thing is connected in some way, ensuring growth and sustainability.” ![]()
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Nova, who has been taking lessons on Musqueam’s hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, has named the mural “Siyey̓e.” This word means family or relations, representing harmony between all. ![]()
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Watch this video to hear Chase and Nova’s explanation of the elements in this mural. ![]()
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Thank you again to Chase Gray and Nova Wolf. ![]()
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Learn more at: www.dcrs.ca/about-us/truth-and-reconciliation/ ![]()
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#SurreyBC #ForPeopleForCommunities #TruthandReconciliation #mural #painting
As part of DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society’s truth and reconciliation journey, we are pleased to unveil a Coast Salish hand-painted mural at our DIVERSEcity Surrey Community Campus.![]()
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Supported by a City of Surrey cultural grant, commissioning the piece by local Indigenous artists Chase Gray and Nova Wolf was an opportunity for DIVERSEcity to foster awareness about Indigenous history, culture and arts with the diverse communities we serve. The painting and its symbolism send a message of harmony among all people, animals and the land.![]()
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“This mural grounds us to the Indigenous stories, culture and traditions on this very land we call home,” said Neelam Sahota, Chief Executive Officer, DIVERSEcity. “One of our core values is our commitment to truth and reconciliation through community engagement and cultural exchange. Today we share with our community a beautifully curated gift — a symbolic and powerful rending of the power of harmony.”![]()
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Lead artist Chase Gray, a two-spirit Musqueam and Tsimshian artist, imagines the mural as a place where an abundance of food, ecosystems, animals and people coexist and thrive together. Inspired by the Musqueam lands on the Fraser River he calls home.![]()
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Nova, who has been taking lessons on Musqueam’s hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, which has been undergoing revitalization since the 1970s, has named the mural Siyey̓e. The word means family or relations, representing harmony between all.![]()
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Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives Jessie Sunner , MLA, Surrey–Newton, attended the unveiling and shared this the audience of DIVERSEcity staff, community partners and clients, “Public art like this fosters understanding, reflection and connection across our diverse communities. This mural not only enriches our community, but also symbolizes the progress we can achieve when we prioritize respect, inclusion and unity.”![]()
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City of Surrey Councillors Linda Annis and Mike Bose were also there to celebrate the unveiling of the mural with the community.![]()
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Read more about the mural and the artists here: www.dcrs.ca/diversecity-unveils-mural-by-indigenous-artists-chase-gray-and-nova-wolf/![]()
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#ForPeopleForCommunities #mural #CoastSalish #Musqueam #truthandreconciliation #publicart #SurreyBC