As an organization that opened its doors in Surrey, BC, 46 years ago in response to rising racism in the community back then, DIVERSEcity continues to explore new ways to bring people together to diminish the racism that persists — and grows — in our daily lives, public systems and society.
One of our strategic priorities as an organization is to strengthen community connection, especially by creating spaces for dialogue where every voice can be heard. Our new Together Against Hate project, funded by a grant from United Way British Columbia, offers these spaces — both in person and online — for information sharing and advocacy against racism and hate, including through various infographics and resources shared below.
Discover our Workshops, plus Infographics and Resource Links below.
With facilitators Kim Haxton & Alfred Mating
This workshop bridges Indigenous and settler communities, exploring Canada’s colonial history, and Indigenous culture and resurgence. Facilitated by immigrant and Indigenous leaders, it covers key topics like the Indian Act, residential schools and UNDRIP, equipping participants with tools for allyship and reconciliation.
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: DIVERSEcity Surrey Community Campus (13455 76 Avenue, Surrey, BC)
DIVERSEcity’s Together Against Hate project concludes with a free Community Forum in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The theme is “Eliminating Racism for a Better Future” for our youth, families, schools and communities.
The rising rates of hate and discrimination among youth in schools and online, in Surrey and beyond, highlight the urgent need for community-driven solutions to address these systemic challenges for a better future. Schools, in particular, should be safe spaces for learning, growth and belonging — yet, many youth continue to face racial discrimination that affects their wellbeing, academic success and sense of belonging. And it’s common knowledge that social media and online bullying are having devastating effects on our youth.
What can we do to eliminate racism for the next generation? Join us for a day of guided discussions, group activities and personal reflection!
At this free community forum, you will:
Event Program
11–11:30 am: Opening Remarks & Introduction
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Panel Discussion: Lived Experiences of Racism in Schools
12:30–1:20 pm: Lunch
1:30–2:30 pm: Interactive Group Activity
2:30–3:30 pm: Mental Health Check-In & Reflection Session
3:30–4 pm: Closing Remarks & Call to Action
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 11 am – 4 pm
Where: Civic Hotel, Surrey, BC
With facilitators Landon Turlock & Sunpreet Johal
Discover actionable strategies, tools and frameworks to strengthen communities in supporting victims of hate crimes and incidents, using the StopHateAB guide. By focusing on restorative approaches, this session aims to create safer, more inclusive spaces for healing and advocacy within communities.
This event on February 25, 2025, is focused on the seniors community with limited registration.
As part of the “Together Against Hate” project, DIVERSEcity is also sharing some infographics, statistics and resources we are gathering in our exploration of hate, racism and their impact on society. We have developed these infographics based on multiple sources, listed in our “Resources Links” below.
Infographic #1: Hate can look like …
We all have the right to be treated equally, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, language, age, abilities or other differences. Yet incidents of hate and racism, both overt and systemic, persist and, in many cases, have risen, particularly during the pandemic.
Hate takes many forms, from hate speech and stereotypes to online bullying and hate crimes.
While there has been progress in Canada in diversity and inclusion, hate has deep roots in discrimination, oppression and colonialism, evolving with the politics and unrest of the day.
There are valuable resources and research available on hate and racism today, like From Hate to Hope, a report by British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, which delves deeply into the rise of hate during the pandemic. And United Way British Columbia offers support with its racistincidenthelpline.ca (1-833-457-5463) where you can get help navigating resources available to you in your community.
As a registered charity serving people and communities, DIVERSEcity is proud to create a space for dialogue on racism and hate.
Infographic #2: Hate happens here …
Hate can happen anywhere. It can take place in public spaces or private ones, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.
Imagine a child nervously walking into school knowing they’ll be mocked for how they look or speak. A teenager scrolling through social media only to find hateful comments targeting their identity. An athlete in a locker room silently enduring discriminatory remarks from teammates. An adult sitting through yet another meeting where microaggressions go unchecked. A senior citizen seeking care in a hospital only to be met with prejudice instead of compassion. Families enjoying a sunny day at the park encountering hostility for speaking in their mother tongue.
It can happen in a busy city or rural community. Hate has no geographic boundaries and can infiltrate any place or space we enter.
In a survey by the BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of people who experienced hate incidents, almost half (48%) of respondents reported that incidents were most likely to occur in an outdoor public space. Then social media platforms (39%), indoor spaces (32%) and at work (24%).
At DIVERSEcity, we are fostering safe spaces to discuss solutions and create change.
Infographic #3: Hate crime or hate incident?
When we experience or witness hate or racism, we may feel uncertain about what to do and the steps to take. We may even wonder, “Is what I just experienced a crime?”
While hate incidents — such as sharing discriminatory material, using racist slurs, insulting someone based on their nationality or making offensive jokes — don’t meet the criminal threshold under the Canadian Criminal Code, they still cause lasting harm.
Hate crimes, on the other hand, are criminal acts, like assault or property damage, motivated by hate toward a specific group, whether based on race, religion, gender identity or other factors.
And while freedom of speech and expression is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Criminal Code outlines certain types of hate propaganda as a criminal offense. This includes inciting hatred against an identifiable group in a public place that is likely to lead to a breach of the peace. It’s important to recognize the line between peaceful expression and rhetoric that incites hate, which can harm people and communities.
Have you experienced a hate incident or crime? Get support navigating community resources through the United Way British Columbia’s racistincidenthelpline.ca (1-833-457-5463).
For hate crimes, you can also file a report with the police in person or through their non-emergency number.
Need emergency help, contact 9-1-1.
Infographic #4: Hate happens for many reasons ….
Hate happens … but why?
Whether it manifests in overt or more subtle ways, there is no single cause.
Systemic inequality and oppression in our systems and structures lay the groundwork for hate, reinforcing racist and intolerant behaviours.
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.
As people grow, they begin searching for who they are and where they belong.
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.
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.
People who are struggling with isolation, mental health or feelings of injustice are particularly vulnerable to hatred and extremism.
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.
Infographic #5: Hate lingers and evolves … what can we do?
Hate is not new. It is as old as humankind and has lingered and evolved, building deep, structural roots that weave into our systems, thoughts and even language.
If we want to choose harmony over hate, it’s up to all of us to:
Education and understanding are our most powerful defenses against hate. By learning from one another and seeking out diverse perspectives, we can begin to dismantle the structural roots of hate and replace them with empathy and connection.
Hate is on the rise in BC and Canada with a steady increase of hate crimes since 2019.
Feeling overwhelmed by the statistics? Here are five actions you can take:
If you or a loved one have experienced or witnessed racism in British Columbia, help is available. Call the Racist Incident Helpline (1-833-457-5463) to speak with a trained professional who will help you navigate resources available to you in your community.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic and rising hate and racism globally, DIVERSEcity embarked on an information campaign to share knowledge on types of racism that persist and do harm. Follow the link to find an archive of this awareness campaign as well as additional external resources and links.
Produced by the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership, this media campaign aims to encourage everyone to speak up against racism at work, especially white colleagues, managers, directors, and leaders who are presently quiet, hesitant, or unsure how to address the issue.
Rise Above Racism (RAR) is a campaign was inspired by the tragic death of Joyce Echaquan in Quebec, who experienced anti-Indigenous racism in the in health care system.
Toronto for All is a public education initiative that generated dialogue among Toronto residents. The campaign aimed to help create a city that says “no” to all forms of discrimination and racism, including systemic racism.
N.E.E.D.S. Inc.’s “Stand Up to Racism Together” campaign encourages newcomer youth to combat racial injustices through digital media and storytelling. In their anti-racism videos, they shared their experiences of racism, challenged stereotypes, advocating a message of hope using social media as a tool to raise public awareness
Learn, Speak up, Act! is the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s campaign and global call for concrete action against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Anti-Racism in Sport Canada seeks to increase, promote and engage in discussions on anti-racism in sport about the presence of all levels of racism in sport in Canada and its impact on people’s lives, and raise awareness, address, and eliminate racism and discrimination experienced by First Nations, Metis, Inuit, Black, racialized and religious minority communities in sport in Canada.
In August 2021, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner launched an inquiry into the rise of hate in BC during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2023, the Commissioner released the findings and recommendations.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1965.
The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech emphasizes the transformative power of education as a tool to address hate speech.
Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate is the Government of Canada’s action plan on confronting hate.
A 2024 report put out by Statistics Canada breaking down police-reported hate crimes by motivation, number of incidents. This report was released in October 10, 2024.
A document published by the RCMP that breaks down the definitions of hate crimes, cyber hate crimes, hate groups and more, victimology, accused persons characteristics, statistics and stats.
The Office of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime released this report as a call to action that highlights issues, challenges and gaps in hate crime responses across Canada and provides a total of 13 recommendations.
Government of BC in 2022 passed the Anti-Racism Data Act, which aims to address systemic racism. Every two years, the research priorities must be updated and released and the latest research priorities updated in 2024.
A report from US-based organization Life after Hate, which helps people break free from lives of violent hate and extremism through evidence-based interventions.
BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner addresses the root causes of inequality, discrimination and injustice in B.C. by shifting laws, policies, practices and cultures. We do this work through education, research, advocacy, inquiry and monitoring.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is a federal Crown corporation mandated to raise public awareness of the causes and manifestations of racism in Canada. It works to strengthen the social fabric of our society by supporting, enabling and convening community groups and organizations through grants and services. Its website has an in-depth Glossary of Terms that defines key concepts relevant to race relations.
Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network supports communities across BC that are experiencing incidents of racism and hate
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network seeks to expose and dismantle hate groups in Canada. Its website defines what a “hate group” is and how the public can monitor, contain, or document activities that promote bigotry, racism and violence.
This national coalition of citizens and community groups was created to address the rising anti-Asian racism and violence due to COVID-19. The network supports communities and members across Canada with advocacy materials and resources on its website.
The federal Canadian Heritage department has developed an Action Plan on Combatting Hate
Article published in the Winnipeg Sun by Kevin Kline that examines the rise in radicalization in youth through the medium of online platforms and video games.
Article published in CBC News by Benjamin Lopez Steven, that discusses the upcoming national forum held by the federal government in February regarding combatting antisemitism.
More resources will continue to be added.
Funding by:
