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.
In January 2025, our Together Against Hate workshops kick off to create a space for dialogue on racism and hate to encourage courageous conversations, cultural exchange and collective resilience.
Want to join the dialogue? We welcome you to register to attend the following virtual and in-person workshops.
Held in recognition of the 2017 Quebec Mosque Attack, unpacks the roots of Islamophobia and its impacts. Participants will gain tools to address misconceptions, challenge stereotypes and strengthen allyship within their communities. This session will equip you to tackle Islamophobia by addressing personal and systemic biases, and build bridges of understanding across diverse communities.
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Time: 6–8 pm
Where: Virtual
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.
Date: February 7, 2025
Time: 12–2 pm
Where: Hybrid (in-person and virtual options)
Register
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)
This capacity-building workshop equips youth with tools and strategies to combat online hate and intervene as anti-racist bystanders. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will develop skills to challenge hate speech, promote inclusivity, and create safer online and offline spaces.
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Where: TBD
As part of this project, DIVERSEcity will also be sharing some infographics, statistics and resources we are gathering in our exploration of hate, racism and their impact on society.
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.
More infographics will be added here as they are released on DIVERSEcity social media platforms.
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.
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.
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.