Strength in Diversity: The Government of Canada Invests More than $3.5 Million in British Columbia for Multiculturalism, Anti-Racism Initiatives and Youth Programs
The Government of Canada is committed to creating lasting social change that supports diversity, inclusion, respect and equality in communities across British Columbia
SURREY, BC, Sept. 6, 2019 /CNW/ - Diversity is at the heart of our national identity. The Government of Canada is not only committed to celebrating the invaluable contributions that Canadians of all backgrounds make to our country, but also to working hard to remove barriers that still prevent many Canadians from fully participating in society.
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Vancouver South), today announced investments totalling $3,523,229 in support of multiculturalism, community activities and events, youth programs and anti-racism initiatives throughout British Columbia. Minister Sajjan made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.
This funding, provided through the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program (CSMARI), will benefit 47 organizations across the province, including the Whistler Multicultural Network, the Arts Council of Surrey, the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George, and the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria.
The Indus Media Foundation will create a series of short films about the little-known story of Punjabi-Canadians' contributions in the First World War. The Foundation's project, Duty, Honour & Izzat, will facilitate the development of partnerships with the heritage sector on creating inclusive programming, while seeing the films delivered across a spectrum of digital platforms that specifically engage children and youth from the South Asian community about their history and heritage. Community workshops and opportunities for dialogue will also be organized to discuss issues of racism, discrimination, equity and media stereotyping.
In June 2019, Minister Rodriguez unveiled Building a Foundation for Change: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022, which helps advance the Government of Canada's vision of fostering and promoting a more inclusive and equitable country for all Canadians. The strategy, with an investment of $45 million, is building on current efforts to create long-term changes in supporting communities and for improved policies, initiatives and practices in our federal institutions. These investments are meant to be the first step of a longer-term commitment and a foundation for change in addressing racism and discrimination in Canada. Applications for new funding opportunities became available on September 3, 2019.
Quotes
"The opportunity to take part in enriching experiences that celebrate our rich multicultural heritage not only bolsters our community spirit, it breaks down barriers—building a Canada that promotes respect, equity, equality and dignity. Our government is proud to support these projects that support our youth, and promote diversity and inclusion, while addressing issues of racism and discrimination in communities."
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism
"Our government is committed to promoting multiculturalism and celebrating the unique cultural diversity of British Columbia by investing in these important anti-racism projects. It is through increasing the understanding of British Columbia's diverse communities and their contributions in building our province and country that we can fight intolerance and discrimination. This funding will benefit many organizations, supporting them in the important work they carry out across the province building a more accepting British Columbia."
—The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament (Vancouver South)
"The Arts Council of Surrey is grateful to the Government of Canada for their generous support of Surrey Fusion Festival. Surrey Fusion Festival is British Columbia's largest multicultural event, and is known as the ultimate celebration of food, music, culture, and the literary, performing and visual arts. Working in partnership with the City of Surrey, the Arts Council of Surrey is able to utilize this important funding to continue celebrating our creative diversity."
—Carol Girardi, President, Arts Council of Surrey
"We are grateful for the Department of Canadian Heritage's support in shining a light on the significant contributions of the Punjabi community in defence of the Crown and to Canada's military history. Punjabis can now see themselves reflected positively in the Canadian World War I story—a pivotal moment in the nation-building saga. The story of the unsung heroes of the Punjab (Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims) is likely one of the most unifying and Canadian stories we can tell: it is an untold story of diverse communities coming together with a common goal; it is a dialogue around the ties that bind, and the shared values of courage, integrity and selfless sacrifice. This is a common heritage that establishes belonging and confronts divisive voices to promote a shared future within a multicultural Canada."
—Steven Purewal, Managing Director, Indus Media Foundation
"As an organization serving Canada's newest citizens, the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming community. We are delighted to partner with Indigenous leaders on this learning journey to integrate the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations into our organization. Many newcomers share similar stories and histories of displacement, colonization, dispossession and oppression. New immigrants, when educated on the reality of life in Canada and history, are logical allies and can understand their settlement in Canada in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. We hope introducing newcomers to the richness of the local Indigenous history and culture will strengthen relationships between newcomers and Indigenous Peoples. We look forward to sharing our learnings with settlement-serving organizations and our community partners, thanks to this support from the Government of Canada."
—Jean McRae, CEO, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Quick Facts
The goal of the Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program is to build an integrated, socially cohesive society by building bridges to promote intercultural understanding; to promote equal opportunity for individuals of all origins; and to promote citizenship, civic engagement and a healthy democracy.
The CSMARI Program has three funding components: Events, Projects and Community Capacity Building. It also includes two separate initiatives, Community Support for Black Canadian Youth initiative and the Paul Yuzyk Youth Initiative for Multiculturalism.
The Events component provides funding to community-based events that foster one or more of the following: intercultural or interfaith understanding; civic memory and pride; respect for a healthy democracy; and celebrations of a community's history and culture.
The Projects component provides funding for community development, anti-racism initiatives, and engagement projects that promote diversity and inclusion through projects that promote the expression of Canadians' multiple identities and encourage positive interaction between cultural, religious and ethnic communities in Canada.
The Community Capacity Building component provides funding for capacity-building projects that will contribute to the recipient's ability to promote diversity and inclusion, and help achieve one or more of the following objectives: strengthening governance and building partnerships (building the capacity of organizations, and promoting collaboration between service providers); e-capacity (building and strengthening the online and social media presence of eligible organizations); establishing an overall external communication strategy; and recruitment and training of volunteers.
The Community Support for Black Canadian Youth initiative provides funding for projects that address the unique challenges faced by Black Canadian Youth by combating discrimination through awareness raising and digital literacy; providing opportunities for Black Canadian Youth and empowering them through the promotion of Black history, culture and identity; and developing leadership skills and promoting civic engagement.
In June 2019, the Government of Canada unveiled Building a Foundation for Change: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2019-2022 to help advance the vision of fostering and promoting a more inclusive and equitable country for all Canadians. Budget 2019 announced an investment of $45 million to support the Strategy.
Related Products
Associated Links
Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Building a Foundation for Change: Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022
Backgrounder
Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
City | Component | Organization | Project | Fiscal Year | Amount |
Abbotsford | Events | Heritage Abbotsford Society | Aboriginal Arts and Culture Day | 2019–2020 | $9,000 |
Burnaby | Project | Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of British Columbia | Framing Indigeneity in BC's Immigration Sector | 2019–2021 | $120,000 |
Burnaby | Community Capacity Building | Judith Marcuse Projects Society | Futures Forward | 2019–2020 | $45,000 |
Burnaby | Events | Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre | Nikkei Matsuri | 2019–2020 | $5,000 |
Burnaby | Project | Culture Chats BC Association | Community Reporting and Action Research | 2019–2020 | $6,000 |
Creston | Events | Creston and District Historical and Museum Society | Multiculturalism Day in Creston – An Opportunity to Build Awareness and Recognition | 2019–2020 | $1,750 |
Delta | Events | Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society | Screening and Discussion of My Name Was January with Panel | 2019–2020 | $2,560 |
Duncan | Community Capacity Building | Inclusive Leadership Co-operative | Strengthening Bridges of Inclusion for Addressing All Forms of Discrimination | 2019–2020 | $28,940 |
Fort Nelson | Events | Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society | Culturefest 2019 | 2019–2020 | $6,357 |
Harrison Hot Springs | Events | Harrison Festival Society | Workshops and Children's Day at the 41st Harrison Festival of the Arts | 2019–2020 | $10,220 |
Kelowna | Events | Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association | Asian Heritage Month Celebrations in the Okanagan 2019 | 2019–2020 | $15,500 |
Powell River | Events | Powell River Employment Program Society | Powell River Centre for Diversity, Peace and Justice | 2019–2020 | $73,025 |
Prince George | Events | Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George | Heatwave – Celebrate Cultures | 2019–2020 | $75,000 |
Surrey | Events | African Stages Association | Africanada Storytelling Symposium | 2019–2020 | $6,797 |
Surrey | Events | Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association | An Indigenous Perspective of Racism in Surrey | 2019–2020 | $26,800 |
Surrey | Events | Arts Council of Surrey | Surrey Fusion Festival | 2019–2020 | $42,950 |
Surrey | Events | Royal Academy of Bhangra Society | Folk Lok Live: This is Punjab | 2019–2020 | $25,000 |
Surrey | Project | Indus Media Foundation | Duty, Honour & Izzat | 2019–2021 | $366,000 |
Toronto | Events | Aboriginal Curatorial Collective | Great Ocean Dialogues (Vancouver Forum) | 2019–2020 | $14,375 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | M.O.S.A.I.C. Multi-Lingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities | Social & Civic Engagement For Newcomers Project (SCENE) | 2019–2020 | $84,900 |
Vancouver | Events | Italian Cultural Centre Society | Italian Heritage Month in Vancouver | 2019–2020 | $44,270 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | The Laurier Institution | Capacity Building | 2019–2020 | $55,000 |
Vancouver | Project | Association of Neighbourhood Houses of British Columbia | Tuyulshayn't (Prepare the Path for the Future) Welcome Hub | 2019–2021 | $522,230 |
Vancouver | Events | Downtown South Gathering Place Community Centre Association | Festival of Hallows | 2019–2020 | $6,300 |
Vancouver | Events | Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society | Explorasian Festival 2019 | 2019–2020 | $35,900 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | Latincouver Cultural & Business Society | Building Latincouver's Capacity | 2019–2020 | $37,000 |
Vancouver | Events | Latincouver Cultural & Business Society | Latin American & Canadian Indigenous Art Exhibition - Similitud | 2019–2020 | $20,100 |
Vancouver | Events | Latincouver Cultural & Business Society | Travelling Back to Afro-Latin Roots | 2019–2020 | $10,400 |
Vancouver | Events | Latincouver Cultural & Business Society | Latin American Heritage Month | 2019–2020 | $20,000 |
Vancouver | Events | Indian Summer Arts Society | Indian Summer Festival | 2019–2020 | $40,000 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | Check Your Head: The Youth Global Education Network | Expanding the Reach, Building Community | 2019–2020 | $30,000 |
Vancouver | Events | Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society | Summer Solstice | 2019–2020 | $21,725 |
Vancouver | Events | Great Lakes Networking Society of BC | Pan African Carnival and Multicultural Festival 2019 | 2019–2020 | $17,500 |
Vancouver | Events | African Descent Society British Columbia | African Descent Festival 2019 | 2019–2020 | $18,932 |
Vancouver | Project | Asian Environmental Association | Hua Foundation's Race Equity Project | 2019–2021 | $196,500 |
Vancouver | Project | Vancouver Native Health Society | International Urban Indigenous Health Conference 2019 | 2019–2020 | $180,000 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | Vantage Point Strategies Society | Non-Profit Organization Capacity Lab | 2019–2020 | $98,300 |
Vancouver | Community Support For Black Canadian Youth | Solid State Community Society | Ethós Lab | 2019–2021 | $154,054 |
Vancouver | Community Capacity Building | Visceral Visions Society | Culturebrew.Art | 2019–2020 | $54,447 |
Victoria | Project | Victoria Native Friendship Centre | Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogue Engagement Strategy | 2019–2021 | $108,397 |
Victoria | Events | Victoria Native Friendship Centre | Victoria Native Friendship Centre's 50th Anniversary Celebration | 2019–2020 | $30,000 |
Victoria | Events | Victoria Native Friendship Centre | Two Spirit Gathering | 2019–2020 | $8,500 |
Victoria | Project | Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria | Organizational Indigenous Journey | 2019–2021 | $176,000 |
Victoria | Community Capacity Building | Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria | Expanding Community Support for Immigrants and Refugees | 2019–2020 | $37,050 |
Victoria | Project | Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society | Racialized Immigrant Volunteer Integration Experiences Project | 2019–2020 | $60,000 |
Victoria | Project | Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society | VIRCS Welcome Gardens Shared Garden Network | 2019–2020 | $60,000 |
Victoria | Project | Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society | Together | 2019–2020 | $59,000 |
Victoria | Events | Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society | Youth Strides Summer Camp 2019 | 2019–2020 | $10,000 |
Victoria | Project | Royal British Columbia Museum | Living Cultures | 2019–2021 | $150,904 |
Victoria | Project | University of Victoria | Being and Becoming Métis | 2019–2021 | $200,000 |
Victoria | Events | Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour | Black Joy: Photography and Visual Arts Exhibition | 2019–2020 | $4,784 |
Victoria | Events | Bramble Ink | OUT LOUD: The Living Magazine Project | 2019–2020 | $32,250 |
Victoria | Events | IAS Integrate Art Society | Integrate: Rethinking Artistic Knowledge and Criticism | 2019–2020 | $8,500 |
Victoria | Events | Pacific Peoples' Partnership Association | One Wave Gathering 2019 | 2019–2020 | $35,000 |
Victoria | Events | Afro Latin Cultural Exchange Society | Victoria International Kizomba Festival | 2019–2020 | $9,752 |
Whistler | Events | Whistler Multicultural Network | Whistler Multicultural Festival 2019 | 2019–2020 | $5,260 |
TOTAL: | $3,523,229 | ||||
SOURCE Canadian Heritage
Simon Ross, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, 819-997-7788; Media Relations, Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]
Share this article