The BC Multiculturalism Grants program has offered support to a range of community-based organizations across the province for projects that challenge racism, hate and systemic barriers.
"Over the past two years, we've seen a staggering increase in racism and hate incidents in B.C.," said Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives in a media release. "These grants are one of many steps in our fight against racism, helping organizations on the ground address systemic racism."
This funding comes on the heels of BC’s anti-racism data legislation informed by community engagement. The legislation aims to help the provincial government identify inequities in programs and services and address barriers.
The Province has also announced its reinstatement of the B.C. Human Rights Commission, the development of a multilingual racist-incident hotline for British Columbians to report racist incidents and receive support and referrals, and funding for the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network, alongside a province-wide anti-racism awareness campaign.
Of the 60 organizations that have received the grants, 16 are from Vancouver. Here are the projects they are working on:
ARC Foundation, Indigenous Perspectives on SOGI-Inclusive Education
A project to ensure Indigenous perspectives are included in SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) 1-2-3 and SOGI-inclusive education across B.C.
Arts Club of Vancouver Theatre Society, Learning by Design
Apprenticeships for emerging IBPOC theatre designers to gain experience working with a large theatre company.
Arts Umbrella Association, Intersections
A project bringing together more than 30 different theatres in B.C. to advance the conversation of diversity and representation in our studios and on our stages, affecting change for future artists.
BC Family Hearing Resource Society (BCFHRS), Synthesising Cultural Safety Calls to Action
Identifying systemic racism within the organization, BCFHRS aims to remove service barriers, build intercultural understanding and trust, and direct anti-racist strategies to eliminate barriers to participation by under-represented, racialized and minority groups.
Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Organizational Change
Undertaking an organizational EDI assessment to identify barriers to full participation of systemically marginalized individuals and build more inclusive practices.
Canada Committee 100 Society, Rediscovering the Bonds Between First Nations and Chinese Communities
A project that seeks to strengthen the mutual understanding, respect and trust between First Nations and Chinese communities in the province, a relationship dating back 150 years.
Miscellaneous Productions Society, Productions Co-Creation Tour in B.C.'s Regions
A co-creation music/street-dance theatre workshop, film screening and performance tour to B.C. Indigenous youth centres, including Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Westbank First Nation Youth Centre, and Kitsumkalum First Nations/Northwest Inter-Nation Family and Community Services Society.
Pacific Canada Heritage Centre, Museum of Migration Society
Unearthing Hidden Stories on Commercial Drive – a community-engaged project that mentors young people to discover and document the vibrant and diverse but fast-disappearing history of the older food businesses run by racialized peoples in a working-class neighbourhood.
re:Naissance Opera, The Imaginarium
A new program at re:Naissance Opera that addresses the lack of IBPOC leadership in the performing arts by inviting early-career and established IBPOC artists to curate and present performances and panels.
Reel Youth (a project of MakeWay Charitable Society), Black Brilliance 3
A video-production, skill development, and community-building program bringing together youth of African descent in an allBlack space. Black artist facilitators will mentor Black youth in creating short films about their lived experiences and visions for positive change.
Savage Production Society, White Noise
A comedy by Taran Kootenhayoo, co-produced by Savage Society and Firehall Arts Centre Live, with in-person performances at the Firehall Arts Centre, Vancouver from April 16-May 1, 2022.
Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, Resilience and Reconnection
Reducing cultural and systemic barriers for marginalized Taiwanese/Asian seniors by providing workshops in anti-racism, social policy, public safety and holistic health counseling, and promoting intercultural engagement and volunteerism through participation in community activities.
Urban Ink Production Society, Indigenizing History: Conversations surrounding Les Filles du Roi Digital Work
Building relationships between Indigenous and nonIndigenous communities by sharing the story of Les Filles Du Roi, an Indigenous woman’s perspective of history on this land in 1665, through language (Kanienʼkéha [Mohawk], French, and English), music and movement.
Vancouver Cantonese Opera, The Making of the Prop Master's Dream
A documentary following the production of fusion opera, The Prop Master’s Dream, sharing the true-life story of Wah-Kwan Gwan (1929-2000), a Cantonese opera performer with a Chinese father and Indigenous mother.
Vancouver Choral Arts Society, Vancouver Youth Choir KINDRED
A free program where newcomer and refugee youth learn about Indigenous music and culture from Indigenous artists.
YWCA, Reimagining Urban Child Welfare: Indigenous-led Child Welfare Practices and Restorative Community Supports
A panel event that amplifies the voices of Indigenous women and youth and examines how B.C.’s child welfare system is connected to the racist history and intergenerational impacts of residential schools.
