The City of Vancouver’s Social Policy Department continues to focus on its role and response to ongoing and systemic racism and the current rise in racist incidents. This is important work while recognizing that broader issues of hate continue to be important to the City and that this work in particular will focus on the specific issues of racism within the context of intersectionality as racialized identities are connected to ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or class of persons.
We recognize the existence and persistence of racism, anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism, and that a majority of racist and hate incidents are unreported. It is recognized that while the COVID-19 anti-racism response work is within the context of Vancouver the issues of racism exist within and across communities that reach beyond Vancouver.
Broadly, the anti-racism response plan aims to:
- Identify the City’s ongoing role and response to systemic racism and the current rise in racist incidents;
- Identify the City’s role in improving the effectiveness of systems in place to protect, care and support targeted/victimized individuals and increase confidence in the reporting systems;
- Ensure that redress/accountability mechanisms are known and easily accessible and that targeted/victimized individuals are supported in navigating reporting processes
- Facilitate solidarity against racism and be a part of an overall reduction in racist incidents in Vancouver
This work continues to inform, reflect and address a range of City priorities including, but not limited to:
- Framework for City of Reconciliation specifically around cultural competency and strengthening relations
- Equity Framework and Intersectionality Toolkit
- Combatting specific issues of racism that relate to broader issues of hate and discrimination including anti-Semitism
- Access Without Fear Policy specifically with respect to complaint mechanisms
- Public Partners Working Group on Anti-Racism; Anti-Black Racism Response and Redress including Recommendations from Anti Blackness Principles of Engagement; and Historical Discrimination Against People of South Asian Descent
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice 2.6, 15.5:
- We call upon all governments to educate their citizens about, and to confront and eliminate, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. To accomplish this, the federal government, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and provincial and territorial governments, must develop and implement an Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism National Action Plan to end racist and sexualized stereotypes of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The plan must target the general public as well as public services.
- Confront and speak out against racism, sexism, ignorance, homophobia, and transphobia, and teach or encourage others to do the same, wherever it occurs: in your home, in your workplace, or in social settings.
This survey is currently being shared with Anti-Racism Response Focus Group members for feedback. This survey is now being shared broadly to hold accountability and monitoring of our work. Your answers will help us scope, implement and evaluate our work and impact on addressing the rise of racism in our city.
Results will be shared on the City’s website as initiatives take shape. If you have any questions about this initiative please email us at equity@vancouver.ca
Please consider your well-being when reflecting on issues of racism. Racism has an immense impact on all of us, especially racialized colleagues, neighbours, friends, and family. You are welcome to complete the survey at an appropriate time and skip any questions.
Please respond to these questions based on your knowledge and experience. This survey will take approximately 8-10 minutes to complete.