BC NDP MLAs Phillip and Dhir say grants will help combat racism, promote multiculturalism in Vancouver

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VANCOUVER– BC NDP MLAs Amshen (Joan Phillip) and Sunita Dhir say funding will help local organizations in Vancouver to address and reduce racism and promote multiculturalism through education and awareness.

“I am grateful to see so many different voices uplifted, all dedicated to combatting racism and connecting people across cultures,” says Amshen (Joan Phillip), MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona. “Vancouver is a very diverse city, and this work will make our community even stronger.”

Projects in Vancouver receiving a $5000 grant include:

  • Access Pro Bono Society of BC (Project 1)
  • Access Pro Bono Society of BC (Project 2)
  • Latincouver Cultural and Business Society
  • Pride in Art Society
  • S.U.C.C.E.S.S., also known as United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society
  • Swahili Vision International Association
  • Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society
  • Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice

“Those who call Vancouver home are proud of our city’s rich cultural diversity,” says Sunita Dhir, MLA for Vancouver-Langara. “These local organizations, including the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society in my own constituency, uphold our cherished values of multiculturalism and anti-racism, helping everyone feel at home in B.C.”

The B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants support community projects that help reduce systemic racism and incidents of hate, as well as build inter-cultural connections, trust and understanding. This year, $300,000 in funding is going out to 60 organizations around BC. Each organization can receive up to $5,000 to cover direct costs needed to administer their project.

A backgrounder follows that includes all Vancouver recipients and project details.

 

Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025AG0019-000325

 

BACKGROUNDER:

  • Access Pro Bono Society of BC (1) – Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline – The Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline (the “ILAH” or the “Hotline”) is a coalition of legal organizations and concerned individuals in British Columbia that works in solidarity with Muslim and racialized communities to combat Islamophobia and racism through the provision of free legal advice and representation to individuals and groups affected by Islamophobia and related racism. The Multiculturalism and Anti-racism grant will allow the Hotline to host two events, various workshops, and produce outreach and educational material.

 

  • Access Pro Bono Society of BC (2) – Antisemitism Legal Helpline (ALH) – The ALH project intends to connect those who have experienced antisemitism with trauma-informed volunteer lawyers who can provide up to 30 minutes pro bono summary legal advice on the matter, including potential next steps or available remedies. Specifically, the project subject of this grant is to enable in-person visits by the ALH team to smaller, more rural Jewish communities to ensure effective outreach to all those requiring assistance.

 

  • Becoming Chimera Arts Society – Chimerik Chinatown Art Space – Chimerik’s Chinatown Art Space is a New and Mixed Media Gallery Space in Chinatown that we aim to open. The space is a small corner unit in an old mall in Chinatown that’s facing gentrification from the lack of local BIPOC run businesses that occupy the building. We will use this space to uplift marginalized emerging artists through small exhibitions and workshops that are free/by-donation for the community, with the aim to bridge various underserved perspectives and communities together. We want to establish the gallery as a culturally nourishing hub, a place to make sustainable experimentation, and create a legacy of accessible arts engagement in the community.

 

  • Centre A: Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Art – Umbrage Inter-community Storytelling Events – To host Centre A’s exhibition Umbrage with Afuwa, jaz whitford, and Nina Yañez and supporting a collaborative intercommunity storytelling public program with Chinatown elders and residents of the Downtown Eastside.

 

  • Great Lakes Networking Society of BC – Harambeecouver Afro Folk Music Festival – Harambeecouver Afro Folk Music Festival is Canada’s inaugural Multicultural Reconciliation Parade, celebrating the rich diversity and cultural heritage of various communities, while strengthening unity and understanding. Through vibrant performances, workshops, dialogue and community engagement, the festival aims to promote reconciliation and build bridges among diverse populations in Vancouver and beyond.

 

  • Hope in Shadows Society (d.b.a. Megaphone) – 23rd Annual Hope in Shadows Calendar Project – The Hope in Shadows Calendar Project is a transformative community initiative that engages over 200 residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), 45% identifying as Indigenous and 60% as BIPOC. Through photography, storytelling and public engagement, participants use disposable cameras in a community photo contest, followed by public voting, a launch event and the sale of over 5,000 calendars. This project challenges stereotypes, promotes anti-racism and provides lowbarrier, self-determined opportunities for creativity and income generation for individuals experiencing poverty or homelessness.

 

  • Latincouver Cultural and Business Society – Navigating Racism and Building Resilience in Latinx Newcomer Communities – Our project, Navigating Racism and Building Resilience in Latinx Newcomer Communities, aims to provide targeted anti-racism workshops for Latinx newcomers, focusing on navigating systemic barriers and building community resilience. Through these workshops and a dialogue circle, participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds within the Latinx community will gain practical tools to address racism, recognize and overcome both internal and external biases, and create inclusive, supportive networks within their communities.

 

  • Pride in Art Society – Emancipation Day 2025 – Emancipation Day 2025: a 2SLGBTQIA+ focused event celebrating and commemorating Queer Black excellence in B.C.

 

  • Rice and Beans Theatre Society – Made in Canada Development Workshop – The development workshop of Made in Canada: An Agricultural Operetta, which is a musical that centres the experiences of migrant workers on Canadian farms. Since the play was cancelled due to the pandemic back in 2020, this funding will be used to update the script, incorporate new songs and prepare the show for its premiere.

 

  • S.U.C.C.E.S.S., also known as United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society – Intercultural Connections: Advancing Truth and Reconciliation – The Project engages with the racialized immigrant families in Tri-Cities communities to participate in the Indigenous – led KAIROS Blanket Exercise in promoting intercultural connections and in advancing Reconciliation and allyship among immigrant and Indigenous communities. The Project liaises with Tri-Cities Early Childhood Development Committee to foster intercultural sensitivity, learning, and relational healing among racialized immigrants and Indigenous Peoples, and for immigrant families to better understand and apply Truth and Reconciliation principles on interpersonal relations with Indigenous Peoples.

 

  • Swahili Vision International Association – Diverse Dialogues – This project is a youth-focused workshop series aimed at engaging young people in meaningful discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, and anti-racism. Through interactive activities and open dialogue, participants will explore cultural differences, build empathy, and develop skills to promote inclusion and combat racism in their communities.

 

  • Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society – 2025 Taiwanese Cultural Centre Community Days – Taiwanese Cultural Centre Community Days is a public-engaged program that promotes Taiwanese heritage and culture and builds relationships among mainstream and other ethnic communities. The program takes place on weekends in May, July, and September at the Taiwanese Cultural Centre and invites the public of all ages to learn, share, and participate in the festivities of Taiwan’s distinctive culture.

 

  • The Society of We Are Canadians Too – Pancouver Print Edition 2025 continues its mission to combat racism through storytelling in a multilingual magazine. By showcasing diverse artists, the project promotes unity, breaks down societal silos, and fosters intercultural understanding across communities.

 

  • Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre – The Frontliners – Mainstage Production – A mainstage production by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (vAct) of The Frontliners, a play about Syrian refugees and frontline social workers in Vancouver, written by Ismaili playwright Zahida Rahemtulla. The project will take place at the Firehall Arts Centre (Vancouver B.C.) and Evergreen Cultural Centre (Coquitlam B.C.) between 1 April 2025 and 30 May 2025.

 

  • Vancouver Black Film Festival – 2025 Vancouver International Black Film Festival’s ACTION! Beyond Awareness Forum – The Vancouver International Black Film Festival is back in 2025 with our milestone 5th edition, featuring the brand-new program, the ACTION! Beyond Awareness Forum, where local Black filmmakers, professionals, and arts sector workers will work with audiences to move beyond conversations by developing real, actionable solutions that improve the lived experiences of Black Vancouverites.

 

  • Vancouver Kaifong (Neighbourhood) Association – Kaifong Workshop Series – A comprehensive series of workshops focusing on language, employment, and navigating cultural differences and values in Canada, tailored to support newcomers and families from Hong Kong as they adapt to their new lives.

  • VIVA Alliance Society – Artist Talk Series at VIVA Alliance – As a component of the community engagement and education programming at VIVA Alliance, the 2025-2026 artist talk series includes 5 facilitated and interactive artist talks delivered by artists represented by VIVA. This series is a companion to VIVA’s exhibition programming for this period, and its intention is to bring additional exposure to the under-represented Iranian Canadian artists and facilitate meaningful intercultural exchange between the artists and the community.

 

  • Women Transforming Cities International Society – Field Trip to City Hall: Civic empowerment for racialized and newcomer women – We’re taking racialized, newcomer and immigrant women on an educational field trip to City Hall, to build their civic skills, confidence and capacity. In a welcoming learning environment, participants will learn how local government works, where council meetings happen, how decisions are made and most importantly how they can get involved to take empowered action on the issues that matter most to them and shape equitable, inclusive cities.

 

  • Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice – Chinese Seniors Hub Tech Classes – We help Chinese-speaking seniors navigate an increasingly digital world by offering a dedicated platform that answers their tech-related questions, empowering them to stay connected and access essential services. Our mission is to foster digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in the shift towards a more connected world.