HAZELTON – Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson is welcoming $8,000 through the province’s Multiculturalism Grant Program for projects designed to promote multiculturalism and fight racism.

“Opportunities to share unique cultural knowledge are integral in fostering a robust multicultural society,” said Donaldson. “I am proud to be a part of a government that recognizes the importance of these programs in encouraging diversity and inclusion of people from all walks of life.”

Organizations in Smithers benefiting from this latest round of grants include:

• Smithers Community Services Association as part of their Multicultural Coffee & Talk Community Café
• Friends of the Smithers Library as part of the initiative to employ an Indigenous Library Assistant during their Summer Reading Club

Each organization is receiving $4,000.

A total of 76 community groups around the province will receive funding though the Multiculturalism Grant Program. The program promotes intercultural trust and understanding by funding projects that bring people together in creative ways to enhance multiculturalism and address racism. The B.C. Government provides $300,000 annually to communities across B.C. through this grant program.

This grant program is just one way the province is tackling human rights issues. In November 2018 the BC NDP government introduced legislative amendments to the Human Rights Code that will re-establish a human rights commission to promote and protect human rights for all British Columbians.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/19173