DELTA– Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon says multiculturalism and arts grant funding will help local organizations fight systemic racism throughout Delta. This year, priority was given to projects addressing anti-Indigenous, anti-Asian and anti-Black racism.

“We felt it was Important to support these organizations steeped in our collective fight against overt and systemic racism,” said Kahlon, MLA for Delta North. “Anti-Racism is a tireless but essential struggle led by many of our local organizations who are integral to bringing change in our communities.”

Multiculturalism Grant funding is provided to non-profit and charitable organizations for projects that build intercultural interaction, trust and understanding, or challenge racism, hate and systemic barriers. MLA Kahlon said that through these projects, people across B.C. will soon have improved access to tools and resources to help them learn about the diverse culture they live.

Projects in Delta receiving a grant include:

• Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society – $12,000 total from:
  • Resilience Funding Stream from Ministry of Tourism Culture Arts and Society
  • BC Multiculturalism Grants from Attorney General’s Office

For 2020/21, the Province is providing a $944,000 one-time boost to the grant funding as part of anti-racism initiatives through Stronger BC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan.

This grant program is just one way the BC New Democrat government province is working to subvert systemic racism and protect human rights. The province has taken further action to tackle racism including: reinstating the B.C. Human Rights Commission after it was dismantled by the former BC Liberal government, launching an investigation into allegations of racism in B.C.’s health-care system, and developing a comprehensive, multi-year anti-racism action plan for B.C.’s K-12 education system.  A special committee of the legislature is currently undertaking a review of the 45-year-old Police Act to modernize it, with a specific focus on addressing systemic racism. The BC New Democrat government is also committed to introducing a new anti-racism act and legislation on race-based data collection.

Learn More:

For more information about the BC Multiculturalism Grants program, visit:

www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content?id=05BC37ECB1AC4C87AF86BC303937F6EF 

For more information about Resilience BC, B.C.’s Anti-Racism network visit:

www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/multiculturalism-anti-racism/anti-racism/resiliencebc