COQUITLAM – New Democrat MLA Selina Robinson says that more people will have better access to the tools and resources needed to address racism and build inclusivity in Coquitlam, thanks to funding to local organizations through the BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism grant program.

“Racism and discrimination are alive and prevalent across BC, but proper education and honest conversations within our communities can help change that,” says Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam – Maillardville. “Coquitlam Public Library’s speaker series ‘Past & Present: Conversations about Race in BC’ has been an incredible resource and listening opportunity for the people in my community, and I am so excited to see it continue and grow.”

In Coquitlam, the Coquitlam Public Library received $5,000 of funding for their “Conversations about Race in BC” project.

Almost $300,000 will be given to sixty community-based organizations for projects to dismantle systemic racism, address hate incidents, and support racialized communities across B.C. Funding preference is given to applications submitted by racialized and otherwise marginalized groups.

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, developing a comprehensive, multi-year anti-racism action plan for B.C.’s K-12 education system and implementing the Anti-Racism Data Act. Later this year, government will release research priorities under the Anti-Racism Data Act. Developed in partnership with Indigenous governing entities and the Anti-Racism Data Committee, these priorities will ensure that data collection is focused on the areas that matter most to those impacted by systemic racism.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/28555

For a full list of BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant recipients, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_Multiculturalism_Grants_2023.pdf