The Globe and Mail Natalya Brown, Aurélie Lacassagne and Jean McRae Contributed to The Globe and Mail Published April 20, 2021 Bookmark Please log in to listen to this story. Also available in French and Mandarin. Log In Create Free Account
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Natalya Brown is an Associate Professor of Economics at Nipissing University and Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Northern, Rural and Remote Communities at Pathways to Prosperity
Aurélie Lacassagne is an independent researcher and a member of the Standing Committee on Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities at Pathways to Prosperity
Reports of anti-Asian racism have been on the rise, with Vancouver police recording a 700 per cent jump in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020. In January, Cowichan Tribes members reported being refused service by some local businesses after an outbreak of COVID-19 on the reserve. The Community Justice Centre in the Comox Valley will receive $5,000 to continue its work supporting individuals or groups who experience racism, homophobia, transphobia and hate. The centre can help people file a police complaint about an incident, connect them to local services that provide counselling or work on a restorative-justice approach by engaging the person responsible for an incident, said Bruce Curtis, chief administrator of the justice centre.
A network of anti-racism resistance, support, and resources.
On March 19, Resilience BC: Anti-Racism Network launched a new website that will provide support for anti-racism initiatives in communities across the province. The website includes a map with contact information for network members residing within each region, as well as educational tools, and “Report and Support” protocols.
“This new website will give British Columbians the support they need to quickly respond to racism, whether they are a witness or the victim of a hate crime,” said Rachna Singh, Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives in a press release for Resilience BC.
The network provides a wide range of online resources such as e-learning classes, videos, podcasts, and access to government surveys and statistics. It extends beyond the densely populated urban areas and reaches into various rural communities in British Columbia.
Being able to offer something for everyone, free of charge, is a little more important in 2021, said Tracy Smith, Dance Victoria’s marketing manager. “Everything being offered is a true reflection of the resilience and creativity of people coming together to create something really special. Whether that’s a dance film created at home under these circumstances or a discussion about dance, they are all example of resilience during this time.” Dance Days, which gets underway Jan. 15 and runs through Jan. 25, offers classes and content from around the city through one portal the dancevictoria.com website. Participants can choose from dozens of options, all provided free.
VICTORIA A city-wide festival in Victoria, celebrating all styles of dance, is about to kick off virtually. The 12th annual Dance Days Festival, put on by Dance Victoria, has been reimagined to follow COVID-19 safety protocols, but still allows for participation. Organizers hope it fosters an appreciation and love of dance and gets people dancing. “We ve had to really think of creative ways for people to connect and offer their ideas, their workshops or demonstrations online,” says Tracy Smith, the marketing manager for Dance Victoria. “So, really collaborating with the community in a different way to, you know, evolve and pivot in these crazy times.”