Illustration showing two contrasting scenes. On the left, grayscale figures of people from different backgrounds. On the right, a colorful, vibrant urban scene with people of South Asian descent interacting in a modern city.

City launches community engagement addressing historical discrimination against people of South Asian Canadian descent

October 9 2024 –

The City of Vancouver has launched a community engagement process to hear from members of South Asian Canadian communities about historical discrimination in Vancouver, ongoing racism, and how to address its impacts today.

The engagement is one of the outcomes of the Historical Discrimination Against People of South Asian Canadian Descent interim report (1.3 MB), which was endorsed by City Council in July 2022. 

City staff invite members of South Asian Canadian communities with ties to Vancouver to share their perspectives at ShapeYourCity.ca/SAC.

Here are some ways members of South Asian Canadian communities with ties to Vancouver can get involved: 

  • Complete the Historical Discrimination Against People of South Asian Canadian Descent online survey by Friday, January 31, 2025. 
  • Identify current and historical spaces that are important to the community on the South Asian Canadian Cultural Spaces map. 
  • Participate in upcoming community sessions.

Full details on the City’s actions to address historical discrimination against people of South Asian Canadian descent can be found at Vancouver.ca/south-asian-canadian-discrimination. 

Learnings from the engagement will be presented to Vancouver City Council in 2025 along with recommendations the City could take towards cultural redress with South Asian Canadian communities. Findings will also help shape the City’s forthcoming Anti-Racism Action Plan and other related City projects. 

“This engagement process will not only help to record and celebrate the history, stories, important spaces and experiences of South Asian Canadians in Vancouver”, said Mayor Ken Sim. “It will also inform how our City Council can take meaningful action to repair trust and uplift this incredible community going forward.”  

The City of Vancouver is committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all people, addressing historic and current systemic injustice, and reducing harm, as outlined in the City’s Equity Framework (4 MB).

You can learn more about the City’s Anti-Racism and Cultural Redress work at Vancouver.ca/anti-racism.