Addressing and redressing anti-Black racism

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  Work to date

  We acknowledge that while progress has been made, significant work is still needed to make meaningful change.

  • 2017: We held a 3-day workshop with Hogan’s Alley Working Group PDF file (5.8 MB).
  • 2018: City Manager released an anti-Black Racism statement to City staff PDF file (144 KB). 
  • 2019: We supported research on anti-Black racism in Vancouver resulting in the reports: Towards a Healthy City: Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Vancouver External website, opens in new tab (UBC Healthy City Scholars) and Anti-Black Racism Community Recommendations PDF file (343 KB).
  • 2020: We hosted an anti-Black racism town hall Video file. 
  • 2022: 
    • We formed an Anti-Black Racism and Cultural Redress Community Advisory Committee and an Internal Staff Working Group.
    • Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hogan’s Alley Society to deliver housing, public benefits, and amenities on the 898 Main Street block – formerly home to Vancouver's largest Black and African diaspora community
    • Council approved the Addressing Anti-Black Racism and Historic Discrimination: Interim Report PDF file (377 KB), outlining 4 priority areas and 23 initial actions identified through engagement with the Community Advisory Committee, Internal Staff Working Group, and members of Vancouver’s Black and African diaspora communities.   
  • 2023: We launched a 3-year Social Innovation Project Grants pilot (2023 to 2025) to strengthen Black-led and Black-serving organizations in Vancouver. Over this period, $325,369 was awarded to support capacity-building efforts for 25 projects.
  • 2024: We commissioned a Black academic research team to develop narratives of the experiences of Black and African diaspora communities in Vancouver. 
  • 2025:
    • In partnership with Ethos Lab, we constructed a pilot plaza at 3rd and Main Street that continues to serve community with programming, events, greenspace, and opportunities for community gathering.We continued to advance Council motions on anti-Black racism and historic discrimination including consultation with the Advisory Committee and Internal Staff Working Group on the development of a renewed action plan.
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  Next steps

  In 2026, we will deliver a memo to Council with an update on progress toward the interim report, and a renewed Anti-Black Racism and Cultural Redress Framework and Action Plan.

About the City’s anti-Black racism artwork

In 2025, we commissioned graphic artist Yaimel López Zaldívar External website, opens in new tab to produce original artwork as a visual companion to our Anti-Black Racism and Cultural Redress Framework and ongoing priority initiatives.

Yaimel López Zaldívar is a Vancouver-based graphic artist whose bold, vibrant designs explore identity and culture.

Review artwork in more detail Image file (836 KB)

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  Artist's statement

  This design is a tribute to the optimism, pride, and faith in the future of all Afro-descendant people. It is inspired by the excellence of Black people and the rich cultural heritage that Africa has given to Vancouver and the world.

  It also aims to represent the cohesion, unity, and pride that all Black people should have, regardless of their countries of origin, as we are all representatives of traditions that, in many cases, are fundamental to many cultures around the world.

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  Symbols and colours in the artwork

  Cultural symbols and their significance

  Graphic artist Yaimel López Zaldívar explains that the 3 symbols used are Adinkrahene, Aban, and Akoma Ntoaso. These symbols represent:

  • United hearts
  • Togetherness
  • Leadership
  • Charisma
  • Strength
  • The seat of power
  • Authority
  • Magnificence

  These symbols move and expand dynamically, just as African culture itself does around the world. The 3D forms allude to the long sculptural tradition of the African continent.

  The Anna's hummingbird is the official bird of Vancouver.

  Colours and their meaning

  According to Yaimel López Zaldívar, the colours red, black, and green represent Pan-Africanism and are present in the flag of that movement. 

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  Resources

  Resources related to the 2022 Addressing Anti-Black Racism and Historic Discrimination: Interim Report presentation

  • Watch our video on Addressing anti-Black racism: Priorities for the City of Vancouver Video file 
  • Review the full ‘Addressing Anti-Black Racism and Historic Discrimination Interim Report’ PDF file (377 KB)
  • Review the 2022 Interim Report Staff Presentation PDF file (2 MB)
  • Watch the September 27, 2022 Council meeting Video file where the Interim Report was passed unanimously by Council

  Resources informing this work

  We thank members of Black and African diaspora communities for their time and labour providing recommendations and analysis to the City to shape this work and move it forward. 

  Documents and recommendations that are informing our work:

  • UN Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 External website, opens in new tab
  • Report of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent on its mission to Canada External website, opens in new tab
  • Metro Vancouver Social Equity Regional Growth Study External website, opens in new tab
  • Racial Equity Tools External website, opens in new tab Important note Must be opened in Chrome or Firefox.
  • City of Toronto: Confronting Anti-Black Racism External website, opens in new tab
  • Anti-Black Racism in Canada External website, opens in new tab 
  • Challenging Racist BC: 150 Years and Counting External website, opens in new tab
  • BC Black History Awareness Society External website, opens in new tab