Latest anti-racism updates

Over the years, we've been working on a number of anti-racism initiatives to create a more equitable Vancouver.

Through both modest and comprehensive action, we are working to tackle racism and white supremacy within the City and Vancouver. This is an urgent priority.

Bookmark this webpage for updates, or receive quarterly updates on anti-racism, cultural redress, and equity actions straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

What's happeningPromoting understanding and inclusivity

In 2022, our Council approved interim reports to actively confront racism within our city. We've condensed the reports into 2 short videos to promote understanding and inclusivity.

Learn more by watching the videos

Countering anti-Asian racism
We are deeply saddened and angered by the level of anti-Asian hate crimes in Vancouver, reported by community groups, the VPD, and more recently highlighted by the Bloomberg report. There is no place for racism, hate, and violence in Vancouver.

We understand that current systems were built and grew from historic foundations of anti-Indigenous, anti-Black, and anti-Asian discrimination. We know that stereotypes, bias, and prejudice lead to violent incidents that affect our whole community. We must name and address these incidents and their impact to reduce further violence and harm. We commit to improving our own response to hate and racist incidents involving City staff, services, and programs.

As part of this work, we are hosting focused conversations with community leaders and City Advisory Committees to build on what the community has already told us:
- Racist incidents are interpersonal, systemic, and institutional in nature
- Victims and targets of racist incidents are further targeted or isolated when they come forward
- There are limited resources to support those who are targeted directly and impacted indirectly
- There is limited understanding about what to do when someone experiences or witnesses a racist incident
- There are limited redress mechanisms for those who are victimized and targeted by racism
- There is limited understanding about who to follow up with when a racist incident occurs
- There is limited accountability for perpetrators and victimizers
These discussions will clarify priorities for the City in moving forward with action and we invite partners to engage with us in addressing racism in our city.

We continue to seek opportunities to work with the community to enact appropriate responses.

This work is informed by Mayor and Council Motion: Report Back - Standing Up to the Rise in Anti-Asian Racism, All Racism & Hate Crimes (49 KB) and continues to take shape via engagement with community leaders, community partners, City advisories, and internal teams including the Emergency Operation Centre, and 3-1-1.

We have also provided funding for the Chinatown BIA for additional security to combat the rise in anti-Asian racism in Chinatown, and we're in frequent contact with community groups in the neighbourhood to offer additional support.

The University of British Columbia held The National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism, an event that brought together people across the country to move us forward against anti-Asian racism in Canada.
- Watch the forum and read the key takeaways
Indigenous community
Colonial audit

Council directed Indigenous Relations to develop a scope of work for a colonial audit, while continuing to work cross-departmentally to implement the City of Reconciliation Framework

MMIWG and Red Women Rising reports

Our work is informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action , the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice , and the Red Women Rising report . All of our anti-racism and cultural redress work aligns with:
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action 57: to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism
- Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – Calls to Justice 2.6: We call upon all governments to educate their citizens about, and to confront and eliminate, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. To accomplish this, the federal government, in partnership with Indigenous Peoples and provincial and territorial governments, must develop and implement an Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism National Action Plan to end racist and sexualized stereotypes of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The plan must target the general public as well as public services.
- Red Women Rising Recommendations to End Violence Against Indigenous Women in the DTES: Prioritizes a public education campaign in schools, transit system, media outlets, and community centresd on Indigenous rights and systemic racism.
We are developing our response to the calls for justice coming from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the Red Women Rising reports.

While this project was temporarily put on hold due to the COVID-19 response it has restarted and is now currently underway.

Read Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and familiarize yourself with the Calls to Justice for all Canadians as a part of your learning about Reconciliation.

Women Deliver Project

Staff are partnering with Indigenous community experts to conceptualize, design, and create a multi-use building that prioritizes Indigenous women for housing, and includes childcare and other supports.

The project team is undertaking a unique decolonizing process to help guide staff in their leadership and decision making.

Urban Indigenous response to COVID-19

Staff are working to support Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC) in identifying and implementing the Urban Indigenous Pandemic Communications and Collaboration Hub, a collaboration between MVAEC, Vancouver Coastal Health, the City, and the First Nations Health Authority.

Our citywide approach also responds to the directions and recommendations of the Urban Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee.

Urban Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Committee (UIPAC) actions

We welcomed the feedback of the Urban Indigenous Advisory Committee’s open letter in July 2020 on ways to improve the City’s relationship with Indigenous communities in Vancouver.

We are working closely with UIPAC to identify gaps and opportunities and to develop community trust in our institution.

Indigenous healing and wellness

City Council approved an additional grant to Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council for 2020 to accelerate their work on an Indigenous-led healing and wellness strategy. City staff are currently in discussions with MVAEC leadership about allocations of the funds which will help the City target support and investments to priorities set by the community.

Council also approved a capital grant of over $700,000 for an Indigenous healing and wellness space in the Downtown Eastside as part of the 2018 - 2022 Capital Plan.

More recently, an adjustment to the Capital Plan increased this amount in total to over $3 million, and potential locations have been identified.
Historic discrimination and redress efforts
Advocacy

In response to the leadership of Vancouverites, City Council and staff will be advocating to the Ministry of Education and discussing with the Vancouver School Board the need for the history of people of African descent in Vancouver, BC and Canada to be included as core curriculum as opposed to optional Black History Month content.

Curriculum changes are determined by the school board and ministry, but we will continue to push for these changes.

Apologies

Official apology to the Italian Canadian community

Following the declaration of war against Italy by the federal government in 1940, certain Italian men were deemed Enemy Aliens. As a result, nearly 3 dozen men in Vancouver were forcibly removed from their homes despite no proof of wrongdoing and sent to POW Interment Camps.

On June 8, 2022, Vancouver City Council formally apologized for these injustices enacted upon the Italian Canadian community during the Second World War.

Review the official apology (61 KB)

Review the full historical overview (256 KB)

Komagata Maru apology

On May 18, 2021, City Council formally apologized for the Komagata Maru incident, wherein in Vancouver City Council discriminated against 376 passengers travelling from British India on board the Komagata Maru ship in 1914 forcing passengers to remain on board for two months, without sufficient access to medical aid, food and water, because the passengers were of South Asian descent.

The apology for the City’s role in the Komagata Maru incident is part of a larger South Asian apology and redress work to come, which arises from a 2019 Council decision to address historical discrimination against people of South Asian descent in Vancouver.

Council approves Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent interim report

On July 5, 2022, City Council took a step forward in acknowledging South Asian racism and discrimination by approving the Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent interim report and the recommendations within the report.

This interim outlines how City staff engaged a small but diverse intersection of South Asian Canadian communities, including through a community advisory group and what is required for the next phase of to report back to Council with a final report and recommendations.

We are grateful for the Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent Advisory Committee for their openness, time, and candour through this first phase of work.

Review the full report (1.3 MB)

Watch the staff presentation and council meeting

Review approved recommendations from Council (26 KB)

Apology for historical discrimination against residents of Chinese descent

In April 2018, Vancouver City Council arranged a special meeting in Chinatown where former Mayor Gregor Robertson delivered a formal apology on behalf of the City of Vancouver for past discrimination against residents of Chinese descent.

The apology acknowledged the wrongdoings of past legislation, regulations, and policies of previous Vancouver City Councils. Actions recommended by the community are being implemented through the Chinatown Transformation initiative.

Apology to Japanese Canadians

Staff are engaged with local Japanese Canadians on their community-led collaborations and initiatives to recognize the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians, Indigenous peoples and many others in the Paueru Gai/historic Powell Street area.

In 2013, Council issued a formal apology to the Japanese-Canadian community for discrimination and dispossession during World War II.

Additionally, in 2014 the Downtown Eastside Plan was approved by Council with policies to support Japanese-Canadians through public realm improvements, public art, events and programming, and strategic development and heritage rehabilitation opportunities.

Hired a South Asian Communities Anti-Racism and Cultural Redress social planner

In August 2021, we hired a South Asian Redress Planner who will work with community partners and City departments to advance the necessary redress work with South Asian communities.

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ (Punjabi Market)

Staff are liaising with the community on the revitalization of ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ (Punjabi Market), recognizing the impact of historical discrimination on this key cultural and economic district.

Recent revitalization work we've supported includes:

Marigolds in the Market installation
- Marigolds in the Market was a public art piece that was installed by the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective (PMRC) in spring of this year to celebrate the vibrant history of the diverse neighborhood and community of the ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ. Watch this video to learn more about the installation and the significance of marigolds in South Asian culture.
Murals in the Market
- In partnership with Vancouver Mural Festival and the PMRC, local BIPOC artists created a series of murals in the ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ to help facilitate storytelling through public art. Visit PMCRs website to learn about the mural curators and see where they are located.
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮਾਰਕੀਟ self guided walking tour
- Indian Summer Festival partnered with PMRC to create a Self Guided Walking Tour. Grab your headphones and your walking shoes and tour the Punjabi Market this weekend .
City upgrades
- City workers have installed new benches, park furniture, and garbage cans to increase the neighbourhood's comfort and cleanliness.
Anti-Black racism redress
Anti-racism strategy and actions
Update on Anti-Racism strategy

In August 2022, City staff delivered an update on the development of an anti-racism action plan. Read the full update (856 KB).

We anticipate bringing forward the recommended strategy after further community engagement.

Advocacy

We're advocating to the Province to create a formal representative to improve mental health supports for residents impacted by racism and hate.

This advocacy work includes recommendations for services to assist people seeking redress for experiences of racism and violence.

Public campaign: Day of Action Against Racism

We proclaimed May 29, 2020 as a Day of Action Against Racism (6 MB), a day to reflect on how we can collectively take a stand against racism and hate, while also recognizing that racism has long been part of Vancouver’s history and to learn from mistakes of the past.

Although not all hateful messages result in actual hate crimes, hate crimes rarely occur without prior stigmatization and attempts to dehumanize targeted groups. We all have a role to play in addressing racism. The first step is acknowledging that racism exists. Denying that racism exists supports groups who benefit from continuing racism. It is important to note that people from all backgrounds can carry racial bias’ towards another race.

The systems and dimensions of racism:
- Institutional racism: policies and laws that reinforce racism in social and political institutions like education, justice, and economies.
- Structural racism: multiple institutions collectively upholding racism, for example the ability to access to bank loans can impact educational outcomes.
- Interpersonal racism: acts if racism and discrimination carried out by individuals against individuals who are Indigenous, Black, or members of other racialized groups.
- Internalized racism: overt and subtle conditioning that reinforces the incorrect idea that whiteness is superior and can result in self blame and self hatred for Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people.
Racism is within the systems that we all live in. And, we all carry racial biases. Some of us are privileged and some of us are harmed, some of us are both. We are all conditioned to be racist from the education system, media, and society.

At times even when we are not trying to cause harm our conditioning and biases, including racial stereotypes, creep up and affect our actions.

It is all of our responsibilities to unlearn our own racial biases as well as disrupt systems of racism when they happen.
- Watch the Day of Action Against Racism video
Being an ally accomplice and working to dismantle racism is an on-going practice. Imagine what our city would look like if we’re all working on dismantling our own racial biases and educating those around us. We can work together to make this a stronger and safer city for all of us
- Download the bystander intervention guide (643 KB)
Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee actions

The Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee identified ‘Combatting Racism’ as a key focus area in their recommendations to City Council.

Access Without Fear policy

We're preparing to implement the Access Without Fear policy internally with all-staff and externally with partners like you. This policy has the objective of supporting access to City services by Vancouver residents with uncertain or no immigration status. The policy enables these residents to use municipal services without fear that the City of Vancouver will ask about their immigration status, or report their immigration status to other institutions unless required by law.

Read the full Access Without Fear policy (59 KB)

There will be opportunities to engage City partners in the roll-out of this important work. Email [email protected] if you are interested in being involved in this work.
Internal structure changes
Internal equity initiatives

We're implementing a number of initiatives to support Indigenous, Black, and other racialized City staff, including:
- Providing ongoing support to 10 plus Employee Resource Groups, which are voluntary, employee-led groups that come together around shared identities and experiences.
- Guiding staff’s learning and delivering tailored training on various topics including intersectionality, anti-racism, disability awareness, queer and trans inclusion, and applying an equity lens.
- Reviewing and improving the City’s recruitment practices.
- Conducted a workforce survey which closed in May 2021 as part of our commitment to build, nurture and sustain a diverse and inclusive environment. The survey results (update 1 (409 KB) and update 2 (764 KB)) provided us with disaggregated data on our workforce, as well as an indication of staff engagement and sense of inclusion. The results help shape HR’s equity and inclusion policies.
Equity Framework

The Equity Framework (4.2 MB), adopted by Council in July 2021 (257 KB), is aimed at transforming the City’s internal structures in order to have equitable outcomes for Vancouver’s diverse communities.

This work is grounded on the priority actions identified in the Healthy City Strategy and is meant to align and support the work of the City of Reconciliation Framework.

The City’s equity work complements the significant and extensive strategies and actions regarding Reconciliation, MMIWG2S and UNDRIP led by the Indigenous Relations team which are reported separately.

Workplace Restoration program

The Workplace Restoration Program was developed to provide staff with an alternative process to investigations in addressing disrespectful behaviours that may not rise to the level of harassment. The program is in support of the revised Respect in the Workplace Policy which came into force as of January 1, 2024.

Restoration processes are facilitated by external consultants and exempt supervisors with support from the Human Resources department, and are designed with consideration to the needs of the parties involved.
Videos
These videos offer an overview of the vital reports, making the complex issues of racism and redress more accessible. The fight against racism is urgent, and it starts with understanding.

Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent: Addressing Racism in Vancouver casts a light on the enduring effects of racism on the South Asian community.

Watch in your language:
Addressing anti-Black racism: Priorities for the City of Vancouver highlights our collaborative work with Black and African diaspora communities to tackle systemic racism and promote social inclusivity.

Watch in your language:

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Latest anti-racism updates

What's happeningPromoting understanding and inclusivity

Countering anti-Asian racism

Indigenous community

Historic discrimination and redress efforts

Anti-Black racism redress

Anti-racism strategy and actions

Internal structure changes

Videos

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