Is racism on the rise in Canada? The act of kindness in land developer Diane Delves

Is racism on the rise in Canada?

According to a survey conducted by the Association of Canadian Studies and Canadian Race Relations Foundation in September, 46 per cent of respondents think racism is a growing problem.

It also showed that 38 per cent of Canadians witnessed a racist incident in the past year

On a slightly more positive note, 65 per cent of Canadians said whites and visible minorities are treated equally in their workplaces.

Whether or not you believe that racism is a concern in this country, much work remains to be done.

If you recall, I experienced this first-hand when I was refused entry to a Christmas party in Surrey because I was East Indian. The surprising part of this whole fiasco was not that I wasn’t allowed to be part of this social gathering. It was the kind people who came up to me after with comments: “ I am surprised this kind of stuff still happens today.”

To put it frankly, we shouldn’t be surprised. Racism just doesn’t disappear.

Right here in the Lower Mainland, we have growing isolation issues with several of our multicultural communities resulting in some racial tensions that are reflected in statistics above. Take a closer look around and hopefully you’ll see what many of the readers have been commenting.

A week doesn’t go by where someone approaches me and shares concerns. Some of us may not see it. As being part of this newspaper, I am in a unique position to hear such stories. I also appreciate anyone taking the time to express ways to make our communities more inclusive.

One way to do just that is to create ‘awareness’ and do exactly what we’re doing right at this moment. By discussing it and bringing light to this discussion we’ll bring closure to the “cultural divide” issues we have unfortunately inherited over the past decades. I believe this is all part of the growing pains as a young diverse society. I am also not here to point the blame on anyone or any particular group.

But, simply requesting everyone to pay a closer attention on how we socialize with one another. Make a special effort and touch someone outside of your own ethnic community or be part of the mainstream and get involved. For example, the multicultural department of Mission Community Services will be celebrating Lunar (Chinese) New Year on February 9, 2011 at Mission Library: 11am to 2pm. Also, on Feb 23rd from 2-3pm, the Abbotsford Building Connections Project will open the first Intercultural Hub located at the City of Abbotsford Matsqui Recreations Center. It will provide a space for all residents to meet and enjoy intercultural activities and enhance social networking.

I plan to get involved during my cycling adventure from Mission to Victoria this June. Along with my teammates we'll have the opportunity to visit a dozen or so communities.

Listening and sharing in a valuable discussion with citizens. At the end of the day, we cannot tell citizens how to live, but we can certainly create ‘awareness’ with Canadians. There are no special equations on how to make multiculturalism work more effectively. Just that we all must participate equally and be inviting each and every day.Once we end this isolation, we’ll truly experience the benefits of living in a multicultural country.

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This can’t go without mention: In what I think will be 2011’s philanthropic story of the year, Quantum Properties is donating $272,000 from its Mahogany at Mill Lake highrise project to the $10 million Abbotsford Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. It’s people like Quantum’s CEO and president Diane Delves and her team who truly make a difference.