Canada will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation next year. During this time, it has transformed from a far flung British and French colony to one of the most desirable countries to live in. Canada is well-known throughout the world as a very inclusive and welcoming country. Its emphasis on inclusion, mutual respect and cultural diversity is second to none. Canada was the first western country to officially adopt the policy of multiculturalism in 1971. A few years ago, BBC’s World Service conducted a survey of more than 28,000 people world- wide to rate 12 countries as having a positive or negative influence on the world. The countries were: Britain, Canada, Japan, China, France, India, Iran, Israel, USA, NorthKorea, Russia and Venezuela. To no one’s surprise, Canada tied with Japan as the best country with positive influence on the world. Similarly, in many other surveys Canada stands out as a positive, global role model. In addition to geographical, political and economic considerations, Canada’s policy of welcoming immigrants seems to be a major factor in making our country as one of the most desirable places to call home.
Canada is now home to more than 200 communities from every corner of the world. Canadians are well-known for their open mindedness, tolerance and compassion.As a land of immigrants, we understand what it means to start anew and what it feels like to be welcomed into a new home. This, in part, explains the tolerance and compassion Canadians feel towards one another. Most Canadians, residing in this country to-day, areimmigrants, children of immigrants and grandchildren of immigrants. With the exception of our First Nations, it would be hard to find a Canadian who does not have at least one grandparent or great grandparent who was not an immigrant.
This country’s respect for human rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a model for others to follow. It may be one of the reasons that we have been spared the kind of racial tension that has reared its ugly head in many countries. That is why that Canada’s 36 million people, living in various communities across the land have been living in harmony. In this context, the City of Richmond is a typical example.
This Child of the Fraser is considered to be one of the most multicultural communities in Canada. Its inhabitants, despite their various degrees of differences, get along well with each other. The City has won various recognitions and awards for its intercultural harmony and diversity. As a matter of fact, Richmond citizens consider its diversity as one of its major strengths. Perhaps it is this kind of positive coverage by the media that Richmond has attracted the attention of a very small but active racist element. Unfortunately, it always seems to be the negative act that makes news, outweighing the countless positive acts that occur daily in our lives.Recently, Richmond’s Chinese-Canadian community has been targeted by this unsavoury element. Racist flyers aimed at the Chinese community and distributed to some households in Richmond have been roundly condemned by the City and community leadership.A largenumber of organizations and individuals have condemned this act. Richmond Multicultural Community Services (RMCS) stands solidly with the community in condemning these flyers and the intent behind them.
RMCS has been serving Richmond for more than 30 years. It has always been in the forefront in promoting intercultural harmony, tolerance, inclusion and celebration. At this hour too, RMCS is proud to stand with others in speaking out against racist sentiments expressed in the recently distributed hate flyers to some of Richmond’s households. RMCS is also pleased to be an active participant in the provincially sponsored program Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH). We are Richmond and we are here to serve and stand against all forms of racism and discrimination. For more information on the OARH program, please contact RMCS via phone, e-mail, our website or on Facebook.
Balwant Sanghera is the President, Richmond Multicultural Community Services.
