NSIIP Community Connections & Intercultural Relationships Working Group
Goal
North Shore residents are engaged in building intercultural relationships and connections based on mutual trust & reciprocity.
Background
Objectives
Our Achievements
Resources
Members
Background
- Only 25% of community service providers believe there is mutual trust between immigrants and long term residents, and that discrimination is not a problem on the North Shore. Only 34% believe “newcomers feel a strong sense of belonging to the North Shore.” Slightly fewer than half believe that newcomers are comfortable “attending community events.”
- 48% of immigrant respondents reported that connecting with people in the community is the most important factor making them feel welcomed and included. Meanwhile, 66% said it is important to have connections with others from their own cultural group, and 81% felt that way about meeting people from outside of their cultural group.
- Despite a high level of interest in connecting with local community, only 44% of immigrant respondents have been a member of a North Shore organization. More than 70% of those who do not feel welcomed and included also report dissatisfaction with their contact with neighbours.
- Sport, fun and recreation were identified as powerful connectors and respondents indicated there are not enough activities and recreation opportunities, especially for kids and youth.
- Immigrants say they find it easier to connect with others at events or festivals, and with those who share hobbies and interests.
Objectives
Objectives:
- Grow public awareness and community engagement around equity, diversity & inclusion issues.
- Initiate local anti-racism projects and support Resilience BC spoke initiatives.
- Create programming to support knowledge sharing and reconciliation efforts between indigenous, immigrant & settler communities.
- Initiate projects that build more intercultural and interfaith connections – create fact sheets & info resources, support community festivals, etc.
Our Achievements
2021/22
- Co-hosted a community-oriented “Evening of Art” in May 2021 exploring resilience, transformation and connection during the COVID-19 pandemic
- In partnership with North Van Arts and artist Esmie Gayo McLaren, launched a public campaign Inspiring Connections & Friendship. The campaign was a response to increases in Anti-Asian racist graffiti on the North Shore
- Co-hosted a series of 3 multilingual community dialogues (English, Farsi and Mandarin) to build understanding of the impacts of Anti-Asian racism and generate recommendations for community responses
- Convened a 2-part virtual Community Forum on Anti-Asian Racism in March 2022 in collaboration with Impact North Shore. The focus was on the legacy of anti-Asian racism and sharing strategies/tools for combatting racism
2020/21
- Co-hosted a public Town Hall meeting – “Building Anti-Racist Communities” – in September 2020 exploring racism, anti-racism and racial equity on the North Shore with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Co-hosted a community dialogue to discuss decolonization and what this concept means to women, two-spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer folks with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Hosted a 2-part Anti-Indigenous Racism dialogues series exploring how to cultivate anti-racist actions and move towards reconciliation with renewed heart & mind connections
- Co-hosted “Weaving Our Humanity: An Evening of Stories” in December 2020 sharing digital stories around identity, belonging, and exclusion with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Organized and co-hosted a Community Forum on Achieving Racial Equity on the North Shore in March 2021 with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Created and distributed a new cultural celebration resource sheet on the Mid-Autumn Festival, in partnership with the North Vancouver City Library
- Updated the Norooz Festival cultural resource sheet in parntership with the West Vancouver Memorial Library
- Supported the creation of North Shore Resilience BC spoke, a new network of community partners committed to addressing racism, hate & discrimination through outreach & education
2019/20
- Organized This is Us: Diverse North Shore Celeberation of Poetry in recognition of the March 21st International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- Co-hosted “Weaving Our Humanity: An Evening of Storytelling” in Februray 2020 at Presentation House Theatre with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Co-hosted an “Unconference: Working Together to Build Inclusive Communities” in November 2019 at Capilano University with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Collaborated with Reconciliation Canada to offer Reconciliation Dialogue Workshops (RDW) for immigrant youth and adults living on the North Shore
2018/19
- Organized This is Us: Diverse North Shore Photo Contest in recognition of the March 21st International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [press].
- Co-hosted “Weaving Our Humanity: An Evening of Storytelling” in February 2019 at Presentation House Theater with the Centre for Diversity & Innovation (CDI)
- Created policy recommendations and a community database resource on open & accessible community spaces on the North Shore
- Hosted Truth, Healing & Reconciliation oriented learning opportunities for NSIIP partners & community members: a KAIROS blanket exercise and a Decolonizing Practices workshop
2017/18
- Produced two maps on North Shore neighborhood and school districts
- Produced two info sheets on North Shore’s immigrant children and seniors, and English Language Learners
- Developed a resource sheet on Lunar New Year in partnership with the West Vancouver Memorial Library, North Vancouver City Library, and North Vancouver District Library
- Piloted the Cultural Ambassadors project at the Iranian-Canadian Congress’ Chaharshanbe Suri (Fire Festival) at Ambleside Park
- Hosted Acting Against Racism: Strategies for Moving Forward, an anti-racism forum with over 400 participants the Kay Meek Centre
2016/17
- Created a multicultural/multifaith calendar with important celebrations and events on the North Shore
- Developed an information resource for Norooz in partnership with the West Vancouver Memorial Library, North Vancouver City Library, and North Vancouver District Library
- Engaged with faith leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration
- Developed an info sheet on best practices and resource links for volunteer coordinators
- Hosted conversations across the North Shore as a part of the Inclusive Inquiry Community Conversations
- Newcomer Stories: BC Multiculturalism Week Display 2016. Compiled 9 newcomer stories and poems into a series of posters celebrating North Shore’s diversity, which were displayed in community spaces on the North Shore through BC Multiculturalism Week.
- Hosted Weaving Our Humanity: An Evening of Story at Presentation House Theatre on the last day of BC Multiculturalism Week. Attendees heard about belonging and missed connections, vulnerability and courage, as well as what friendship across cultures mean in our diverse community [final poem, press]
Resources
- Strategies and Actions Against Racism [PDF]
- Calendar – Days of celebration/observance on the North Shore (2016; planning resource)
- Norooz – Info guide (2021) [PDF]
- Lunar New Year – Info guide (2020) [PDF]
- Mid-Autumn Festival (2020) [PDF]
- Ramadan (2018) [PDF]
- Festival of Lights – Celebrations across cultures (2017) [PDF by North Shore Multicultural Society]
- New Years Celebrations – Celebrations across cultures (2017) [PDF by North Shore Multicultural Society]
Members
- Alison Campbell, North Vancouver District Library
- Annwen Loverin, Silver Harbour Seniors Centre
- Ellen Clague, Parkgate Community Services Centre
- Kim Selody, Presentation House Theatre
- Lori Kosciuw, Capilano Students’ Union – CSU
- Nancy Cottingham Powell, North Van Arts
- Sarah Tarcea, North Vancouver City Library
- Shadi Ashtari, Impact North Shore
- Susie McLegnaghan, Impact North Shore
- Vida Sandoughdar, North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission
The North Shore Immigrant Inclusion Partnership honors and recognizes that our collective work is carried out on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and occupied territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Peoples.
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