INTER-ACTION: CANADA’S NEW MULTICULTURALISM GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS PROGRAM

To provide an overview of the Multiculturalism Program, while highlighting how the Program can address issues related to religious diversity. Presentation Objective

Program draws mandate from Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1988) and the Canadian Multiculturalism Policy (1971) embedded in Act; Policy encourages vision of Canada based on equality and mutual respect without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, colour or religion; and Program encourages and supports participation by all citizens in building and shaping a cohesive and inclusive Canadian society Context - Mandate of the Multiculturalism Program

 Increasing diversity: –16.2% (5 million) are visible minorities, of whom 67% were born outside Canada –215 ethnic origins and increased multiple origins 47% of Canadians self-identify at least partial origins other than British, French or Canadian –One-fifth of Canadians are foreign-born –Growth of non-Christian religions Numbers of people in Canada affiliated with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism doubled or nearly doubled from 1991 to 2001  2031 Projections –Between 25% and 28% of population foreign born –Between 29% and 32% belong to visible minority group –14% of population expected to belong to a non-Christian religion Context - Canada’s Increasing Diversity

Demographic changes have led to greater religious and cultural diversity, resulting in: Multi-layered identities Residents of Canada overwhelmingly (96%) report that they identify as citizens of Canada, but also have overlapping territorial affiliations (including global, provincial and municipal) Mixed ethno-cultural/linguistic identities and affiliations Complex intersections between religion and race in public debate Challenges to Accommodation & Integration Approaches Lack of intercultural and interfaith understanding Indications of low favourability towards and poor understanding of faith communities Race/ethnicity and religion constitute the motivation for majority of hate crimes Context - Challenges of Increasing Diversity

Two streams: – Projects: Supports mainly multi-year community development/engagement projects – Events: Supports community based events that foster intercultural/interfaith understanding, civic memory/pride and/or respect for core democratic values Inter-Action: Canada’s New Multiculturalism Grants and Contributions Program

1.Build an Integrated, Socially Cohesive Society by: Building bridges to promote intercultural understanding Fostering citizenship, civic memory, civic pride, and respect for core democratic values grounded in our history Promoting equal opportunity for individuals of all origins Projects Stream: Objectives

. Improve Responsiveness of Institutions to Needs of Diverse Population by : Assisting federal and public institutions to become more responsive to diversity by integrating multiculturalism into their policy and program development and service delivery Projects Stream: Objectives (cont.)

Actively Engaging in Discussions on Multiculturalism and Diversity at International level by: Promoting Canadian approaches to diversity as successful model while contributing to international policy dialogue on issues related to multiculturalism Projects Stream: Objectives (cont.)

The priorities for the first and latest Call for Proposal included the following groups as primary beneficiaries: –youth –youth-at-risk –faith communities/organizations –Immigrants Thematic priorities included the following: –citizenship rights and responsibilities –facilitating positive interaction among different cultural, ethnic and religious communities in Canada Call for Proposal: Priorities

Project has been designed to facilitate the community twinning of businesses, schools, neighbourhoods and faith-based communities, with the goal of achieving social cohesion in Abbotsford. Community Twinning refers to the exchange of dissimilar or unlike communities to facilitate cultural exchanges which will aid to build understanding and commonalities. In order to facilitate the community twinning the City of Abbotsford will develop 2 intercultural hubs to aid in the development of the community twinning. The hubs will offer programming such as, youth mentoring, interfaith and intercultural workshops, diversity leadership training, intercultural recreation, arts and storytelling. Abbotsford Building Connections – Project Example

Building an integrated, socially cohesive society by: –Building bridges to promote intercultural understanding –Fostering citizenship, civic memory, civic pride, and respect for core democratic values grounded in our history –Promoting equal opportunity for individuals of all origins Events Stream: Objectives

Events must demonstrate involvement of more than one single cultural, faith and/or ethnic community and establish concrete opportunities for interaction among them Events Stream: Objectives

Community based celebrations (intended for and open to all Canadians) of historic contributions to Canada of particular ethnic, cultural or faith- based groups, including in support of Asian Heritage and Black History months “Citizenship day’ event for young people, organized by coalition of faith, ethnic or cultural groups within community Performing arts events that bridge ethnic, cultural or faith communities Events Stream: Eligible Activities

Sporting activity involving members of various ethnic, cultural or faith communities Interfaith dialogues that bring together local representatives from Canada’s faith groups Intercultural dialogues among community groups of different cultural heritage, traditions and viewpoints Public education events which foster intercultural/ interfaith understanding, civic memory/pride and/or respect for core democratic values Events Stream: Eligible Activities* (Cont.)

For funding: British Columbia and Yukon Region 1148 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC For More Information British Columbia and Yukon Region