B.C.鈥檚 head of anti-racism was in Penticton on Friday, May 12, to speak to how the province plans on tackling systemic discrimination.
The province鈥檚 Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore, appeared before a large crowd at the Lakeside Resort for the Confronting the White Elephant, Exploring Anti-Racism forum.
It marked her first visit to the region since being to named to the role in December 2022.
The event was hosted by the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services Society throughout the day.
鈥淭hese are difficult, challenging conversations to have but so important,鈥� Elmore said. 鈥淲e know racism hurts, it injures, it kills鈥here鈥檚 a commitment from the government to understand that, recognize what鈥檚 happened and to make efforts to repair that harm, hurt and that injury.鈥�
Elmore鈥檚 talk at the event was preceded by an appearance on stage from Penticton MLA Dan Ashton. Both members of the B.C. legislative, although on opposite sides of the floor, said Friday they are working together to distribute an upcoming survey to learn more about people鈥檚 experiences with racism.
鈥淲e need your help to identify how we move forward,鈥� Elmore said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to undertaking a consultation with all British Columbians because we鈥檙e all in it together.鈥�
The Vancouver-Kensington MLA was first elected in 2009 and acknowledged Friday that there鈥檚 lots of work to be done when it comes to addressing systemic discrimination in all its forms.
鈥淏.C. as a province actually has a record of passing some of the most explicitly racist pieces of legislation in our country,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty shocking, but that鈥檚 the reality.鈥�
Along with currently reviewing the police act, Elmore added that the province has implemented anti-racism initiatives in schools and in healthcare spaces.
She says a new anti-racism action plan, for instance, engages teachers, parents and students in schools from kindergarten to Grade 12, province-wide.
鈥淗ow do we better understand each other?鈥� she asked. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really critical and key to all this.鈥�
Friday鈥檚 conference ran from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and featured several speakers and musical performances from across the South Okanagan and the rest of B.C.
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
