Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, it is a day for all of us to recognize that the injustices and prejudices fueled by racial discrimination take place every day.

Observed annually on March 21, it commemorates the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960. Find more information on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination website.

CHF BC is dedicated to the principles of anti-racism and an end to racial discrimination. While progress has been made, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities in Canada still face racism and discrimination every day.

Here is a brief video of our CEO, Thom Armstrong, discussing the work we have ahead of us:

To this end, CHF BC’s strategic vision includes this important priority:

Inspire housing co-ops to be communities that promote and embody equitable access, opportunity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.

To achieve this priority, our board and management committed to the following strategies:

• Help housing co-ops identify and work to remove barriers to equity and inclusion.
• Model best practices to promote equity and inclusion and to increase diversity among CHF BC directors, staff, workshop leaders, contractors, and consultants.
• Refresh our education program, management services and development practices to reflect this strategic priority.

To learn about how data contribute to racial inequity, check out this Statistics Canada Podcast:

Eh Sayers Season 2 Episode 1 – Created Equal.