Anti-Racist Initiative Announced by the Province of Alberta

The Province of Alberta on Tuesday announced a new program of community anti-racism grants of two millions of dollars. Report on Racism

Registered non-profit organizations, First Nations or Métis institutions, and post-secondary institutions may claim up to $ 25,000, the money being directed to initiatives that increase understanding and awareness of racism

"said the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ricardo Miranda, at a press conference. "We seek to build a province free from hatred."

Miranda said the government consulted the community and came to the consensus that the most powerful tool to combat racism is education .

Njideka Harris-Eze, President of the Canadian Nigerian Association of Calgary said that she hoped this money would help young people in the community who might be facing racism.

"We want to be able to provide programs where they can sit down and talk with professionals or experts who are able to tell them" you're not alone "and help them to solve any problems they may have, "she said.

Moji Taiwo moved to Alberta 40 years ago. She said it was important to have programs for visible minority youth because they have the power to be leaders in the future.

Taiwo said that although her children were born in Canada, she had to defend them throughout the school. I had to tell them that my children had the same right to education and attention as all other students, "she said.

She also felt racism at work. Asked about this experience, she tears up and says, "I thought I was putting it back, but it hurts me. I fought every day to the point where I felt like I needed to be 120% better than my colleagues to be recognized. "

And even though she feels that more needs to be done to combat racism, Taiwo says this new grant is

" Forty years ago, when I first came here, you did not even think that the government would recognize racism, "she said.

Fatima Osman is part of the Calgarian Sudanese Community The 18-year-old Canadian-born girl said she was no stranger to racist comments.

"People say things like" go back to your own country "even though I was born here," she said, "there is a lot of subtle racism here in Canada and it's still pleasant to hear that the authorities recognize it. "

The first deadline for these grant applications is August 1. Grants over $ 5,000 must be matched per organization.