Anti-Racism Statement

The mission of the South Vancouver Seniors Hub Council is “to work together to network and provide accessible, inclusive, timely and high quality programs and services for the diverse population of seniors living in South East Vancouver”. Unfortunately, racism is present in our society, creating fear and exclusion and preventing affected seniors from engaging and actively participating in community life.
Guided by the values of Diversity, Inclusion, Equality, Equity and Justice, we commit to collaboratively work to challenge racism – particularly towards seniors – as it exists on individual and systemic levels in our community. Among the action steps Council will take are:

  • Forcefully denouncing racist acts and incidents, especially those targeting and affecting seniors 
  • Widely disseminating information on victim supports and resources through printed materials, media releases and postings on our website and other on-line channels
  • Actively encouraging and assisting victims to report racist incidents to authorities, and providing referrals to organizations and services (e.g. Jewish Seniors Alliance, professional counselling services) that may help them cope with the devastating effects of racism and hate on their personal well-being
  • Continuously promoting anti-racism dialogue, training and action planning with our partner organizations, SVNH Hub staff, volunteers and community members of all ages and backgrounds
  • Diligently listening, learning and reflecting, as individuals and as a collaborative senior-driven organization, about the nature and effects of racism in the community we serve and our personal and organizational response to these
  • Consistently acknowledging that we live and work on the unceded, occupied, ancestral and traditional homelands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We recognize the vast cultural diversity of Indigenous people and acknowledge the heterogeneity of their opinions, representation, needs and desires
  • Regularly developing and distributing information materials (e.g. newsletters) in various languages for seniors whose first language is not English
  • Strongly advocating for and supporting training to provide professional and peer counsellors with knowledge and skills needed to effectively assist seniors who have experienced racism
  • Attentively assessing the need for and potential benefits of establishing a Support Group for seniors who have been victims of racism
  • Continuously supporting new interventions such as structural, cultural and behavioural anti-racism changes

You may be well aware that the Chinese and Asian communities have been experiencing a marked rise in hate incidents as a result of COVID-19. If you have experienced this, please remember that you are not alone, there are organisations ready to support you and that even if you think the police are busy with other issues right now, it is still important to report it.  See something, report something!

Anti-Racism – Support is Available 

You may be well aware that the Chinese and Asian communities have been experiencing a marked rise in hate incidents as a result of COVID-19. If you have experienced this, please remember that you are not alone, there are organisations ready to support you and that even if you think the police are busy with other issues right now, it is still important to report it. See something, report something!

Text 87-77-77 if something is occurring that you need to report. You can always call 9-1-1 if you feel unsafe!

Victim Supports 

If you are a victim of an act of racism or hatred (or are supporting a victim), please call 9-1-1 to report the incident.

  • When reporting an incident, state that you are reporting a Hate Crime (emergencies such as attacks, assaults and threats).
  • For non-emergency crimes such as graffiti, vandalism and hate propaganda, the operator will connect you to the appropriate detachment to handle the situation.
  • There is no fee when calling 9-1-1 for either emergency or non-emergency situations.

If you are a victim of a hate crime, or have witnessed a hate crime, help is available through victim services and other resources.

Contact Vancouver Police Hate Crime Unit Det. / Cst. Jacquie Abbott of the Hate Crimes Unit can be reached at 604-717-9993 or jacquie.abbott@vpd.ca.

If you experience discrimination, you can file a complaint to Canadian Human Rights Commission

Mail your written complaint to:
Canadian Human Rights Commission
344 Slater Street, 8th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1E1

Call and make your complaint to our National Call Centre:
Toll Free: 1-888-214-1090
TTY: 1-888-643-3304
Fax: 613-996-9661

For ongoing support following an act of racism or hated, there are many organizations that offer free or sliding scale fees for counselling, support groups, physical therapy, and legal services.  See list below:

Free & Sliding Scale Counseling:

For more, please check out BC 211 http://redbookonline.bc211.ca/

Other Resources

  • Aboriginal Wellness Program at (604) 675-2551
  • Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC at (604) 718-2780
  • Broadway Youth Resource Centre at (604) 709-5720
  • Battered Women’s Support Services at (604) 687-1867
  • Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre at (604) 681-8480
  • Ending Violence Association of BC (EVA BC) at (604) 633-2506
  • Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education at (604) 876-4881
  • MOSAIC Multicultural Victim Services at (604) 254 9626
  • Pacific Community Resources Society at (604) 412-7950
  • Progressive Intercultural Community Services at (604) 596-7722
  • Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society at (604) 436-1025
  • Women Against Violence Against Women at (604) 255-6344