March/April 2024

In British Columbia, we live and work alongside peoples from a wide range of cultures. There are more than 200 Indigenous communities as well as people from more than 200 countries and regions from around the world. The goal of this Snapshot is to highlight opportunities for people to connect and celebrate culture. It is also our work to recognize racism and identify ways we can work together to eliminate the increased number of reported acts of racism in our community. Our common goal is to nurture an inclusive environment recognizing that our commonalities far outweigh our differences.

Researchers found that youth who know a lot about their family culture and history tend to be more resilient in the face of challenges. In fact, knowing about family history was a strong predictor of their emotional health and happiness

Understanding means appreciating. When we understand something, we value it; and when we value something, we protect it and want to learn more. Sharing your culture with your teen is important because a proper understanding allows them to appreciate it, and apply it to their lives. Simply hearing about cultural may not be enough; personal connections and deep understanding are key to grasping its significance. 

For many newcomer parents, the primary motivation behind moving to Canada is to ensure greater opportunities and a better life for their children. However, as parents, it can sometimes be difficult to find a balance between raising your children as Canadians and helping them stay in touch with their cultural roots and values. Teaching your kids to respect and value their heritage in addition to the culture and customs of Canada can help them develop a strong sense of individuality and belonging.

All cultural celebrations are respected in Canada and newcomer families are encouraged to honour their holidays. Celebrating your traditional holidays is a great way to spark your teens interest in their culture and keep traditions alive. You may find it easier to expose your kids to annual celebrations by getting involved with your region’s ethnic community where you can be among other families with a similar background.

The effects of racism are influential on young people because they are in a critical stage of development. Racism creates significant disparities for B.C. students resulting in higher instances of stress, self-reported poor health, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. 

Fifty-eight per cent of Canadian youth say they have seen kids insulted, bullied or excluded based on their race or ethnicity according to 2021 survey data from the Angus Reid Institute and the University of British Columbia.

Microaggressions are often brief and common interactions such as jokes or comments. They might be communicated once or repeatedly either verbally, nonverbally. At school, microaggression examples include:

• Mispronouncing someone’s name, even after being corrected
• Disregarding religious and cultural holidays and traditions
• Making fun of someone’s lunch or snacks
• Making assumptions about someone based on their perceived race

The term intersectionality acknowledges that different parts of our identities, such as race, gender and sexual orientation shape the experiences for individuals and groups of people. Intersecting identities can create additional barriers or opportunities.

Understanding intersectionality helps to identify different forces of discrimination that people experience to then address them.

We all can help prevent racism and create positive change in our communities. It is not enough to be “not racist”. To be anti-racist, we must work to speak up and dismantle racism in all its forms.

Report it. If you see or experience an act of racism or hate, take it seriously. If there is an immediate threat to your safety or the safety of someone else, call 911.
If it’s not an emergency, there are different options for reporting:

• erase Report It tool
• Youth can tell an adult what happened – providing as many details as possible
• Call the non-emergency number for your local police department

Get involved. Connect locally (for example, school and community) to anti-racism work and find out what you can do to prevent and address racism.

Understand privilege. Use your privilege to speak up for others and make space for others to speak up. Challenge the behaviour, not the person. We can all learn, change and grow.

We all laugh and cry in the same language expresses the idea that regardless of our cultural backgrounds or the languages we speak, the emotions of joy and sadness are universally understood. It emphasizes the commonality of human experience, suggesting that despite our differences, we share fundamental emotions that connect us all.

It's a reminder to students that beneath the surface, we're all alike, capable of empathizing with one another's feelings, regardless of cultural or language barriers.

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