The Canadian Mental Health Association-Cariboo Chilcotin Branch in Williams Lake is receiving $10,000 to support the work they do to help stamp out racism.
Multiculturalism coordinator Marilyn Livingston says they want to try to connect with community members who are not otherwise interested in learning about racism and it causes.
“I think that sometimes that we believe that we are not racist,” she said.
“However sometimes we may, just out of lack of knowledge say things or behave in ways that in fact are racist.”
The CMHA is one of fourteen organizations sharing the $240,000 in provincial funding which Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett calls every important.
“By providing funding to support multiculturalism we can work together on projects and work with cross-communities to show how we much appreciate and respect each other views,” Barnett said.
“I don’t think you’ll ever eradicate it (racism) but I think if you can do our part in helping our communities in understanding multiculturalism better, we will strengthen our communities. If we could eradicate it, that would be great.”
Livingston says the Branch will use the funding towards community education-awareness on racism which exists in many forms.
“Including cultural and interpersonal and we want to improve community knowledge on the history, the impact, and the legacies of the residential school system and also challenges for new immigrants that come to our community.”
A committee is expected to be formed and have meetings as soon as next week on how things will be rolled out within the community.
The provincial government is expected to provide nearly $1.7 million this year to engage cultural groups to fight racism and discrimination and to promote multiculturalism.