BC NDP MLA Nina Krieger says grants will help combat racism, promote multiculturalism in Greater Victoria

VICTORIA – BC NDP MLA Nina Krieger says funding will help local organizations in Greater Victoria to address and reduce racism and promote multiculturalism through education and awareness.

“Everyone should feel welcome and cared for in their community, regardless of their background or identity,” said Nina Krieger, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. “This funding will help support important projects and initiatives from fantastic local organizations doing the work here in Victoria.”

Organizations in Greater Victoria receiving a $5000 project grant, for a total of $40,000 distributed in Greater Victoria include:

• Associations of Ghanaians in Victoria BC
• Oasis Society of the Spiritual Health of Victoria
• Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society
• Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub
• British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
• Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society
• St. Bakhita Anakdiar Peace Foundation
• Theatre SKAM Association

The B.C. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants support community projects that help reduce systemic racism and incidents of hate, as well as build inter-cultural connections, trust and understanding. This year, $300,000 in funding is going out to 60 organizations around BC. Each organization can receive up to $5,000 to cover direct costs needed to administer their project.

A backgrounder follows with information about projects receiving funding.

Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025AG0019-000325

BACKGROUNDER:

• Associations of Ghanaians in Victoria BC
  • Play Together, Learn About Each Other, Be Together- Our project envisions an innovative experiential approach to multicultural and intercultural learning and living for kids. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in monthly multicultural play sessions. Their parents by coming along will also have the opportunity to form intercultural friendships and pursue any needed unlearning of cultural biases and stereotypes.
• Oasis Society of the Spiritual Health of Victoria
  • Cultivating Connection- Cultivating Connection is a series of four cooking workshops led by London Chef, Dan Hayes. Each workshop will bring together members of the Indigenous community and newcomers to cook and consume a traditional Indigenous meal together and engage in mutual dialogue.
• Bayanihan Cultural and Housing Society
  • Mabuhay! Celebrating Philippine Culture- The Mabuhay! event, scheduled for June 14-15, 2025, at Victoria’s Centennial Square, will celebrate Philippine culture through vibrant music, dance, and cuisine, featuring guest performances from other cultural groups and local vendors showcasing their goods and services. This free, community-driven event, held in conjunction with Filipino Heritage Month across Canada, invites everyone to experience and support Filipino culture, while helping to preserve the rich heritage of Filipino residents in Victoria.
• Vancouver Island Caribbean Hub
  • Mas Making Workshops- Mas Making is an intercultural program offering families the opportunity to learn and create traditional Caribbean carnival costumes through hands-on workshops. By engaging participants from diverse backgrounds, the initiative fosters community connections, promotes understanding of Caribbean culture, and encourages cross-cultural dialogue. The program also challenges systemic barriers by creating accessible spaces for learning and entrepreneurship, empowering marginalized groups to showcase their creativity. Costumes made in the workshops will be featured in local events.
• British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
  • BC Black Film Festival- Weekend-long Black Film Festival to take place in the fall of 2025. The festival will feature BC Black filmmakers, producers and artists, along with post-film Q&A sessions.
• Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society
  • Employee Anti-Racism Training Project- The Anti-Racism Initiatives team is creating anti-racism and multicultural interaction training and sharing circles to benefit settlement workers, partners, and clients of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society and partner organizations. The objective of this employee Anti-Racism training and sharing circle is to cultivate a deep understanding and practical skills among employees to effectively address and advance Anti-Racism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the community, organization, and client service provision and intersectional understanding of client’s needs.
• Bakhita Anakdiar Peace Foundation
  • Promoting our democracy and diversity- This project is designed to educate the participants on barriers and restrictions that keep the people of African descent and the newcomers and other ethnic groups from getting involve in electoral politics and civic participation. The project also is planned to motivate, engage, and encourage the people of the African descent to run for office and involve in electoral politics and civic participation and will be hybrid one-full day workshop that will bring the people of African descent and newcomers from different backgrounds and community leaders together to learn and share their experiences.
• Theatre SKAM Association
  • Rebel Rhythm- Rebel Rhythm showcases the variety of musical rhythms developed in the amalgam of cultures and beliefs that make up the Brazilian identity. Through a marriage of music and movement, we exploring the journey of finding oneself, overcoming grief, and finding your true identity among the people who see and uplift you.