New web portal invites stories about racism and discrimination in Kelowna

It’s not good enough to stay silent in the face of racism.

That’s the gist of a new web portal that has been launched by Kelowna Community Resources with funding from UBC Okanagan.

““We need action from the whole community and cannot leave the work of anti-racism only to racialized people,” Ellen Boelcke, executive director of Kelowna Community Resources said in a news release. “As an agency that supports newcomers and marginalized people in our community, we have seen the effects of systemic racism and discrimination, and we know that its deep roots are felt everyday.”

The data collected will help develop a protocol for dealing with racisim and discrimination in the community.

“Silence about incidents of racism and various forms of discrimination in Kelowna does not stop discrimination,” the release states. “Everyone in the community is encouraged to take action and to report an incident of racism and discrimination that they experience, or that they witness.”

The portal is available through the Kelowna Community Resources website here, or by contacting Wan Wan by email at united@kcr.ca or by calling 250-763-8008 extension 253.

"Providing a space for people to report their direct experience with discrimination or their witnessing of discrimination by others in the community will help everyone to know what is happening in the community," asssociate professor of social work at UBCO Dr. Shirley Chau said in the news release.

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