To date, I have the honour of talking with psychologists, social workers, former MLA, lawyers, youth, Minister of cabinet, Vice Provost at a University, documentary film maker, former media broadcaster, and policy makers. Each episode ends with some calls to action so the listener can walk away with ideas they can think about, do, and do more of on their anti-racism journey.
Iman shares how she was born in Pakistan, raised in Singapore, and then moved to Canada. She voices that at 19 years old, she founded the Canadian Mosaic Foundation in 2009. She notes the importance of learning about and accepting people for who they are. She stands for gathering race-based hate data to understand hate incidents and trends on what racism looks like in Canada.
Anne-Marie shares how she was born in Vietnam, lived in France, and came to Canada at 15. She discloses moments of experiencing racism from childhood to adulthood. She amplifies the messages of being your own scholar and going out of your comfort zone to learn about racism, colonialism, and one’s family history. She shares the importance of recognizing people for their differences.
Dave shares how he was born in Hong Kong, and his dad was a police officer. He notes that they moved to Canada in 1973, and he followed his dad’s footsteps to become a police officer. He states that the decision was about helping people feel safe and have them trust him. He discloses the many instances of racism directed toward him. He voices beyond his work, he volunteers to speak to high school students about organized crime and coaches volleyball. He conveys the importance of education, awareness, and inclusivity.
Jeremy shares how his parents were from Hong Kong, and he was born in Calgary. He notes he grew up with 14 people in his home and loved the experience of living with his grandparents, cousins, and extended family. He discloses he is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community. He voices the importance of representation and how diversity is a strength.
Harpreet shares her experience with racism, such as when people would comment on her accent. She notes she became a psychologist in part due to the values of community and learning about human behaviour. She voices the importance of social relationships, connection, cultural competence, and cultural sensitivity.
