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Photo courtesy City of Richmond
Richmond leads in embracing and integrating diversity
Published 12:03 PDT, Fri March 31, 2023
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Richmond is a great place to live. Located on the Fraser River, it is easily accessible, blessed with beautiful scenery, and is supported by an array of strong infrastructure thanks to many years of Council vision and investment.
It is also rich in culture. Richmond is regarded as one of Canada’s most culturally diverse communities. Over 60 per cent of its residents are immigrants, with over 180 different ethnic or cultural origins calling our city home. That diversity incorporates many different languages, religions and beliefs. As residents, we see unique elements every day, whether it be through the products available in our stores and restaurants, to the languages we hear in cafes and on street corners. These characteristics make our city special. How we embrace and integrate this diversity is what makes us unique.
The Highway to Heaven along No. 5 Road is an internationally renowned example of how Richmond has brought together diverse cultures and beliefs to become neighbourly and to build a sense of community. Over 20 houses of worship line the road between Westminster Highway and Steveston Highway. Temples, mosques, churches and religious schools adorn the four-kilometre stretch and are a testament to how Richmond leads the way in cultural harmony.
Sadly, not everyone follows the principles of human kindness and inclusion. The instances of socalled hate crimes and hate incidents rose during the COVID pandemic as people faced increased isolation and other pressures. It was easy to direct feelings of frustration toward others.
But the City, RCMP and others have worked together to address such attitudes and support those targeted for negative comments and actions because of their culture, look and beliefs. Council’s statement on anti-racism and the RCMP “Hate Has No Place” campaign have helped reduce the number of hate crimes by almost half over the past year, and the number of hate incidents by a third.
Council recently adopted the Richmond Community Protocol developed by the Richmond Resilience BC Committee as a tool to combat racism. Like our innovative Cultural Harmony Plan, it offers steps and recommendations to enhance inclusion and diversity.
Our discussion when adopting the Federal Government definitions of anti-Asian and anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, colonialism and systemic and institutional racism showed the breadth of thinking and opinions in Richmond. The discussions at Council were fulsome and we heard differing views from residents—and Council—on the definitions. We also saw and welcomed the passion that exists for cultural representation and recognition. For some, those differences are a focus for negativity. As a lifelong resident and long-serving Richmond Councillor, I believe that those differences are what make us stronger.
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