THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay’s Anti-Racism & Respect Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Lakehead Social Planning Council, is launching an awareness campaign for the Incident Reporting Program which provides those who experience or witness racism ways to report it and access supports.
“I think this is really important, the campaign launched four years ago, and, here we are refreshing it, it’s got a whole new look and we want it to be a reminder that these really important programs exist,” said Jason Veltri, chair of the Anti-Racism and Respect Advisory Committee.
“Not only just about racism, although, we know racism exists in the community, that’s no secret, but we want those that are witnessing it or experiencing it to know that there are referral programs available through 211 North and Lakehead Social Planning Council, that we can seek support for them and we can find avenues to help often traumatic experiences.”
The city of Thunder Bay has the 11th highest hate crime rate in Canada and so the Incident Reporting Program launched in 2017 to provide an outlet to report incidents of racism through 211 North, operated by the Lakehead Social Planning Council.
“When you look back at the last few years, unfortunately, Thunder Bay, whether it’s hate crimes, whether it’s other issues related to racism, Thunder Bay has been recognized across the country in a very negative manner,” said at-large councillor Rebecca Johnson.
“Thunder Bay City Council are very cognisant of that and really are very concerned, and so this awareness of racism in our community is one way to address that and show that hopefully, the actual trends are going down, and if not, we have to look at what the situation is and address those and find solutions.
The awareness campaign to promote the Incident Reporting Program includes billboards, digital signage, transit advertising, and print and online ads, which will run September through November in Thunder Bay.
“I think we want to see a network of agencies and supports to provide assistance and to work on prevention strategies, I think it’s really important to prevent or mitigate racism, and I think it’s a community effort, the more of us that are involved, the better the by-products are going to be,” said Marie Klassen, director of Services for Lakehead Social Planning Council.
To learn more about the program, racism, and your rights visit: thunderbay.ca/AntiRacismResources
You can report racism:
- Online at lspc.ca/IncidentReport
- In-person by visiting Lakehead Social Planning, 125 Syndicate Avenue South, Unit 38, Victoriaville Centre
- By Phone by Calling 2-1-1
