International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Every year, on March 21, UFCW Canada joins with global communities in recognizing the International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Every year, on March 21, UFCW Canada joins with global communities in recognizing the International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
On January 29, 2017, six worshippers lost their lives at a Québec City mosque. Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti were fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, and community members.
This year will mark the seventh anniversary of that tragic night that changed our country - and the third National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.
In November 2023, a senate report was released on Islamophobia in Canada saying that urgent action is needed to reverse the rising tide of hate and discrimination against Muslims in Canada.
January 29 serves as a reminder of the work we must do to eradicate Islamophobia, hate and racism in Canada. Learn more below about ways you can support.
A coalition of Canada Muslim organizations, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, has launched a mobile application called IMIRT – Islamophobia-Motivated Incident Reporting Tool – to create a safer and more inclusive community.
Islamophobic incidents are spiking across the country and this new hate crime reporting tool is designed to bridge the gap between underreported hate incidents and official statistics.
Learn more about the Islamophobia-Motivated Incident Reporting tool at IMIRT.ca.
The Green Square Campaign is an NCCM initiative that takes place in the week leading up to January 29th every year to remember the victims and survivors of the Quebec City mosque attack. The campaign encourages Canada to wear a patch of green fabric in solidarity with the victims and survivors. The green square represents the green carpets of the Quebec City mosque, where the victims last stood to pray. Learn more here.
Hate-related incidents are on the rise across Canada. The federal government promised that they would provide a National Action Plan to Combat Hate. It is critical that the government provide a progress report and a timeline regarding its release. Take action now at www.ufcw.ca/stopthehate.
In the workplace, this day of remembrance is also an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with UFCW Canada Anti-Islamophobia resources, created in partnership with the NCCM:
My Rights To Religious Accommodation at Work - Action Card #1
Tips on Requesting Religious Accommodations - Action Card #2
Tips on Handling Discrimination / Harassment at Work - Action Card #3
Challenging Islamophobia Through Bystander Intervention - Action Card #4
Challenge Islamophobia – Observing Ramadan - Action Card #5
Challenge Islamophobia – The Importance of Praying at Work and Ablution - Action Card #6
Challenge Islamophobia – Greetings and the Muslim Faith - Action Card #7
Challenging Islamophobia – Why Time Off For Eid is Important - Action Card #8
On this date, and everyday let us continue to support organizations leading this fight and continue to affirm our solidarity with Muslim communities across Canada.
To find out more about UFCW Canada’s Social Justice work, click here.
Black History Month Poster
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Every February, we honour Black History Month by reflecting on the past and present contributions and challenges faced by Black people in Canada. This month is a time for all Canadians to educate ourselves on the history of Black enslavement and discrimination in our country, and how anti-Black racism is still deeply entrenched in Canadian institutions.
Black History Matters On-The-Go WebCampus Course
UFCW Members and their families can register for a new webCampus course on Black History Matters. Black Canadians’ stories, experiences, and accomplishments span hundreds of years. Black history is complex and there is much to learn about their contributions and labour, both forced and paid. They have long been an important part of both the Canadian labour force and labour movements. Enroll in On-the-Go: Black History Matters course today.
About Black History Month
We honour the stories and contributions Black leaders and their communities have made to the history of this country. Black History Month arose out of the work of scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who himself was the son of freed African slaves in Virginia. Much of the American commemorations of Black History took roots in Canada because of the Black Sleeping Car Porters. Their work crossed borders and made it easier for Canadian movements to organize parallel celebrations to the ones taking place in America.
Today, every member receives equal access to membership but in 1908, the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Employees (CBRE) constitution specifically excluded Black workers. It wasn’t until 1917 that the Order of Sleeping Car Porters (OSCP) was formed as the first Black railway union in North America. These actions of resistance and resilience led to the lasting impacts of equal rights throughout labour history.
On the political front, the work of the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to parliament, led to the 1995 official recognition of February as Black History Month (BHM) in Canada.
Provincially, while BHM is celebrated across the country, it’s not proclaimed in every province or territory. In fact, it wasn’t until February 16, 2016 that Ontario proclaimed BHM through Bill 159, following years of advocacy from the Ontario Black History Society and municipal designations of BHM arising since 1979.
In Quebec, it was the work of Yolande James, Quebec’s first Black female Member of the National Assembly (and community coalition groups) that led to the adoption of Bill 39, and the eventual recognition of BHM on February 1, 2007.
In Nova Scotia, it wasn’t until January 26, 1996, that Premier John Savage declared February as African History Month, with much provincial programming led by the African Heritage Month Information Network. Among other notable provincial actions across the country, in 2017, under the leadership of then Premier Rachel Notley, Alberta first declared BHM, and in 2021, Saskatchewan declared February as African-Canadian/ Black History Month.
Presently, as we work together to advocate for an equitable present and future, let us continue to reflect on the inequities of our past as we do the critical work to combat anti-Black racism. Let it also serve as a reminder that labour’s resilience rests on the shoulders of giants and those who led resistance movements in the fight for social progress.
Find out more about UFCW Canada’s social justice campaigns, click here.
Further Reading and Additional Resources
Join us for a special free virtual screening and discussion of Spirit Bear and the Children Make History, presented by First Nations Child & Family Caring Society in collaboration with UFCW Canada and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
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