Black History Month: Loving All Our Neighbours
By Charles Meeks Growing up in rural North Carolina in the 1980s, I took it for granted that there was a Black History Month to celebrate each February. However, being raised in a nation that is steeped in racial inequality in both a legislative and cultural sense, I also took for granted what Jesus’s call […]
Words That Sadly I Can Say…
By The Venerable Peter Scott “I have recognized that I am racist. I am a white, privileged Canadian who is enmeshed in the cultural expectations and assumptions of the society in which I was raised. I have benefitted because I was born into the class and colour of those who have systemic power.” These are […]
Reflecting on Niagara-In-Action: What Does Social Advocacy Truly Mean?
By Shreya Yugendranag On September 25, 2021, the Diocese held another successful session of Niagara-In-Action! An annual favourite, this year’s event showcased two workshops: “Mapping the Ground We Stand On” and “Creating 2SLGBTQ+ Positive Space.” Mapping the Ground explored Indigenous presence and settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island (Canada). Led by PWRDF-trained facilitators, […]
Developing a “Made in Niagara” Anti-racism Framework
By The Reverend Naomi Kabugi When the Anti-Racism Working Group (ATRWG) first met in 2020, none of us was sure how anti-racism in the diocese should be addressed. We knew of other anti-racism initiatives, but none from faith-based organisations or institutions like ours. So, we had to search within and among ourselves on how to […]
Anti-Racism: Healing Through the Body
By Nicola Li Fen Zhang It has been a year since the Anti-Racism Working Group (ARWG) met for the first time in 2020. I have really appreciated this opportunity because I now have a much better understanding of what racism is and how racist I was. It was not easy for me to see this, […]
Creating a Culture of Respect, Justice, and Peace for All
By Canon Christyn Perkons Diocesan Synod marked a turning point for the Anti-Racism Working Group. Did we report that our work was finished? Quite the contrary! A shared sense that we were ready to move from contemplation and discernment to action coalesced with the conclusion of our group reading of My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and […]
Grieving for our children
By NII K’AN KWSDINS (JERRY ADAMS) October 1, 2021 A version of this piece appeared in June on the website of the diocese of New Westminster. Nii K’an Kwsdins (Jerry Adams) The May discovery of the remains of 215 children who were buried on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School, and the discovery of […]
Delving into the Meaning of National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We asked several people in our diocese for their reflections on what the day means for them, and for our ongoing work of reconciliation. The […]
Celebrating Black History
By Mary Gordon and Randy Williams Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. This is often a busy month in the church calendar, coming on the heels of Christmas and as preparations for vestry meetings are […]
October: Latin American Heritage Month
By The Reverend Antonio Illas I am humbled and honoured to serve in the diocesan Anti-racism Working Group and to be a proud member of the Latin American community in Canada, specifically a Latino. The creation of this working group is a serious attempt by Bishop Susan to place anti-racism, an important issue, in the […]
