International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - March 21, 2024

On March 21^st, the City of Kitchener joins cities around the world in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, standing united in our commitment to eradicate all forms of racism from our community, and everywhere. The City of Kitchener is a vibrant and diverse cultural mosaic and approximately one-third of Kitchener’s residents are Indigenous, Black and racialized.

Every individual, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religious, or cultural background, deserves to live a life free from discrimination and prejudice. We acknowledge that people in our community continue to face discrimination and work together to eliminate it. As a community, we have an abundance of opportunities to learn, share and connect with each other and reaffirm our collective responsibility to challenge and confront racism wherever it exists.

75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, March 21st serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and all orders of government to work to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, injustice, systemic racism, and hate. Racial discrimination violates the fundamental principles of equality and human rights and undermines the fabric of our communities. It perpetuates division, inequality, and injustice, hindering the progress and prosperity of nations around the world. It is critical that we build an inclusive and equitable City that welcomes, values, and creates welcoming space for all races and cultures.

In recent years, the city has been more engaged in this work through collaborations with community partners and a focus on education and resources for Council and staff. In 2022, our city launched the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Equity (RISE) Fund to support Black, Indigenous, and other racialized community-led programs, projects, and events. This past year, Council increased the RISE fund to $150,000 per year to continue to respond to the needs of equity-deserving groups in the city.

The city has also invested in increased support for equity-deserving entrepreneurs and under-represented groups through our SDG Idea Factory. Through resources such as innovation space, business coaching and workshops, these entrepreneurs are advancing all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and especially, Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities, and Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals, through this City of Kitchener space.

Together, through our collective actions, we must foster understanding, promote diversity, and work to eliminate racial discrimination in all forms. Let us strive to create a world where every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and equity, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

Today, and every day, please join our Kitchener community as we stand against racial discrimination. Join us today and share your own messages on social media using the hashtag #FightRacism.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, on behalf of Kitchener Council