Canada is not an outlier from the recent spikes in hate crimes against members of our Asian communities. Anti-Asian discrimination is on the rise in Canada, with reports of discriminatory incidents more than tripling over the last year. Nearly half of all Anti-Asian racist attacks during COVID were in Ontario.
A new report, compiled by groups such as the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice, documents “anti-Asian racism across Canada one year into the Covid-19 pandemic.” From March 10, 2020 to Feb. 28, 2021, researchers recorded 1,150 anti-Asian incidents in Canada. From the increasingly prevalent stereotyping of Asian Canadians, to systemic discrimination, we must interrupt racism and other forms of connected oppression.
Daily Bread stands in solidarity with our Asian staff, volunteers, Members, and the Asian communities we serve across the City of Toronto. We also acknowledge the unfortunate role racial inequality plays in fueling hate, violence, poverty, and food insecurity in Toronto. We will continue to use our platforms, and research and advocacy work to address inequality in our City, and to address these issues across our network.
We encourage everyone to learn more about how to identify and counteract Anti-Asian Racism and incorporate anti-racist practices into their work. Below you can find several resources available to educate and inform on this important topic:
- ETFO’S ANTI-ASIAN RACISM RESOURCES
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, in collaboration with the Toronto District School Board, launched its Addressing Anti-Asian Racism Resource booklet and webinar in February to facilitate teaching about historic and current anti-Asian racism.
- ACT2ENDRACISM RESOURCES
ACT (or Asian Canadians Together) is a coalition dedicated to addressing the rise of anti-Asian racism amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ACT’s website offers a number of community and educational resources as well as a portal to report racist incidents.
- CITY OF TORONTO’S ANTI-EAST ASIAN RACISM PAGE
The City of Toronto launched a webpage with a video and resources amid the COVID-19 pandemic that address the history of East Asian racism, what racism feels like, what people can do to help and more.
- WEBINAR: ANTI-ASIAN RACISM IN THE PANDEMIC: SOLIDARITY IN A TIME OF CRISIS
The Asian Canadian Labour Alliance — in collaboration with the Ontario Federation of Labour Workers’ of Colour Committee, OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers, OPSEU Provincial Human Rights Committee, and the Toronto & York Region Labour Council’s Chinese Workers Network — hosted a webinar in May 2020 about anti-Asian racism and COVID-19, which has been recorded and posted to YouTube.
- DIVERSECITY’S ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society is a B.C.-based organization that offers a number of community and employment resources for newcomers. Their anti-racism page offers resources and information about racism and addressing anti-Asian sentiments during COVID-19.
Header Image Photo by Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images, via University of Toronto
