President’s message: No place for anti-Asian racism

A message from VCC president Ajay Patel

Dear VCC community,

I wanted to take the opportunity to share my deep sadness and anger over the recent and ongoing acts of hate and racism towards Asian individuals and communities across North America.

The tragic shootings in Atlanta were truly horrifying, and the violence we continue to see locally reminds us of the unacceptable discrimination our Asian friends, family members, students, and colleagues face every day. 

At VCC, there is no place for racism, discrimination, or hate-speech. It is especially during these difficult times that our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our own Asian students, staff, and faculty must be at its strongest. We are committed to working with our diverse community to ensure all voices are heard and everyone is protected and supported to live, work, and learn in a respectful, kind, and anti-racist environment. 

As members of an educational community, we have a shared responsibility to respond to these challenges by training the next generation with opportunities for learning and leadership.

A quote that is very important to me is from Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.  This is at the heart of the sacrifices my family made for my brothers and me, and I believe it is through education that we will advance reconciliation and win our fight against racism and injustice.

For our students, if you would like to talk about the impact of these events on your life, I encourage you to reach out to our counselling department by booking an online appointment.

For our employees, Morneau-Shepell's call centres are available for you as well as your eligible dependents, 24/7/365 in 147 languages and six different formats.

As well, I invite you to explore our employee “Learning for Life” series at VCC for the following learning opportunities and resources:

• Anti-racism Response Training (ART)
• Intercultural Development Inventory
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Students with Disabilities
• Respectful Workplace Training

For further information and support, please see the list of community services below.

Also remember VCC’s “Safe Walk” program if you feel unsafe on campus or walking to your transit stop or car. Our security guards will escort you within a block of either campus to ensure your safety.

Please stand with me in solidarity with our Asian communities at VCC and across North America.

Sincerely,

Ajay Patel
President and CEO
Vancouver Community College

 

---

RESOURCES 

Fight COVID Racism
A platform that aims to allow individuals to share their experiences of racism, and tracks and records instances of Anti-Asian racism during COVID-19. Includes resources and support for individuals.

Asian Canadian Equity Alliance (ACEA)
A non-profit organization with a mission to confront bullying and harassment due to discrimination of one’s Asian heritage. Educates the public about racial, ethnic, and minority groups to explain the difference between stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and racism, and identify different types of discrimination. 

Canadian Anti-Racism Education and Research Society

A registered non-profit charity with a mandate to advocate and provide support services for hate crime and systemic racism, as well as public education about institutional racism.

Canadian Anti-Hate Network

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network monitors, exposes, and counters hate groups.

Canadian Race Relations Foundation

Dedicated to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.

POC in Play

An independent organization creating initiatives and events designed to increase the visibility and representation of People of Colour in the video games industry. The POC in Play team comprises of game industry professionals from a range of backgrounds and experiences, but who all share a passion to drive impactful change and open the door for more People of Colour.