The City of New Westminster is seeking to support diversity and inclusion in the community.
The city has joined the Safe Harbour: Respect for All program, which strives to ensure that civic facilities are committed to respectful, equitable treatment for anyone who walks in the door, including offering a temporary safe place for people facing discrimination or mistreatment. The program is supportive of a number of city policies, including the Respectful Workplace and Human Rights Policy, and responds to the changing demographics in the city.
“We’re proud to participate in the Safe Harbour program and show that we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community,” Mayor Wayne Wright said in a press release. “We want anyone who comes to New Westminster to feel welcome, regardless of their background.”
In November 2013, managers and staff from various city facilities participated in 15 Safe Harbour: Respect for All workshops, which sought to create a deeper understanding of the depth of diversity in the community and the meaning of equitable treatment, and to offer practical steps to create an inclusive environment and take a stand against discrimination. The interactive workshops also aimed to increase awareness of the impacts of stereotyping, exclusion and discrimination.
The City of New Westminster announced its participation in the Safe Harbour program on Feb. 17. The facilities participating in the program and displaying the Respect for All decal on their front windows are: New Westminster City Hall; Queensborough Community Centre; Centennial Community Centre; Canada Games Pool; Queen’s Park Arena; Queen’s Park Arenex; Moody Park Arena; Century House and the Youth Services Centre; and the parks, culture and recreation administration office.
The workshop was organized by the City of New Westminster’s Human Resources Department and facilitated by trainers from South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, Burnaby Family Life, Burnaby Neighbourhood House and AMSSA, an affiliation of multicultural societies and service agencies of B.C., and funded by EmbraceBC, a provincial program aimed at promoting multiculturalism and ending racism.
For more information about the program, visit www.safeharbour.ca.
