Government of Canada Funds Seeking Alternatives Project
KITCHENER, November 12, 1999 -- The Honourable Hedy Fry, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women), and Karen Redman, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre, today announced a $30,000 grant to the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre for the Seeking Alternatives project."I am proud to support a project such as Seeking Alternatives, which will encourage youth to take a leadership role in combatting racism and discrimination," said Dr. Fry. "All Canadians must have an equal chance to participate in their society. This is not just a question of justice and equity, but something which is critical for the future of our country."
"What is so exciting about this project is that it is a tool which will broaden understanding within our multicultural society. It will arm students and community members alike with the tools they need to replace racism with tolerance and harmony," said Ms. Redman.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre's project will address the issue of violence caused by racism in schools. Students will examine assumptions, stereotyping, and racist behaviour, and will learn about conflict resolution and mediation. The project will document these learning experiences in a multimedia "tool box", which will become a creative and interactive workshop guide for people who wish to facilitate anti-racism workshops for youth using a popular education model.
The Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage serves three key purposes, all of which are dedicated to making Canada a better place to live. The Multiculturalism Program fosters Canadian identity and belonging, and encourages all citizens to participate in shaping their communities and their country.
This initiative is an example of the Federal Government's commitment to the values of respect, equality and diversity. Funding for this activity was provided for in the February 1999 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Information:
Michael Spowart
Executive Assistant
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
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