Multiculturalism and Inter-Cultural Relations

Multicultural Awards | Reach out to New Westminster | Reconciliation with Chinese Community

City of New Westminster Multicultural Awards

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Reach Out New Westminster … Greet, Inform and Connect

The face of New Westminster is changing, with more people reporting visible minority status and more people speaking a multitude of languages.  As evidence:

•  31.7% of the population are immigrants;
•  29.6% of the population have visible minority status;
•  23.1% of immigrants have less than five years of Canadian residency;
•  46.8% of immigrants speak a language other than English;
•  3.17% of the population report having aboriginal identity.

In response to a funding opportunity, the City, on behalf of a number of agencies, successfully applied for a Community Partnership Development grant, under the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program.  The purpose of this funding was to engage a broad range of stakeholders; to foster collaboration; to develop a common vision; and to prepare an action plan in support of creating a more welcoming and inclusive community.

Based on the resultant Community Partnership Development Charter, which contained the vision and the action plan, the City and the Lead Proponent (Family Services of Greater Vancouver) submitted an expression of interest related to the below initiatives.  The expression was ‘green-lighted’ and the Lead Proponent submitted a proposal, which was approved for funding.

Demonstration Initiatives:

•  Greet – Welcoming Ambassadors Program ($126,909)
•  Inform – Newcomers’ Guide to New Westminster ($59,490)
•  Connect – Immigrant Mentorship Program ($98,990)

Public Education Initiative:

•  Newcomer Youth Popular Theatre Project ($50,000)

Please see below documents and video for more information:

• Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster Presentation of November 16, 2009
• Reach Out New Westminster … Greet, Inform and Connect
• Community Partnership Development Charter

To view WICWP Open House Video, go to:

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City of New Westminster Reconciliation Process with Its Chinese Community

At the Regular Council meeting of July 13, 2009, New Westminster City Council passed a motion “that staff research the history of racism and discrimination against the Chinese community and any role that the City played in these events ….”

Based on this motion, City staff will be preparing a background paper that documents the role, if any, that the City played in these events. City staff will also be implementing a consultation process to share the results of the research and to gain feedback and input from interested parties.

The first public meeting was held on November 17, 2009.  At this meeting, which was attended by over 25 people, a presentation was made outlining the scope of the work; the history of Chinese settlement in New Westminster; the general themes that have emerged based on the research to date; and the next steps.

Please see the below documents for more information:

• Chinese Reconciliation Research - 1926-1950
• Chinese Reconciliation Presentation of March 31, 2010
• Chinese Reconciliation Update Report of March 22, 2010
• Council Motions in Support of Reconciliation Process
• Staff Report on Proposed Reconciliation Process
• Proposed Research Component
• Proposed Consultation Component 
• Reconciliation Process Presentation of November 17, 2009
• Reconciliation Research Findings - Council Records
• Reconciliation Research Findings - Library Records

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