GVLIP Anti-Racism At Work Campaign

Racism in Greater Victoria: A Community Report

In 2021, the GVLIP published a survey report about racism in Greater Victoria. The survey revealed that:

• 71% of racialized respondents have experienced racism in the past five years.
• More than 50% have experienced racism in the workplace.
• 31% of racialized respondents have missed job opportunities and been excluded from networks.
• 25% reported that they’d missed promotions.

Workplace culture

Despite these statistics, more than 95% of racialized respondents said they would not feel comfortable speaking about those experiences with colleagues and managers at their workplace. People feared that speaking up might lead to being shunned or losing their job. Some thought that speaking up would not make a difference to their workplace culture. Many racialized respondents said they felt tired of carrying the burden of creating these changes by themselves.

“When I spoke about witnessing racism, some white colleagues stopped talking to me and those that supported my voice only did so quietly after the fact…..the quiet people who are not racist in society need to start speaking up and being anti-racist.”

Anonymous respondent to Racism in Greater Victoria survey.

Anti-Racism at Work: The Concept

In light of the survey report, the Anti-Racism At Work campaign was created to specifically call on white individuals at all levels in the workplace to listen, learn, and become actively and effectively anti-racist.

The survey showed that most white people are aware that racism happens but that it occurs more frequently than they are willing to admit.

When white respondents were asked whether they thought that systemic racism was a problem they often replied yes. Yet when they were asked if they had witnessed incidents of racism, only 10% said that they had, which shows a disconnect: they know in theory that racism is a problem, but at the same time, they are either too isolated or don’t recognize it when it happens.

First Phase: Learning and Listening

The first phase of the campaign focusses on listening and learning. Digital ads and billboards across the Capital Region remind us that everybody has a role to play when creating equitable workplaces.

The Anti-Racism At Work landing page includes the racism survey report and other resources such as:

• contact information for local diversity equity and inclusion consultants,

• tools to assess one’s own workplace on equity measures,

• local and national research on racism and other inequities in the workplace,

• materials that help organizations and business implement change.

“As a person of colour, I think it’s the work of the people who have the same race as the aggressor to intervene.”

Anonymous respondent to Racism in Greater Victoria survey.

Next Phases: Engagement, Commitment, and Action

Inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory practices implemented in the workplace will have a positive effect in our community but getting there is not a one-time affair. Deep and lasting change requires long-term commitment, full engagement, and consistency over a long time. Anti-Racism At Work hopes to remind workplaces of this responsibility, opportunity, and commitment to affect such change.

The Anti-Racism at Work media campaign will run until 2025 and will be updated yearly based on community feedback, discussions with GVLIP partners, and analyses of previous phases. GVLIP will continue to add material depth, different engagement opportunities, projects, and a diversity of stories to the campaign.

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