What were our challenges and successes in 2007? And since we celebrated our 10th anniversary in October of 2006, let us go one step further: what impact has the Foundation's existence had on racism?
I will bypass the short history lesson on the Foundation's origin, mission and vision, to get right to the heart of the matter.
After 10 years in existence, can the Canadian Race Relations Foundation say that racism in Canada is a thing of the past? The answer, as I am sure you have guessed, is NO. But what the Foundation can say, loud and clear, is that racism is no longer a shameful, hidden disease that people speak of only in whispers. It has become, instead, a condition that can be recognized, diagnosed, and treated.
Today, after 10 years of unrelenting work by the Foundation and many other national and local organizations devoted to the cause, Canada is able to recognize the fact that racism exists in our society and its institutions.
The road to eliminating racism is a long one. The vision of a Canada free of racism is a noble vision that we must all work toward making a reality. The Foundation is at your service to help you find the resources (Programs), information (Information Clearinghouse), and skills (Training and Learning Centre) you need for this work.
Governments, NGOs, and the national and international community regularly call upon the Foundation to contribute to developing policies, programs and workshops that will gradually lead us toward a more equitable and just society. This is a massive task that we could not do without you. Let us know what is happening in your region so we can put it on our Calendar of Events (One local event could inspire a group all the way across the country to organize another). Do you need someone who can talk about a particular subject related to racism? We will do our best to refer you to the appropriate person. Do you want to know whether a study has ever been published on a particular subject? Our Resource Centre will happily inform you.
Over the next few months, you will see changes on our website. We constantly strive to improve and to maximize our limited resources. Please continue to send us your comments and suggestions.
Let us keep in mind that the elimination of racism is a team effort and that all of us are part of the team.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation wishes you a Happy New Year. We take this opportunity to thank you for your past and future support. And now, without further ado... Let's get to work!
Dr. Al-Yassini,
Executive Director