Toronto launches anti-xenophobia campaign

Immigrant groups and the city of Toronto have launched a poster and social media campaign to address xenophobia, Islamophhobia and anti-immigrant sentiments. Before and since Canada accepted over 27,000 Syrian refugees there have been racist incidents and now, in Toronto, a determination to deal with them.

‘Diversity is our strength’

“We wanted to send a message that Muslims belong, that they are part and parcel of Toronto,” said Debbie Douglas, executive director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).

“Our motto in the city is ‘diversity is our strength’ and we wanted to show that diversity in our very broadest sense…that regardless of one’s religion, regardless of one’s race or ethnicity that you belong here in Toronto once you reside here.”

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‘Go home’ a typical comment

A typical poster depicts a young white male telling a female in a hijab to go back where she came from, and she responds by asking where and citing a Toronto neighbourhood. The situation is common and Douglas wants people to talk about it.

There has been reaction, she says. “We were a bit surprised that a lot of the push-back has been accusations of racism against white men. And so it’s forced a conversation about issues of race and racism and issues of power and power dynamics and what that looks like.”

When people don’t feel safe

Douglas says it can be a difficult conversation to have, but one that we must have.

“I think that one of the things we are very proud of as Torontonians but also as Canadians is that we have been able to maintain and to thrive because of our diversity. But to ensure that that continues we have to talk about the difficult issues.

“We have to raise questions when we know that there are groups of folks who are being discriminated against, who are being attacked, who are not feeling physically or psychically safe where they live.”