By Jill Sperling

Community gathers for 12th annual Walk to Embrace Cultural Diversity

Mar 21, 2019 | 4:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — Displaying the flags of many nations, Kamloops residents walked together on Thursday to celebrate cultural diversity. 

“We’re all these wonderful and diverse people and it’s not so secret that all the cultural and social diversity has always been here, it just hasn’t always been advantageous to wear it externally,” said Graham Specht, diversity coordinator with Kamloops Immigrant Services. 

March 21 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. 

On this day, Kamloops residents of all backgrounds stood together in a proud display of unity in diversity. 

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“In times like this when there’s so much racism, and so much hate in the world it’s really really important that we all speak out and be vocal against racism,” said Lillian Kwan, president of the Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association. 

With events like the attack at a mosque in Christchurch New Zealand still fresh in peoples’ minds, the local event carried with it an even greater weight. 

“I think obviously what happened in New Zealand last weekend, last Friday was — people wanted to come and be together and really engage the fact that diversity is very very important, and surround our Muslim brothers and sisters with a lot of love, a lot of compassion,” said City Councillor Arjun Singh. 

While many at the event said Kamloops is a very welcoming community, there is still plenty of work to be done to eliminate racism. 

“There’s always going to be pockets of people, that’s just the way it is anywhere,” Kwan said. “I know the piece that people sometimes don’t understand is the white privilege. Because, white privilege and racism are two different things, right? And sometimes I know even friends of mine will get upset about the term ‘white privilege’ and I say, ‘it doesn’t mean you’re a racist, it just means you don’t have the same experiences I do.”

“There’s just hundreds and hundred of our murdered and missing women out there,” said Vicki Michaud, family services manager for the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, “and it continues to happen, and you know, I mean we find that racism, discrimination probably at its worst.” 

The work to raise awareness and celebrate the people groups in this community is an ongoing mission, but today’s event is one small step towards total inclusion.