Building Bridges Workshop Community Day
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1. Objective
Hate crimes in Canada are on the rise. From 2019 to 2022, the number of police-reported hate crimes rose by 83%.
To create a space for knowledge sharing and engagement against hate crimes, racism, and all forms of racial discrimination, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), is launching the Building Bridges Workshops, a series of events across Canada over two days:
To create a space for knowledge sharing and engagement against hate crimes, racism, and all forms of racial discrimination, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), is launching the Building Bridges Workshops, a series of events across Canada over two days:
- Community Day [March 25, 2025] is designed to increase knowledge and strengthen community capacity to carry out anti-hate efforts.
- Law Enforcement Day [March 28, 2025] is focused on improving law enforcement capacity to identify, investigate, and record hate crimes.
This national initiative is the first of its kind and represents a historical investment into addressing and preventing hate in Canada, and building a more inclusive, anti-racist society.
The event is intended for community members and practitioners who work with communities experiencing hate.
Event Details
The event will take place in the Greater Toronto Area on March 25, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM EDT. Further information, including venue location, will be shared with attendees closer to the date of the event.
What to Expect
There are three key portions of the event:
1. Understanding Hate Crimes: A Detailed Briefing
This briefing will focus on identifying and understand hate, exploring data on hate crimes and hate incidents, reporting hate, and identifying supports for victims of hate. Participants will leave with more information on how hate is defined from a legal perspective and pathways to report and support victims. The briefing will be delivered by a researcher and expert on hate crimes.
2. Community Resilience: Presentations of Local Anti-Hate Initiatives
Anti-hate initiatives range in scope, approach, and design. In this portion of the event, participants will hear from 2-3 local community organizations who have created anti-hate initiatives. Presenters will share information about their organization, initiative, challenges/needs, and outcomes in an effort to highlight successful practices and lessons learned. There will be a short Q&A section at the end of the presentations. Participants will leave with increased awareness of local anti-hate initiatives and potential opportunities for collaboration.
3. Stronger Together: Resource Mapping Exercise
Community organizations have created critical initiatives to support victims of hate for years. Spaces to share existing knowledge, best practices, and emergent needs are important for strengthening cross-community coordination and responsiveness to events of hate. In this exercise, participants will come together to map out ideas, resources, and needs to support victims of hate in their city. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of available resources, strategies, and connections to support victims and combat hate.
These activities will be supplemented by informal networking and discussion throughout the event.
A catered lunch will be provided by the CRRF. A decompression room, prayer space and a mental health practitioner will also be available at the venue.
The event is intended for community members and practitioners who work with communities experiencing hate.
Event Details
The event will take place in the Greater Toronto Area on March 25, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM EDT. Further information, including venue location, will be shared with attendees closer to the date of the event.
What to Expect
There are three key portions of the event:
1. Understanding Hate Crimes: A Detailed Briefing
This briefing will focus on identifying and understand hate, exploring data on hate crimes and hate incidents, reporting hate, and identifying supports for victims of hate. Participants will leave with more information on how hate is defined from a legal perspective and pathways to report and support victims. The briefing will be delivered by a researcher and expert on hate crimes.
2. Community Resilience: Presentations of Local Anti-Hate Initiatives
Anti-hate initiatives range in scope, approach, and design. In this portion of the event, participants will hear from 2-3 local community organizations who have created anti-hate initiatives. Presenters will share information about their organization, initiative, challenges/needs, and outcomes in an effort to highlight successful practices and lessons learned. There will be a short Q&A section at the end of the presentations. Participants will leave with increased awareness of local anti-hate initiatives and potential opportunities for collaboration.
3. Stronger Together: Resource Mapping Exercise
Community organizations have created critical initiatives to support victims of hate for years. Spaces to share existing knowledge, best practices, and emergent needs are important for strengthening cross-community coordination and responsiveness to events of hate. In this exercise, participants will come together to map out ideas, resources, and needs to support victims of hate in their city. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of available resources, strategies, and connections to support victims and combat hate.
These activities will be supplemented by informal networking and discussion throughout the event.
A catered lunch will be provided by the CRRF. A decompression room, prayer space and a mental health practitioner will also be available at the venue.