Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Implement policy and legislative safeguards for PADs

Recommendation 78: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Elections BC should develop and propose avenues to legislate for persons resident in BC but not citizens to have a vote in provincial and local elections. The contours of this legislation must be arrived at based on deep and reflective consultations with minority community groups, including leaders and experts of African Descent.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Reform and promote accurate representation of PADs

Recommendation 79: The Province should make funding available to civil society organizations, including political parties, to highlight and celebrate People of African Descent leaders across all spheres of society. This should include funding of a People of African Descent leadership conference and youth leadership bootcamp to provide opportunities for various People of African Descent leaders across multiple sectors to interact, share experiences and build solidarities.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 80: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Elections BC should work with African Descent groups such as Operation Black Vote Canada to promote political education and strengthen democratic engagement acumen within People of African Descent communities; and to create leadership programs that draw on experienced politicians and leaders of African Descent to prioritize reflective mentorship, internship, volunteer and training opportunities for People of African Descent.

Improving PAD’s civic and democratic engagement

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 81: The Province should provide funding to People of African Descent organizations to deepen their capacities to fully undertake their organizational mandates. This is critical to overcome and redress structural impacts of colonialism on People of African Descent organizational trauma. More specifically, this will attenuate the broken trust and strained relationship of People of African Descent grassroot organization with institutional systems that have historically been used as repressive instruments against them. It is particularly recommended that successful models, interventions, and recommendations of People of African Descent organizations be leveraged in implementing measures to improve the conditions of People of African Descent across BC.

Improving promotion and support of PAD art, craft and media

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 88: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs should work with the City of Vancouver to follow through on the promise, under the Northeast False Creek plan, to construct a Black Cultural Centre as part of the Hogan’s Alley Redevelopment project on the 898 Main Street block. In designing this space, the National Museum of African American History & Culture may serve as a great inspirational reference.

Improving promotion and support of PAD art, craft and media

Support PAD-led models and community collaboration

Recommendation 89: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport must support and the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Division at the Ministry of Attorney General should fund the establishment of major People of African Descent community cultural centres at suitable locations across the province. This strategic support should enhance ongoing community efforts toward establishment of vital cultural spaces through grants, material support, donation of available physical facilities. These physical gathering spaces are critical to serve as hubs for cultural education, migrant settlement services, targeted training, mentorship and mental health support, intra-community dialogue, cathartic social gathering as well as multi-cultural socialization. The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, opened in September 1983 could serve as a model. The African Descent Society in BC is seeking funds towards an African heritage centre in BC.