It started with some depressing numbers of people who become refugees around the world, and ended with the exciting indigenous Round Dance performance by all present.
Refugees especially from multicultural communities face racism and discrimination in Canada. In February 2019, the previous NDP Government of Alberta put in place a popular Anti Racism Council, a 24 member panel to advise the provincial government on racism and discrimination. At the World Refugee Day event at Edmonton City Hall on June 20, 2019, Diversity Magazine caught up with the new Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women, Leela Sharon Aheer, and wanted to know the fate of the Council. She shared that, “…we have a different view….we are creating a space for multiculturalism. We just have to figure out…” Minister Aheer also mentioned that they have some initiatives coming up for recognition of foreign credentials.
The take home message from the organizers of the World Refugee Day event is, “…68.5 million people around the world have been forced from their homes. Among them are nearly 25.4 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also an estimated 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement. In a world where nearly 1 person is forcibly displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution, it is our responsibility to take pause and honour those that are struggling daily to merely survive…”
2019 UNHCR World Refugee Day took place on June 20, 2019, at Edmonton City Hall. It was organized by the City of Edmonton, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, Catholic Social Services, Islamic Family & Social Services Association and EMCN. The organizers dedicated World Refugee Day to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. They also used the event to shed light on the plight of refugees in the world, what Edmonton as a community has done to welcome refugees and what the future holds for the community.
Arnold Mugenzi, a former refugee from Congo DR shared his joy of being hosted in Canada from Congo in 2014, and currently working in Edmonton. Arnold told Diversity Magazine, “…I want everyone to feel as welcomed as I was welcomed in Canada. Let’s go out and celebrate today and not forget the future. We’re here to contribute, to work, and make a better versions of ourselves. I’m grateful to Canada and I look forward to bringing new skills to the country…”
Another former refugee, Dr. Nhung Tran-Davies, today a medical doctor, was sponsored to Canada by a family 40 years ago, and pleased to share her story on how coming to Canada as a refugee changed her life. Nhung shared with Diversity Magazine, “..all that I’ve become is because of the sponsors…”
