Media Release: Stratford Reiterates Support to Fight Racism
Posted on 03/18/2021
Stop Racism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 18, 2021


Stratford, PE – Leading up to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Sunday, March 21, the Town of Stratford encourages all residents, and the wider Island community, to show support in the fight against racism by adding the Facebook frame #PEIAgainstRacism to their profile picture.


“The Town has been proudly hosting an event annually on March 21st for a number of years”, explained Stratford Mayor, Steve Ogden. “This year, the theme is ‘Youth Standing up Against Racism’ and what better way to reach our youth than through social media. Young people have greatly supported the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, calling on to their peers, and often their parents and other leaders, to fight discrimination and stand up for equal rights. We want to turn this into an opportunity for everyone with a Facebook account to participate and join us in displaying the #PEIAgainstRacism frame.”

Later this month, staff and stakeholders of the Town will participate in an anti-racism workshop to learn to recognize and address instances of unconscious bias and microaggressions. This online workshop is facilitated by BIPOC USHR (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour United for Strength, Home, Relationship), a support and advocacy group on PEI. Other interested groups can learn more at: www.bipocushr.org/copy-of-our-programs

Nancy Clement, Community Engagement Manager at the PEIANC says, “The PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada has collaborated with the Town of Stratford over the years in various ways around the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year PEIANC is pleased to be able to sponsor the online workshop presented by BIPOC USHR. This group provides useful insights and tools for recognizing and understanding racism, and for making anti-racist actions and micro-interventions a part of your daily life. We encourage other municipalities and businesses across PEI to also participate in anti-oppression training.”

The Town of Stratford is a welcoming and inclusive community that values racial harmony and cultural diversity among its residents. Stratford has been a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, formerly the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination since July of 2007 and is the only participating municipality on PEI.

The PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada (PEIANC) was incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 1993 and continues to work to foster inclusion. The Association's mandate is to provide short-term settlement services, and long-term inclusion and community integration programs for new immigrants and refugees on PEI.

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For more information please contact:

Jade Veera, Engagement and Research Coordinator
Town of Stratford
T: (902) 367 5347
E: [email protected]

Nancy Clement, Community Engagement Manager
PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada
T: (902) 628 6009
E: [email protected]