A Nanaimo Aquatic Centre mural, intended to reflect recommendations of an inquiry into COVID-19 time hate crimes, was officially unveiled today.
B.C. Office of the Human Rights Commissioner released its B次元官网网址淔rom hate to hope: Report of the inquiry into hate in the COVID-19 pandemicB次元官网网址� report this March, and as part of that commissioned murals. Local muralists Humanity in Art, with assistance from Risebridge (non-profit) summer program youths, created the artwork, which had its revealing Thursday, Dec. 14.
The mural spans across three walls by the swimming pool entrance and Lys Glassford, one of Humanity in ArtB次元官网网址檚 proprietors, said the work stemmed from B次元官网网址渢he hate to hope theme.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e asked the kids what that meant to them and they came up with a lot of different things, like community connection and dark to light,B次元官网网址� said Glassford. B次元官网网址淭he transition of day to light is very important in different cultures, so they came up with all of those things. One child [suggested] a transformation as well; thatB次元官网网址檚 why we led with the butterfly theme as well.B次元官网网址�
B.C. Human Rights commissioner Kasari Govender said she was grateful to Humanity in Art and Risebridge for their partnership. She said the inquiry reflected that hate had increased during the pandemic B次元官网网址渄ramatically,B次元官网网址� with a 118 per cent jump, based on police statistics.
The report had numerous recommendations, including creation of a strategy B次元官网网址渙n addressing hate, informed by [the] report B次元官网网址� with clear timelines, deliverables and transparent reporting.B次元官网网址�
When asked if stakeholders were buying in, she said more needs to be done.
B次元官网网址淲e are seeing some progress from the provincial government,B次元官网网址� Govender said. B次元官网网址淭hey announced a couple of initiatives, which are steps in the right direction, but in my view, far too small. Most recently they announced a timeline for a hot line theyB次元官网网址檇 announced some years ago into reporting racism incidents B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 quite a robust structure that we recommended, including immediate and free accessible access to mental health supports.B次元官网网址�
Govender said she wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if that was included in the current government plan.
Glassford said interior latex paint was used for the mural. They and business partner Lauren Semple were able to paint it quickly.
B次元官网网址淟auren and I started [Dec. 4] and we finished this Monday,B次元官网网址� they said. B次元官网网址淚t was really new, really fast, we were working very early mornings to get that done. Everybody was fantastic. We did get kicked out sometimes when rooms were rented because thereB次元官网网址檚 doorways there, but other than that, everyone was so fantastic.B次元官网网址�
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