Hate has no home in Newmarket. Together, let’s end hate here and in York Region.
Created: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Hate can take many forms, whether hidden or obvious. Hate has widespread impact, on both individuals and communities that can lead to feelings of exclusion. No one should feel unsafe simply because of who they are.
York Regional Police (YRP) reports an increase in hate incidents in recent years. In 2023, they report that the most common motivational factors for hate crimes were race/ethnicity (46%) and religion (38%). Between 2022 and 2023, hate crimes motivated by religion and sexual orientation increased the most compared to other motivational factors.
We all have a role to play to make sure York Region is a welcoming, inclusive and safe place for everyone. By standing up against hate, we are showing our commitment to communities where diversity is celebrated and everyone participates freely in society, develops to their full potential, lives with respect and dignity, and is free from discrimination.
The Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG) is comprised of 20 member organizations, including all nine local municipalities, YRP, hospitals, school boards, conservation authorities and agencies that come together to engage in collaborative planning, discuss common needs, and identify possible tools and best practices related to accessibility, diversity and inclusion.
To achieve the vision of the Inclusion Charter for York Region of fostering welcoming and inclusive communities, the Municipal Diversity and Inclusion Group (MDIG) in York Region is advancing collective actions to help increase a sense of belonging and decrease incidents of hate. Our organization is a member of MDIG and we are excited to be working with other MDIG partners!
One of the collective actions is the #EndHateYR campaign. This campaign focuses on hate-related incidents in York Region. The campaign, developed in close collaboration with YRP’s Hate Crimes Unit provides education and awareness about hate motivated crimes and incidents, the impact on individuals and the community and how community members can work together to eliminate hate and support those impacted.
The first phase of the campaign, founded on research and developed in partnership with YRP, includes an online information hub that will educate residents of York Region about the difference between hate crimes and incidents and encourage them to report hate crimes and incidents when they see them.
As a member of MDIG we invite you to learn more about this campaign by following the #EndHateYR hashtag or visiting york.ca/EndHate
