March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racism
March 21, 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations declaration of the International Day to End Racial Discrimination. In Canada, racial discrimination is shaped by our colonial roots and the systems that have been designed to uphold them.
Despite the Canadian Human Rights Act, increased public awareness and media attention, discrimination not only remains but continues to be deeply ingrained in structural and public stigma.
The fight against racism requires courage, empathy and a willingness to face uncomfortable truths.There are many reasons why people don't feel comfortable talking about racism, but these conversations are necessary to foster understanding, drive change and promote social justice and equality.
The JLP offers two learning activities that examine structural stigma in the federal public service. Since its launch in May 2021, the JLP’s virtual discussion, Anti-Racism: Let’s Talk! has been delivered almost 350 times. In-person workshop Respecting Differences/Anti-Discrimination (RDAD) has been a JLP offering since 2007, making it one of the longest-running workshops in the Program. Recently re-launched after an update, the latest version of RDAD has new materials, new activities, new concepts and a fresher look.
The JLP is proud to take part in the conversation aimed at addressing and preventing racial discrimination in the federal public service through its in-person workshops and virtual discussions.
To explore anti-racism through a Canadian lens, you can consult the resources available from the Public Service Alliance of Canada, or the Canadian Government.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.com