Frequently asked questions

At the start of this work, staff discussed with the Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent Community Advisory Group, how they would like to identify and the term ‘South Asian Canadian’ was chosen, while recognizing the many identities and diversity of experiences within these different communities and its limitations.

South Asian is a broadly used colonial term with over 20 years of history and use within Western academic, bureaucratic, and some social circles to describe people with South Asian ancestry and/or cultural roots. Those living in ‘South Asia’ and many diasporic communities including here in Canada, do not all identify as ‘South Asian’ and prefer that the individual identities, groups and names within the various sub-communities be used instead.

We recognize the sensitivities and complexities of this broad sweeping term along with the erasure it can bring to  the various cultures, groups and identities it refers to. We will work to highlight the diversity of experiences within and across individual communities as received through this engagement and throughout our research.

For more information, please review the Statistics Canada description of South Asian Canadian.

It is important for community to have their voices, stories and lived experiences heard throughout this process.

We want to know more about: 

• Experiences of South Asian Canadian communities, including current and historical discrimination 
• Potential actions to address historical and ongoing racism and discrimination.
• Potential actions to protect and promote South Asian Canadian cultural heritage in Vancouver and
• Spaces, in the past and present, that are important to you, your family, and your community.

This project is part of an ongoing effort to address and acknowledge the City of Vancouver’s past actions, policies, and programs that harmed South Asian Canadian communities. The impacts of historical discrimination continue to be reflected in communities today. 

Following council direction in July 2019, staff engaged with a community advisory group to discuss potential recommendations to recognize and address past wrongs and ongoing racism, including an official apology. In July 2022, Council passed the Historical Discrimination against People of South Asian Canadian Descent (HDSA) interim report, which included feedback from early engagement. 

We are currently undertaking broader engagement to hear from a larger segment of Vancouver’s diverse South Asian Canadian communities. To learn more, visit the project webpage.

Matters that are within the jurisdiction of the City as a municipality are in scope. The City oversees the implementation of a range of City-operated community services and strategic policies by working day-to-day on projects that help keep Vancouver operating, such as undertaking public space improvements, managing neighborhood revitalization programs, directing accessibility and equity improvements, developing cultural spaces, providing grants, funding social and community services, coordinating and planning development, etc. Read more about the City’s scope. 

Recommendations from community should be actionable by City Council within their jurisdiction and through the City Manager’s Office and its departments. Although the City works closely with Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Parks Board, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Coastal Health, and other agencies, we cannot make decisions on their behalf and have limited control over their operations. 

As with other public engagement processes, staff will review all feedback received from community and bring forward the engagement results and information and staff recommendations to Council for their consideration. 

Mapping data will help guide future area planning, rezonings, development, and the protection, promotion, and commemoration of South Asian Canadian intangible and tangible cultural heritage. 

We will be analyzing and summarizing the survey responses, mapping data, and community engagement sessions to inform a future report to Council. This will include sharing a summary of historical discrimination, a report on the ongoing realities of South Asian Canadian discrimination in Vancouver, and recommendations that the City can take towards cultural redress for both past and present discrimination. Our learnings will also further inform the City’s anti-racism action plan and related City projects.

We will share back a summary of what we learned after we finish engagement on our project webpage.

Staff will bring a final report to Vancouver City Council in 2025 to summarize what we have learned through engagement & historical research and present a list of recommendations with relevant City of Vancouver actions that address historical and ongoing discrimination, including plans for a future apology.

Cultural Redress recognizes and seeks to address the impacts of harms of systemic exclusion and discrimination or historic wrong experienced by cultural communities from the actions, policies or programs of the City of Vancouver.

The City’s cultural redress efforts aim to repair and foster community trust and belonging; preserve, restore, and steward cultural assets; and support living vibrant cultures and people. Examples of cultural redress projects or actions may include: formal apologies for past harms, commemoration, or changes to City processes or policies. Initiatives are unique to each community or context and determined with community and Council.

Cultural redress also supports and advances the City's Reconciliation, anti-racism, equity and accessibility efforts.

Information that identifies individuals is never included in summary reports and personal information such as names and email addresses will not be shared.

The City will not share raw data but may share overall findings from the engagement activities (i.e. survey and mapping results, demographic data) with Council and the general public. Read more on how the City protects your privacy.