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Racism in Canada: A Longstanding Battle

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2023

Canada, often known for its friendly and inclusive attitude, is not immune to racism. For centuries, racism has plagued the nation, and it remains a significant problem today. From the early European settlers to the recent wave of immigrants, Canada’s history is rife with examples of systemic racism, which have left a long-lasting impact on marginalized communities.

One of the most significant and well-known examples of racism in Canada is the country’s treatment of Indigenous people. The Canadian government implemented a system of residential schools in the late 1800s, which forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families and placed them in church-run schools. The schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into European-Canadian culture, causing long-term physical, emotional, and cultural trauma to generations of Indigenous people. The last residential school closed in 1996, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada found the system to be a form of cultural genocide. Today, Indigenous people continue to face systemic racism in Canada, including high levels of poverty, discrimination, and violence.

Another group that has been the target of racism in Canada is the Black community. Black people in Canada have a long history of being subjected to racist policies, such as segregation, restrictive immigration laws, and police brutality. For example, the Viola Desmond case in the 1940s illustrates the overt racism that Black Canadians faced at the time. Desmond, a Black woman, was jailed for refusing to sit in the segregated section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre. More recently, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted the ongoing issue of police violence against Black people in Canada. The deaths of individuals such as Regis Korchinski-Paquet and Chantel Moore have reignited the call for justice and equality for Black people in Canada.

The Asian community in Canada has also faced racism, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, Asian people have been the target of discriminatory and xenophobic attacks. The rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in Canada has highlighted the need for more education and awareness around racism towards Asian communities.

While Canada has taken steps towards addressing racism, it remains a pervasive issue. Efforts to combat racism include the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, among other things, and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, which promotes racial harmony and cross-cultural understanding. However, these efforts alone are not enough to address the deep-seated issues that exist.

Ultimately, addressing racism in Canada requires a collective effort from individuals, communities, and institutions. Education and awareness about racism, as well as cultural sensitivity training, are critical components in creating a more inclusive society. Additionally, acknowledging and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate racism, such as inadequate access to resources and unequal opportunities, are essential.

One important aspect to consider is the intersectionality of racism, and how it affects individuals who experience multiple forms of discrimination. For example, Indigenous women in Canada face not only racism, but also sexism and violence, leading to alarmingly high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Similarly, Black women in Canada experience racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination, leading to a range of issues such as unequal pay and limited access to healthcare.

Another issue to consider is the role of the media in perpetuating racism. The media has the power to shape public perception and influence attitudes towards certain communities. When the media portrays certain groups in a negative light or reinforces stereotypes, it can contribute to the marginalization and discrimination of those communities. In recent years, there has been increased awareness and criticism of the media’s role in perpetuating racism, and calls for greater representation and diversity in media.

It’s also worth noting that while Canada is often perceived as a more progressive and tolerant society compared to others, this can sometimes lead to complacency and a lack of urgency in addressing racism. There is a tendency to compare ourselves to other countries and pat ourselves on the back for not being as bad, without acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. It’s important to recognize that even in a country like Canada, racism exists and has real impacts on people’s lives.

It’s important to acknowledge that combatting racism requires more than just individual efforts. While it’s important for individuals to educate themselves and take action in their personal lives, systemic change is needed to address the root causes of racism. This includes examining and addressing discriminatory policies and practices within institutions, investing in resources and opportunities for marginalized communities, and creating a more equitable and just society for all.

In conclusion, racism in Canada is a longstanding battle that requires ongoing attention and action. Only by working together can we create a more just and inclusive society, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

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Canada’s Marina Stakusic falls in Guadalajara Open quarterfinals

Published

57 mins ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.

The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.

Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.

In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.

The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Kirk’s walk-off single in 11th inning lifts Blue Jays past Cardinals 4-3

Published

58 mins ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.

Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.

Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.

He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.

The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.

Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.

He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.

George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.

Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.

In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.

St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

ON DECK

Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.

The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Stampeders return to Maier at QB eyeing chance to get on track against Alouettes

Published

1 hour ago

September 13, 2024

Anne Joseph

CALGARY – Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game.

It won’t be an easy assignment.

Visiting McMahon Stadium are the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Alouettes (10-2) who own the CFL’s best record. The Stampeders (4-8) have fallen to last in the Western Conference.

“Six games is plenty of time, but also it is just six games,” said Maier. “We’ve got to be able to get on the right track.”

Calgary is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

“I do still believe in this team,” said Stampeders’ head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. “I want to see improvement, though. I want to see guys on a weekly basis elevating their game, and we haven’t been doing that.”

Maier is one of the guys under the microscope. Two weeks ago, the second-year starter threw four interceptions in a 35-20 home loss to the Edmonton Elks.

After his replacement, rookie Logan Bonner, threw five picks in last week’s 37-16 loss to the Elks in Edmonton, the football is back in Maier’s hands.

“Any time you fail or something doesn’t go your way in life, does it stink in the moment? Yeah. But then the days go on and you learn things about yourself and you learn how to prepare a little bit better,” said Maier. “It makes you mentally tougher.”

Dickenson wants to see his quarterback making better decisions with the football.

“Things are going to happen, interceptions will happen, but try to take calculated risks, rather than just putting the ball up there and hoping that we catch it,” said Dickenson.

A former quarterback himself, he knows the importance of that vital position.

“You cannot win without good quarterback play,” Dickenson said. “You’ve got to be able to make some plays — off-schedule plays, move-around plays, plays that break down, plays that aren’t designed perfectly, but somehow you found the right guy, and then those big throws where you’re taking that hit.”

But it’s going to take a team effort, and that includes the club’s receiving corp.

“We always have to band together because we need everything to go right for our receivers to get the ball,” said Nik Lewis, the Stampeders’ receivers coach. “The running back has to pick up the blitz, the o-line has to block, the quarterback has to make the right reads, and then give us a catchable ball.”

Lewis brings a unique perspective to this season’s frustrations as he was a 22-year-old rookie in Calgary in 2004 when the Stamps went 4-14 under coach Matt Dunigan. They turned it around the next season and haven’t missed the playoffs since.”

“Thinking back and just looking at it, there’s just got to be an ultimate belief that you can get it done. Look at Montreal, they were 6-7 last year and they’ve gone 18-2 since then,” said Lewis.

Montreal is also looking to rebound from a 37-23 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. But for head coach Jason Maas, he says his team’s mindset doesn’t change, regardless of what happened the previous week.

“Last year when we went through a four-game losing streak, you couldn’t tell if we were on a four-game winning streak or a four-game losing streak by the way the guys were in the building, the way we prepared, the type of work ethic we have,” said Maas. “All our standards are set, so that’s all we focus on.”

While they may have already clinched a playoff spot, Alouettes’ quarterback Cody Fajardo says this closing stretch remains critical because they want to finish the season strong, just like last year when they won their final five regular-season games before ultimately winning the Grey Cup.

“It doesn’t matter about what you do at the beginning of the year,” said Fajardo. “All that matters is how you end the year and how well you’re playing going into the playoffs so that’s what these games are about.”

The Alouettes’ are kicking off a three-game road stretch, one Fajardo looks forward to.

“You understand what kind of team you have when you play on the road because it’s us versus the world mentality and you can feel everybody against you,” said Fajardo. “Plus, I always tend to find more joy in silencing thousands of people than bringing thousands of people to their feet.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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