A local organization that promotes diversity in the community has won a Safe Harbour: Respect For All award at the fourth annual Champions’ Breakfast in Vancouver.
Powell River Diversity Initiative (PRDI), under the umbrella of the PREP (Powell River Employment Program) Society, has been honoured with a Community Organizer award for the work that it has undertaken since 2008.
It’s a first for the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) which usually only recognizes Safe Harbour businesses, not community organizers. AMSSA is the organizer of the Safe Harbour program provincially, as a non-profit association that facilitates collaborative leadership, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement to support 80 member agencies that serve immigrants and build inclusive communities.
Safe Harbour is a community action program that enhances a community’s capacity to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all, no matter their ethnicity, religion, lifestyles, abilities or socio-economic circumstances. It was started in Nanaimo in 2004 and has since spread throughout the province.
Nearly 1,000 businesses in the province participate in the Safe Harbour program and 21 of them are located in Powell River.
Evangeline MacDonald, community coordinator with PRDI, said the award, “recognizes the innovative actions and ideas to promote the Safe Harbour idea within the community.” As well she said she hopes that more local businesses will want to participate in the program.
In addition to Safe Harbour training, the PRDI has also been busy delivering its message through the 2010 film, Defining Diversity, Creating Community, an interfaith fair, diversity workshops, use of social media, its old-fashioned community picnic and having the city recognize November 2 as Respect for All Day.
Safe Harbour provides a simple, practical and efficient way to better understand and serve a diverse population. Community organizers visit businesses and offer a free two-hour staff training program which helps employees assist whomever walks through the door, no matter what their age, abilities or heritage.
PRDI is planning to host more Safe Harbour workshops next year. For more information about the Safe Harbour program in Powell River readers can contact MacDonald at 604.485.2675 or email [email protected].
