The City of Abbotsford is a diverse community. As it continues to diversify, the City is committed to becoming an inclusive community for all its residents.
What is Diversity?
Diversity is a commitment to acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, and religious practice.
Abbotsford Building Connections Project
Meaningful connections start from conversations and interactions through listening, speaking, and understanding diversity in our community - in our homes, neighbourhoods, schools workplaces, and places of worship.
The City of Abbotsford in partnership with Abbotsford Community Services, School District No. 34 (Abbotsford), and the University of the Fraser Valley will create connections between cultures, faiths, and different sectors in our community to develop mutual respect and understanding, and to reduce racism.
Together we can make a difference. Visit www.abcdiversity.ca or contact Med Manzanal, Diversity Coordinator at 604-864-5583 for further information on Abbotsford Building Connections.
Diversity Goal for the City of Abbotsford
The City of Abbotsford is culturally integrated and there are increased intercultural and interfaith connections at both the community and neighbourhood-level.
- Students and their families learn about the importance of differences and diversity in Abbotsford, create friendships and develop a sense of community.
- Business and faith leaders in Abbotsford develop an understanding and appreciation of diversity and are able to find their role in promoting and responding to diversity.
- Business associations engage in joint intercultural events that promote working together.
- Leaders from faith communities come together and engage in joint community projects.
- Abbotsford residents from a variety of ethnic/cultural, faith, and socio-economic backgrounds participate in intercultural and interfaith diversity workshops at the intercultural hubs and develop the knowledge and capacity to access existing municipal services and programming.
What does Diversity look like in Abbotsford?
According to Statistics Canada (2006):
- 13.7% of Abbotsford residents speak Punjabi
- 39 languages are spoken in Abbotsford
- 27% of Abbotsford residents were born outside Canada
- Abbotsford is also diverse in terms of age; almost 1/3 of residents are children
- 20% of Abbotsford residents report some form of disability
The City of Abbotsford and the Abbotsford Social Development Advisory Committee work in collaboration with various community groups to increase accessibility, inclusion and to promote diversity in our community.
Initiatives and projects where the City has taken a leading role include:
- Creating multi lingual welcome signs in all City facilities to recognize Abbotsford’s diversity.
- The Abbotsford Indo Canadian Seniors Project, funded by the Union of BC Municipalities, in partnership with the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley.
- Participation by the City's Parks, Recreation & Culture department in the Safe Harbour Initiative. Approximately 70 staff have been trained to provide a safe place for all.
- Ongoing collaboration with community groups to adapt services and programs to increase participation by and inclusion of recent refugee and immigrant groups.
- Participating on various community committees including the Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition.
- Supporting community diversity events:
- Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards (In 2010, the City of Abbotsford won awards in the categories of Diversity Marketing (Communications & Marketing), Diversity Innovation (The Reach Gallery Museum), and Diversity Champion (Rick Lucy, Abbotsford Police Department))
- AbbyFest annual multicultural festival
- International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda on April 8, 2009
- Dialogue on Cultural Diversity hosted by Abbotsford Community Services in November 2007
Diversity Resources:
For more information about diversity initiatives please contact Reuben Koole, Social Planner at 604-557-1468.