Racism?
 

I just found this forum on the internet and have found it really helpful to understand a lot about Canada and canadians. I'm 20 and have been living in Calgary for a couple of years and overall I like it here. However, I am a bit intrigued when I meet people (locals) as I have encountered what I could only describe as racist remarks from more than one local. I am of mixed race (spanish-italian on moms side, and english on Dad's). I have been asked a couple of times if I'm part native (first nations); normally I would say that there's nothing wrong with that, but everyday I see how white Canadians are very hostile and disdainful to the native canadian people, and if for some reason I don't hit up with people that I met I feel that their weird racism is the reason. I know that I may sound paranoid, but this is very uncomfortable. :angry_smile:

Anyway, I travelled to Vancouver for the first time last week and had a brilliant time; loved the city, the mountains, and the people. I was there only for a few days, and found people to be more open and friendly, and I didn't feel secluded as I have felt in Calgary, which as shallow as it may seem, made me feel so much better about the place.

So my question to you all is, have you noticed forms of racism in vancouver? Is there anybody who may have been to both places and could tell me what differences they find about people and culture between the two cities? I loved Vancouver and I am considering moving there, but sadly this whole thing will be a decisive factor for me.

Cheers

Re: Racism?
 

Have never lived in Calgary so can't comment.

IMO there is racism everywhere but I haven't come across a lot of open racism in Vancouver, compared, say to Melbourne, Australia or other cities I've lived or visited. But I think it depends on your social circle and your job. Where I work cradle Canadians are the minority and there are lots of immigrants so they're not likely to say anything stupid haha. I also live in a place where visible minorities are over half the population and none of my friends are likely to say racist things. My kid's two best friends aren't the same race as her and by and large at school we parents all seem to get along, cross fingers. I'm not saying they're/we're all better people than Calgarians I just haven't come across that here. Yet.

Maybe I live in a bubble though....?

Re: Racism?
 

While resisting the urge to tar and feather an entire province, I have noticed in Calgary a much more right wing, old fashioned perspective and anyone who is different or holds different views. I spent a good chunk of last winter there for work.

I was actually heckled as a "a left wing liberal" for taking a more conservative view of the law at a conference I was lecturing at. Came as quite a surprise, and was most certainly not in line with the law.

Vancouver certainly has racism, but nothing out of the ordinary and very tolerant overall.Much more multi-cultural here and yes, more left leaning.

native peoples are sadly often the brunt of casual remarks, out-right racism and sterotyping across the nation.

Vancouver is great, much much nicer place to live than cow-town. However, brings lots of coin and a brolly:)

Re: Racism?
 

Well done ;) I was waiting for it ...

I have been aware of the odd casual racist/homophobic/generally un-PC comments - not at work though - just in casual conversation with people. My experience is that it comes more from older generations than younger, and perhaps more from people who have been here a long time and have seen so much change. Seems par for the course really. And I'm not tarring the older generations with any brush either. :p

It seems no worse than where we lived in the UK, and my working environment is vastly more multi cultural here in Calgary - and it works generally very well.

I'm not even aware of Calgary being that right-wing - conservative with either a little or a big C. A newspaper article today suggested that nearly 60% of the Albertan population did not vote at the last election which suggests apathy and dis-interest to me, not a right-wing stronghold. Maybe I am blinkered? :confused: (Can't find the bloody article now!)

Re: Racism?
 

for me Calgary is sort of a predictably nice enough place to call home. Crime is relatively low, clean ish, housing cheaper, jobs probably better paying (depending on career) and cost of living lower. The place is more about business, oil that is, and is very isolated. I noticed the downtown core was busy during the day then died a terrible death by 6 pm. The streets were destered. More of a generic north american city than Vancouver is. I personally hate it and never felt any kind of a draw to the place at all. As i noted, while i have not lived there, i have spent a great deal of time there.

Vancouver is larger, more of an international destination, is right on the ocean, tons of Brits here, more interesting, more multi-cultural, closer to more interesting things. Winters are much milder, but also wetter and gray. Summer/spring is probably similar although doesnt end as abruptly. It is of course more expensive to live here, wages are not in line with cost of living and the city is more crowded.

Beyond the wetter winters and pricey houses, i dont see any other downside.

Re: Racism?
 

perhaps, i get my impressions largely from moving in police circles. there is a hang em mentality and a blinkered belief that things are different in cow town. I have been personally shocked at comments i have heard in this day and age. As you say, probably more like the UK...but the comparison was to Vancouver which is, i find, more tolearant than the UK, at least when compared to my bit of it.

Re: Racism?
 

I don't really disagree with you - but as I don't live in Calgary itself and have little reason to be downtown day or night, it does not affect my life. As I have said numerous times before, it is mostly an architectural wasteland with the odd little pockets of loveliness dotted around. And to me that IS a typical North American city. Having said that, I think it is a very liveable city.

Visible minorities are, I suppose, a minority in Calgary. But that is not to say that there are not thousands upon thousands of people of every race here. And as far as I can tell, muddling along quite nicely.

Hubby suggests that any racism (read 'less tolerance') he has witnessed in the city itself is aimed at the native population. There is no excuse - however, there is a very visible native/homeless/drinking/crime issue here. It is what it is - and in his experience, that is what draws comments.

Re: Racism?
 

I have come across a lot of what might be viewed as racist comments on the Lower Mainland.

These have arisen when Canadians have asked about my status here (until recently I was only a Temporary Worker and was waiting for my PR for 17 months) and all of them were along the lines of, "You are the wrong colour".
Virtually everyone who asked about how long it was taking me to get PR made such a comment and many went further and said if I had just washed up at Vancouver in a leaky boat and claimed refugee status I would have been better off than doing it the legal and proper way.

This is in the context of local people seeing large numbers of mainly East Indian immigrants flooding nearby areas, many of them consisting of one applicant bringing a huge family and extended family following along later, many of them unable to speak English to any reasonable standard (except the Principal applicant).

Whether these comments could be considered to be racist or actually just a layman's view of the on-the-ground situation caused by the much faster processing times at VOs like New Delhi and also Pakistan applicants at London, is debatable.

I haven't seen overt racism directed at anyone here at all but there certainly are undercurrents of bad feeling along racial lines.
There seem to be feelings that immigrants from certain countries create their own ghettos and don't make any attempt to integrate with Canadians.

I have also heard from some teachers here that the recent huge increase in the numbers of non-English speaking children in schools now in some areas on the Lower Mainland (because their mothers generally don't speak English, only their fathers and so it isn't spoken at home) is causing a strain on resources and is leading to racial tension in school.

I haven't seen or heard any racist comments about First Nations at all, though.

Re: Racism?
 

Wake up FFS.What a load of left wing liberal yoghurt knitting B/S.Just wait until your locality starts sprouting mosques,by then it'll be too late and you'll be over run.
This is Western Canada,not Europe.You moved here for a reason,keep on with your pc/sandal wearing policies and this country will be rapidly going down the toilet also !
As it stands today,the majority of immigrants are welcomed along with their extended families,with open arms,unless you happen to be white(swear word) and from a commonwealth country.
Get a life and stop smacking your gay vegan children :rofl:.

Re: Racism?
 

That's what I love about this site - the open-minded, articulate, intelligent debate:rofl:

<snip>

Re: Racism?
 

There are quite a few in and around Vancouver. We're ****ed then :ohmy:

Re: Racism?
 

Strange opinion.

Yes I'm moving to Canada (if permitted) for a reason, BUT I've lived in or around Bradford for about 18 years now, and Mosques do 'spring' (as you put it) up in quite a lot of places, HOWEVER that is not the reason I'm moving.

The reason I'm moving has nothing to do with the influx of foreign cultures into the UK.

In fact, if I were moving to Canada because of that I think that would be a little hypocritical (for want of a better word).

If you do move over for those reasons and then whine about the crap cheese and poor chocolate, cry out for BBC TV and M&S underwear, and then state how much better the UK is for XYZ...... well you deserve to be the butt of racist jokes.

Re: Racism?
 

a bit of racism is good for society... it keeps the minorities on their toes :D

Re: Racism?
 

I've experienced it here in the U.K. on quite a few occasions. My personal experience of it was not related to 'not fitting in'. I speak, read and write the lingo reasonably well... I think ;) I don't hold strange values and fully accept the need to fit in with societal norms and 'British values'. I also would endorse the view that if folk are coming here - at least make an effort to learn the language and to fit in.

The type that I encountered and each time that I encountered it appeared to be unrelated to those things above but more to do with the level of melanin in my skin. Whilst I have seen it from the older generation - I encountered more of it from the younger generation that fitted my generation and age group.

I've not encountered any in Canada... so far. Then again, I've only been to BC and SK briefly each year. Not enough day to day living to encounter overt type any I guess.

Don't know if you caught that program on tv that ran for a few "Make Bradford British". They pulled together disparate members of the community to try to get them to understand and accept each other.

The stereotypical young white man from a predominantly white neighbourhood did make me smile when he said that he used to think mosques were "terrorist training camps". He believed it seriously too.

Re: Racism?
 

I caught one episode of that show and recognised most of the areas depicted, but I think they searched for specific types of people with specific views for production/entertainment value.

I guess it does prove that those views do exist, but I think that program proved (in most cases) the problems are down to education, or lack of.

The union flag waving, brass band playing guy made me laugh though with things like "You'll enjoy going to this place because Bob's there. He's the same colour as you, don't you know him?". Clearly someone who's lived in cultural isolation for many years never even thinking about taking a look over his garden wall at the reality out there.