Dismantling systemic racism, transforming lives: The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Framework 2023-2027
Abstract
The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Framework 2023–2027 outlines the city’s commitment to dismantling systemic racism and promoting racial equity and justice. This framework focuses on amplifying transformative engagement, monitoring and evaluation, centering lived experiences, and adopting an anti-colonial lens. It aims to create a racially-just Calgary through education, engagement, collaboration, and policy changes. The framework outlines various programs, services, policies, and systems that will be implemented to achieve desired results, such as racially equitable programs and services, increased representation of Indigenous, Black, and diverse racialized peoples, and the creation of anti-racist safe spaces and processes. The document also emphasizes the importance of incorporating disaggregated race-based data analysis and developing practices and guidelines to enhance racially responsive interactions in public spaces. Overall, this strategic framework provides a roadmap for the City of Calgary to address systemic racism and transform lives in the community.
Notes
Key findings:
- The City of Calgary is committed to removing systemic racism through education, engagement, collaboration, and policy changes.
- Intersectionality and adopting an anti-colonial lens are key considerations in addressing systemic racism.
- The framework aims to create anti-racist safe spaces and processes, support community organizations promoting racism-free communities, and provide resources for racially-informed trauma and mental health.
- The desired results include increased anti-racism awareness, knowledge, and skills, as well as the creation of racially equitable public spaces and anti-racist safe spaces and processes.
Location: Calgary, AB
Open access: Yes
Community organizations: City of Calgary
Future research / gaps identified:
Develop, implement and evaluate policies and practices based off this strategic framework.
Integration timeline: not defined
Key populations: residents of Calgary, AB
Key recommendations:
- Prioritize disaggregated race-based data collection and analysis for evidence-based decision making.
- Enhance community learning opportunities and develop mandatory anti-racism curriculum
- Increase representation of Indigenous, Black, and diverse racialized peoples in decision making and policy seats.
- Promote racially responsive police officer-citizen interactions and combat hate through an anti-hate response model.
