亚洲天堂 Lake is set to be part of one of five networks in the province to address the issues of racism, hate and inclusiveness.

Pauline Goertzen, operations and contract manager from Community Futures Nadina said that the objective of the program is to bring about a more inclusive community.

Community Futures Nadina are the proponents of the project, which is funded by Embrace B.C.

Referred to as the 'Organizing Against Racism and Hate' network or 'OAHR' it aims to have locals build their skills to increase the awareness of racism in the community.

As part of the program community members discuss relevant issues and work towards community solutions that they can implement in their workplace, community groups or organizations.

Goertzen said that 亚洲天堂 Lake is now part of a new OARH network that spans across the North  to Prince Rupert.

"Previously most of the multiculturalism work that is funded is in the Lower Mainland. There is no multicultural society in 亚洲天堂 Lake, so this is an important step," she said.

Goertzen went on to say that every community has its challenges when it comes to the issue of racism.

"Racism goes through class, education, status, employment opportunities .... and it is not just racism, it is also how welcoming a community is to newcomers. When a new mine or business opens that brings with it a lot of immigrants, you have to look at what that does to communities and how inclusive the community is," she said.

As part of the local network the group, which includes people from across the North as well as local resident Robert Charlie and Norma Jean McLaren and Leonie Sandercock, 'Finding Our Way' filmmaker, are looking at hosting an annual four day 'Change Camp'.

Goertzen said the group is still in discussions about the time and place for the camp, but is hopeful that the first camp can be held next spring.

"The camp has to be at an exclusive location so that no one is able to leave for the four days," she said, suggesting a local resort may be an ideal location.

"It is our dream to potentially host a camp twice a year. The camp would also be moved to different locations throughout the OAHR network region."

Goertzen said the camp will be open to anyone in the community, but will have a maximum capacity of 30 people.

To also negate the reliance of government funding there will be some cost to the camp for those that wish to attend but Goertzen said it will be subsidized as much as possible. At this point these details are still being discussed.

"At the camp, people will participate in community building activities as well as share projects they are working on in their own communities. We will give people the skills they need to go back and make their communities more inclusive."

Goertzen said she is hopeful that change will begin and that inclusiveness will be promoted more readily in the community.

"The program will never take a cookie cutter approach, because this approach never works, we meet communities where they are at and develop a program specific to that," she said.