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Six panelists, of different ages, genders, and ethnicities, look out over crowd of attendees,

Canada

Organising honest multi-stakeholder dialogues on the root causes of discrimination in Quebec. 

Canada

Discrimination and racism are taboo topics in Quebec’s society. Our trustbuilding work focuses on people willing to face these issues that feed targeted divides. 

Indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians work together on a large poster board image

Why is trust needed? 

The province of Quebec is a microcosm of the wider Canada, with the added complexity of issues such as identity, nationalism, linguistic difference, religious tensions, and the long-standing history of oppression and colonisation of Canada’s First Peoples.  

Since Europeans arrived in Canada, their treatment of First Nations Peoples has negatively impacted communities, with traumas being transferred from generation to generation. The deep wounds inflicted are still a source of social stigmas and strained relationships, resulting in increased systemic marginalization of the Indigenous Peoples.  

How is trust built?

Indigenous Canadian woman, wearing blue tunic and orange headband, speaks before a crowd
Providing safe space for honest dialogue

A cohort is equipped and inspired to become local trustbuilders, and together with them, an environment for honest conversations on the root causes of discrimination in Quebec is being created.

Black woman with pinned up dreadlocs and blue scarf speaks before a crowd
Training and building networks of change agents

Dedicated individuals are trained to become community trustbuilders with a deep understanding of the current society's historical and socio-political realities.

Impact to date

The Canadian trustbuilding team has brought together an enthusiastic cohort of local trustbuilders formed through events and trustbuilding training over the past three years. The cohort meets as a support group to share, connect and exchange as they each carry out their own trustbuilding work. 

'The training helped raise my awareness, initiate personal change and strengthen my understanding of indigenous rights, histories, and reconciliation.'
~ Participant  

'The training helped strengthen my understanding of indigenous rights, histories, and reconciliation.'
~ Participant 

202

direct beneficiaries

23

people trained

22

trustbuilding events held

Learn more about Trustbuilding in Canada

Qhase Lokhandwala
Board Member IofC Canada

Joseph Vumiliya 
Provincial Coordinator