Recreation PEI has released an Anti-Racism Charter in Recreation. This Charter serves as a practical tool for organizations and municipalities to shape their work in addressing racism in their recreational programs and spaces.
Signatories to the Anti-Racism Charter pledge to proactively work on an action plan focusing on four key actions: acknowledging and addressing racism, providing ongoing training and educational opportunities, building racially representative communities, and designing equitable and inclusive opportunities.
“Recreation is a necessary public service which contributes to the overall well-being of communities and individuals,” said Kim Meunier, president of Recreation PEI. “We acknowledge that these programs and services have not always been welcoming or safe for all members of the community.
Recreation PEI received Anti-Racism Grant funding in 2023, through the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Anti-Racism Table, to create the Charter.
“The Anti-Racism Table is delighted to see the creation of a PEI Anti-Racism Charter by Recreation PEI. It was important for us to offer the Anti-Racism Microgrant funding to encourage community organizations to address racism. This project is a great example and it will allow other community organizations to address racism and receive training when they sign the charter,” said Nancy Peters, co-chair of Prince Edward Island’s Anti-Racism Table. “We will continue to support community-led anti-racism efforts.”
“The Government of Prince Edward is proud to have provided funding to Recreation PEI to develop an Anti-Racism Charter through our Anti-Racism Microgrant. This tool will help organizations on the Island acknowledge and address racism within their organizations and the broader communities they serve,” said Hon. Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island. “I commend Recreation PEI for the work they have done and encourage all organizations to sign their charter.”
“The Charter was created by recreation employees, volunteers, and participants to specifically address issues that have been identified within the sector,” Meunier said at the official announcement on Monday morning at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown.
This recreation facility, along with the Town of Borden-Carleton and the Western Region Sport and Recreation Council, was among the first signatories to the Charter.
Bell Aliant Centre general manager Allan Wood shared, “The Bell Aliant Centre is motivated to sign Recreation PEI’s Anti-Racism Charter. We see the Charter as an operational tool to help develop official policy that supports current practices and to identify gaps we can build on.”
In addition to announcing the Charter, Recreation PEI also committed to working on its own action plan to combat racism. It will include actions to increase knowledge amongst board members as well as to support member organizations.
The Charter is largely modeled, with permission, on similar work done by Recreation Nova Scotia. More than 30 organizations and municipalities in that province have signed on to the NS Anti-Racism Charter.
Recreation PEI’s Anti-Racism Charter and for more information visit here.
If you have feedback on the Charter or wish to be part of the consultations on Recreation PEI’s action plan based on the Charter principles, please contact us at: [email protected] or 902-368-5964.