Anti-Racism resources

This is a collection of resources you can access if you have a lived experience of racism, if you want to learn about racism, and if you want to learn and contribute to ways of dismantling systemic and day-to-day racism. There are many resources available, and any one of them is a good start.

The resources are organized in the following sections:

• Readings and resources
• For children and youth
• Being an ally
• Mental health supports
• City of Ottawa
• Other levels of government
• Organizations

This list is intended as a living resource that we can build over time for the benefit of all. Please send any feedback and suggestions to antiracism@ottawa.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.

Readings and resources

• 35 books to read for National Indigenous History Month, CBC Books.
• Anti-Asian racism during coronavirus: How the language of disease produces hate and violence. Paula Larsson. The Conversation
• Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Resources. United Steelworkers
• Anti-Indigenous racism in Canada. National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
• Black Lives Matter movement, social justice, and #OwnVoices titles related to Black History. Ottawa Public Library list of e-books and audiobooks that can be borrowed
• COVID-19 related resources. Network for the Advancement of Black Communities. 2020

Children and youth

• 10 books about residential schools to read with your kids. Chantelle Bellrichard, CBC
• Anti-Racism for Kids: An Age-by-Age Guide to Fighting Hate. Katie Arnold-Ratliff, Parents
• List of Resources and Supports. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
• ‘No reader is too young to start’: anti-racist books for all children and teens. Aimée Felone, The Guardian
• Talking to Kids About Racism, Early and Often. Jessica Grose, NY Times
• Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup. Katrina Michie

Being an ally

• 100 ways white people can make life less frustrating for people of colour. Kesiena Boom
• Expressive Writing Prompts to Use If You’ve Been Accused of White Fragility, Spiritual Bypass or White Privilege. Leesa Renee Hall
• Guide to Allyship. Amélie Lamont
• Indigenous ally toolkit. Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network
• Note to self: White people taking part in #BlackLivesMatter protests. Vonn New, AFSC
• Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources. Anna Stamborski, Nikki Zimmermann, & Bailie Gregory

Mental Health Supports

• Black Youth Helpline: 1-833-294-8650 or https://blackyouth.ca/
• Counselling connect (same or next day mental health appointments)
• Jaku Konbit: (Black youth support group): 613-567-0600
• KidsHelp phone (available 24/7): 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health Resource Guide, Ottawa Public Health
• OCISO (staff working remotely): 613-725-5671x316 or email
• Ottawa Distress Centre: 613-238-3311
• Somali Centre for Family Services: 613-526-2075
• Youth Services Bureau (YSB) crisis line available 24/7: 613-260-2360 or chat.ysb.ca

City of Ottawa

• Committee receives update on City efforts to address systemic racism. Council Updates, June 2, 2020
• Equity & Inclusion Lens Snapshot: Racialized People. CAWI & City of Ottawa, 2016

Other Levels of Government

• Toronto: Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit
• Ontario: Anti-Racism Directorate
• Ontario’s Anti-Black Racism Strategy
• Federal: Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022

Organizations

• United for All
• African Canadian Association of Ottawa
• Black History Ottawa
• Black Organizations and Anti-Racist Groups. Melanie Woods, Huffington Post
• Black Ottawa Scene
• Catholic Centre for Immigrants
• Conseil économique et social d'Ottawa-Carleton
• Family Services Ottawa
• Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
• Jewish Family Services
• Kombite Outaouais
• Newcomer Information Centre, YMCA
• Odawa Native Friendship Centre
• Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition
• Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre
• Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
• Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership
• Ottawa Muslim Association
• Regroupement ethnoculturel des parents francophones de l'Ontario (REPFO)
• Somali Centre for Family Services
• United Muslim Organizations of Ottawa and Gatineau