Anti-Racist Organizations To Support Right Now in Canada
In Canada, it’s easy to brush off our own racist narratives because our history with slavery is not as long as our American neighbours. However, the reality is that Canada has long been a colonial country similar to the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other European nations.
And as people demand change, it’s critical to pay attention to the anti-racist work already being done in Canada. If you’re outraged by what you see on the news, but don’t know what to do next, support these organizations and get involved.
[2021 Update]: For an updated list of Black-owned businesses to support in 2021, see this resource!
The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR)
The Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR) is a women-run collective working towards a violence-free world by offering anti-oppressive, feminist peer support to survivors of sexual violence through support, education and activism.
Donate: https://trccmwar.ca/
Afri-Can FoodBasket
Afri-Can FoodBasket is a community based non-profit organization that has been championing Food Justice and Food Sovereignty for Toronto’s African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) community since 1995. The organization is committed to enhancing the nutrition, health, employment and food access needs of the ACB community, particularly to those who are economically and socially vulnerable.
Donate: https://africanfoodbasket.ca/
Association of Black Social Workers
The Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) is a volunteer charitable organization consisting of Black Social Workers and Human Service Workers. The organization aims to provide many educational resources and advance education by offering various forms of financial assistance to persons of African descent.
Donate: http://nsabsw.ca/
Black Health Alliance
The Black Health Alliance is a community-led registered charity working to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada. The organization is driven by groundbreaking research and continues to grow the movement for change. Its goal is to create lasting changes in the lives of the Black community through innovative solutions regarding financial support and Black health and well-being.
Donate: http://blackhealthalliance.ca/get-involved/donate/
Black Lives Matter - Toronto
Black Lives Matter is a platform that encourages black communities across Toronto to actively dismantle all forms of anti-black racism, liberate blackness, support black healing, affirm black existence, and create freedom to love and self- determine. The organization builds critical connections and works in solidarity with black communities, black-centric networks, solidarity movements, and allies to to dismantle all forms of state-sanctioned oppression, violence, and brutality committed against African, Caribbean, and Black cis, queer, trans, and disabled populations in Toronto.
Donate: https://blacklivesmatter.ca/
GoFundMe: Regis Korchinski-Paquet Family’s Legal and Funeral Costs
On May 27th 2020, Regis Korchinski Paquet, tragically lost her life, you can support her family by donating below.
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cggys2-justice-for-regis
Canadian Anti-Racism Network
The Canadian Anti-Racism Education and Research Society was founded to track and monitor hate group activity throughout the country. From there, it provides victim support services for hate crime and systemic racism, works with public educational establishments to add curriculum about institutional racism, and helps youth leave hate groups.
The organization also liaises with law enforcement to provide education on systemic racism and advocates for legislative changes to limit systemic racism across the country.
Donate: https://stopracism.ca/ (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
Canadian Ethnocultural Council
Founded in 1980, the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC) focuses on ensuring the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage history in Canada, removing barriers that stop some Canadians from participating in their heritage and society, and eliminating racism to found and preserve a wholly united Canada.
Learn more: https://ethnocultural.ca/about
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
The Urban Alliance on Race Relations was founded in 1975 to address racial inequities in the Toronto area. The nonprofit organization provides educational programs, conducts research, and acts as a community catalyst for other organizations doing anti-racist work.
Donate: https://urbanalliance.ca/about-us/ (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
No One Is Illegal
No One Is Illegal (Toronto) is a group of immigrants, refugees, and allies who fight for the rights of all migrants to live with dignity and respect. The organization works to dismantle the concept of citizenship as reserved for the privileged few, instead looking at how to support currently exploited migrant workers.
The organization also explicitly works to support Indigenous peoples as they push back against colonialist narratives and the occupation of their land.
Get involved: http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/meetings
Workers Action Centre
The Workers’ Action Centre (WAC) focuses on helping low-wage workers and people in unstable employment, more often than not, people of colour in Canada. They represent thousands of working families fighting to make ends meet, and in particular advocate on their behalf for higher quality working conditions and increasing access to good jobs and employment opportunities.
The organization takes a worker-first approach, organizing with low-wage and unstably employed workers to create a by-workers, for-workers nonprofit community that pushes for more fairness and dignity at work.
Donate: https://workersactioncentre.org/support-wac/
Canadian Council of Churches Anti-Racism Network
The Anti-Racism Network was founded to share resources, learning, and community building initiatives throughout Canadian churches.
The mandate of CEARN is to accompany churches and church organizations in Canada who are working toward racial justice, racial reconciliation, and peace, to transform themselves and their communities.
Donate: https://www.councilofchurches.ca/social-justice/undoing-racism/anti-racism-network/
Canadian Council of Refugees
The Canadian Council of Refugees (CCR) works to eliminate all racism and discrimination in Canada. They work to identify and remove barriers that prevent refugees and immigrants from participating fully in Canadian society, including racist policies.
They also work to increase awareness of and appreciation for the racial, cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity of Canada, modelling anti-racist behaviors and practices within its own organization and amongst member agencies.
Donate: https://ccrweb.ca/en/donate
Canadian Race Relations Foundation
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) was created in 1996, initially part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement, to reaffirm the principles of justice and equality for all in Canada.
The CRRF organization works to uphold the protections enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides that every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal benefit of the law without discrimination.
Donate: https://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/en/about/join-our-team
FAST - Fighting Anti-Semitism Together
FAST (Fighting Antisemitism Together) was founded by Jewish business leaders, led by Elizabeth and Tony Comper, with the mission to speak out against all forms of anti-semitism, anti-Jewish sentiment, and intolerance.
Now a national nonprofit, FAST’s goal is to teach all Canadians that hatred has no place in Canada.
Donate: https://www.fightingantisemitism.ca/contact-us/
Chinese Canadian National Council
The Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNCTO) is an organization of Chinese Canadians in the City of Toronto that promotes equity, social justice, inclusive civic participation, and respect for diversity.
Donate: https://ccnctoronto.ca/get-involved/ (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
Want to learn more?
If you’re curious about the history of racism in Canada, here are some resources for further reading: