At Impact North Shore we believe that accountability to our community is the deepest driver of our work. Trust is how stronger relationships are built, how communities endure through difficult times, and how a more connected future becomes possible. This responsibility goes beyond responding to needs as they arise. It means consistently standing up against racism and discrimination, even when those conversations are difficult, unpopular, or underfunded.
These core values have been part of our work from the very beginning. The founders, board members, staff, and volunteers who established Impact North Shore 35 years ago challenged exclusionary attitudes and policies at a time when conversations about racism were often actively opposed. Their steadfast commitment to equity and inclusion is a legacy that Impact North Shore continues to carry today.
The following timeline highlights some of the major events in Impact North Shore’s long history of advancing anti-racism on the North Shore.
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1989
In response to a growing number of acts of hate based on racial prejudice s on the North Shore, five community members came together to discuss the importance of establishing a multicultural organization that could support inclusion, equity, and belonging within the community. This planted the seed that would grow to become Impact North Shore. -
1990
Support for this new multicultural organization was evident at a community meeting in October 1990 that was co-sponsored by the Bahá’í Society and the Unitarian Church. This meeting built momentum for the emerging North Shore Multicultural Society. -
1991
North Shore Multicultural Society was formally created and incorporated. Just days later, the organization sprang into action, hosting a rally of more than 100 people to protest a racially motivated hate crime: the burning of a cross outside a local residence. At the rally, protestors called for stronger Human Rights legislation to address racially motivated hate crimes and to hold perpetrators accountable. -
1992 – 1994
In these early years, the organization was already influencing important conversations about racism. This included delivering the first ever series of workshops on the North Shore about multiculturalism and early dialogues on Indigenous-Canada relations, hosting a panel discussion to develop a community strategy for anti-racism, and supporting a local multicultural task force to examine the policy changes needed to make inclusion a lived reality on the North Shore. -
1995 – 2004
The organization’s anti-racism efforts continued to evolve to meet the changing realities of our community. As more newcomer families arrived, Impact North Shore responded to the challenges facing newcomer youth who were navigating identity, belonging, and discrimination with programs such as Power Trilogy and Igniting Colours of Resistance. During this period, the organization also offered workshops about diversity, equity, and inclusion to increase the capacity of local service providers to serve an increasingly diverse North Shore. -
2005 – 2014
Building on the earlier success of its innovative anti-racism programming for youth, Impact North Shore launched the Evolve program. This was followed by the award-winning Neonology initiative in 2009, a youth leadership program that equipped young people with the skills and confidence to facilitate conversations about diversity, challenge discrimination, and become advocates for change. In 2006, the North Shore Immigrant Inclusion Partnership (NSIIIP) was also formed, bringing together community leaders and service providers to work collectively to build a more welcoming and inclusive North Shore. -
2015 – 2020
During this period, Impact North Shore actively expanded its anti-racism work to respond to emerging community needs. In 2017, the organization hosted the Acting Against Racism Forum that brought together 400+ community members. The Centre for Diversity & Innovation was launched in 2018, followed by the ResilienceBC North Shore Anti-Racism Network in 2019. Impact North Shore also began delivering the Land We Live On program, which explored the history of Indigenous peoples and what this means for newcomers to Canada. -
2020 – 2026
Impact North Shore’s commitment to anti-racism has also extended into workplaces and institutions by working with employers and newcomers to challenge exclusionary assumptions and practices. One of our projects examined the requirement for “Canadian work experience”, engaged 100+ employers, and resulted in practical resources to promote more equitable hiring practices. In 2022, we began sponsoring the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Equity Award, recognizing organizations that are demonstrating leadership in creating inclusive and equitable workplaces. During this period, Impact North Shore continued to proactively engage and convene community partners, leaders, and newcomers for meaningful conversations about anti-racism, launched highly visible anti-racism public awareness campaigns, and developed numerous strategies, resources, and toolkits to promote racial equity.
Maintaining momentum for this anti-racism work has not always been easy. Throughout our 35-year history, funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives has often been limited, short term, and vulnerable to changing political priorities. Despite these challenges, Impact North Shore has remained committed to the work. We have adapted creatively, using storytelling, arts-based initiatives, public education campaigns, and community dialogues to keep conversations about racism and inclusion visible and relevant. Our efforts to develop practical, community-based approaches to addressing racism have been shared at conferences, and profession development events with pan-Canadian audiences, contributing to broader conversations about equity and inclusion.
Responsibility to our community means showing up with integrity, not only in times of consensus, but also during periods of challenge, change, and uncertainty. It means addressing racism even when the conversations are difficult, advancing equity when progress is incremental, and building trust through consistent and meaningful action. For 35 years, Impact North Shore has remained committed to this work: standing alongside our community, challenging barriers to inclusion, and helping to create an inclusive and equitable North Shore for all people.
