Diversity Symposium

The Mosaic of Us: Everyday EDI in Action to Build Communities Where Everyone Belongs

In a time when equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts are increasingly questioned or dismissed, how do we reclaim the deeper purpose behind this work? In this opening keynote, Shelley-Anne Vidal invites us to reflect on the shared values, lived experiences and community roots that continue to make EDI efforts essential. Drawing from her background in higher education, employment services, and intercultural facilitation, Shelley-Anne offers a grounded and hopeful message: that EDI is not a passing trend, but a vital and enduring commitment to belonging, justice and collective well-being in both our workplaces and communities.

Speaker:
Shelley-Anne Vidal, EDI Coach and Educator

Building our Legacies: Fostering Intergenerational and Intercultural Understanding

Community leaders from different generations and cultural backgrounds will come together to share stories, initiatives, and best practices that advance social equity. Panelists will explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion have evolved over time, and the role of shared understanding and reciprocal learning in shaping more equitable futures. Through open dialogue, they will highlight the power of connection across cultures and generations to strengthen community bonds. This conversation invites participants to reflect on the legacies we are building today for the benefit of future generations.

Speakers:
Kiyoko Judy Hanazawa, Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens' Association
Naaz Sidhu, Richmond Multicultural Community Services
Hala Kapani, United Way British Columbia

Centering Lived Experiences in Program Planning

How can art foster spaces of deeper inclusion and belonging? This is one of the questions guiding Queers in Space, a collaborative art project offered for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in Richmond. This session will explore strategies for centering lived experiences in program planning, highlighting how community collaboration and participant-centered planning can create safer, inclusive spaces. Presenters will share insights from the ongoing development of Queers in Space and offer practical takeaways for organizations seeking to design programs with participant well-being in mind.

Speakers:
Rajiv Ashrafi, Richmond Public Library
Em Lee, East Richmond Community Association
Cheryl Hamilton & lisa g, Artists

Engaging Newcomers in Truth and Reconciliation

Building meaningful relationships between Indigenous peoples and newcomers is a key element to advancing Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This workshop will explore how the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) has engaged newcomers in conversations about decolonization, Indigenous history, and reconciliation in ways that are relational, respectful, and impactful. Participants will gain insights into how Indigenous and newcomer communities can work together to strengthen equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, and leave inspired to build connections that honour the truths of the past while shaping a more inclusive future.

Speakers:
Winnie Chironga and Norm Leech,
AMSSA

Inclusion, Belonging and Public Health

Belonging is more than just a feeling. It is a vital determinant of health and a cornerstone of thriving communities. Social isolation and exclusion not only harm mental and physical health but also erode the trust and cohesion that hold communities together. This workshop will explore the intersection of equity, belonging, and public health, including insights on the impacts of social exclusion, the health benefits of fostering inclusion, and opportunities to build stronger, more connected communities. Participants will learn approaches to integrate belonging as a driver of community well-being.

Speaker:
Dr. Kiffer G. Card, Simon Fraser University

Shelley-Anne Vidal
Shelley-Anne is an Inclusive Leadership Coach, Facilitator, College Instructor and Founder of ACT by Vidal. With over 15 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and community-building, Shelley helps leaders move from performative to transformative action, shaping inclusive spaces where everyone feel valued and a sense of belonging.

Kiyoko Judy Hanazawa
Kiyoko works with the Greater Vancouver Japanese Citizens’ Association and is a representative at Act2EndRacism National Network and British Columbia Provincial Committee on Anti-Racism. She is a retired social worker who used to work for the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Naaz Sidhu
Naaz is a second-generation settler on Musqueam and Tsawwassen lands, of Panjabi descent. She is a spoken word poet and researcher, holding an MSc in Social Justice and Global Migration, where she explores how art, storytelling and advocacy can cultivate belonging and social change. 

Hala Kapani
Hala immigrated to Canada from Syria and has since worked in the areas of early childhood education and cognitive behavioural therapy. She is currently a Community Engagement Specialist at United Way BC, building inclusive and connected communities in Richmond and across the Lower Mainland. 

Rajiv Ashrafi
Rajiv is a librarian, educator, and facilitator with extensive experience in inclusive program development. As a newcomer, Rajiv is passionate about building community connections to amplify underrepresented voices, creating safe environments for groups like newcomers and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

Em Lee
Em is the Youth Development Coordinator at Cambie Community Centre, designing and delivering initiatives for preteens and youth across Richmond. By centring the individual needs and identities of youth participants, she creates spaces that promote self-expression and support personal growth.

Cheryl Hamilton
Cheryl Hamilton is a conceptual artist with a penchant for visual ingenuity. She imbues her artwork with a kineticism inspired by her education as an animator at Vancouver’s Emily Carr Institute. Drawing and painting serve as the backbone of Cheryl’s art practice.

lisa g
lisa g is an artist, filmmaker and performer interested in personal work that tells stories from a queer, neurodiverse and humorous lens. They are a founding member of Vancouver’s Iris Film Collective and the producer of Our World, which supports the creation of Indigenous self-directed short films.

Winnie Chironga
Winnie is the Associate Director of Indigenous Relations & Community Development at AMSSA. Under the guidance of an Indigenous Advisory Council, Winnie stewards initiatives that foster relationship-building between Indigenous communities and the settlement and integration sector. 

Norm Leech
Norm is a member of AMSSA’s Indigenous Advisory Council and is the Executive Director of Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, serving the Renfrew-Rupert area in East Vancouver. Norm is a member of the T’it’q’et community of the St’at’imc nation, where he has served as Chief and Administrator.

Dr. Kiffer G. Card
Dr. Kiffer Card is an Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University, recognized in public health innovation. Working closely with community organizations and health systems, Dr. Card advances practical, evidence-based solutions that foster social connection and support population health.

Getting Here

• Richmond City Hall is a short distance from the Canada Line Brighouse skytrain station (approximately 550 meters).
  
• Free all-day parking is available on the top floor of the nearby Richmond Cultural Centre parkade (7700 Minoru Gate).
  
• Bicycle racks are available near the north entrance of City Hall.
  
  

Inside City Hall

• All session spaces can be adapted for guests using wheelchairs or mobility devices, or guests requiring accessible seating.
  
• Sessions are taking place on the first and second floors, with stairs and elevator access.
  
• Accessible multi-stall gendered washrooms and an accessible single-stall universal washroom are available.

We are committed to creating a comfortable environment for everyone. To promote this, we kindly request all guests refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, and other scented products.

If you require accommodations such as accessible seating, ASL interpretation, or have other access needs we should be aware of, please indicate this in your registration and we will do our best to accommodate your request. For inquiries about accessibility, please contact Peggy Chen, Planner 2 (Inclusion), at DiversitySymposium@richmond.ca or 604-276-4104.