Anti-hate toolkit

Hate, intolerance, and racism can often begin at a young age, when stereotypes, biases, and exclusionary behaviour go unaddressed. Left unchecked, these can develop into harmful beliefs, actions, and attitudes that carry on into adulthood. 

Educators play a vital role in creating safe, respectful environments where all students feel empowered to succeed. Reflecting on personal biases and actions is key to ensuring students from all backgrounds feel safe and valued. 

Places of education are micro-societies of their own, where the journey from kindergarten to higher education profoundly influences and impacts a child’s development, identity, knowledge, and worldview. For many students, however, this experience is also where individuals from equity-denied groups become aware of their differences, whether it be racial, religious, cultural, linguistic, or even socio-economical. 

Historically, schools have been sites of systemic racism, reflected in discriminatory segregation laws, exclusionary fees and inaccessible costs, or racist and inaccurate curricula.

Some of the ways racism, bias, and intolerance can show up in schools include:

• Disproportionate disciplinary measures for certain groups
• Stereotypes and biases that fuel harmful behaviour and ignorance 
• Lower academic performance and unequal or denied opportunities
• Social isolation, bullying, and low self-esteem
• Lack of accommodations and underrepresentation of diverse staff, students, and administrators

A study by the Angus Reid Institute and The University of British Columbia found that 50% of students aged 12 to 17  witnessed ethnic and racial bullying in their school. Shockingly, one-quarter of children reported that teachers either ignored or were unaware of these incidents.

As the saying goes, if we take care of the seeds, the trees will take care of themselves. Let us begin at the root. 

• Let’s Talk About Race Toolkit: These resources developed by the London Public Library includes a sample of diverse picture books, recommended booklist, guided activities and games or toys  that can serve as a starting point for encouraging questions about race, and for helping foster open discussions about racial differences.
• Bullying: Islamic Speakers Bureau, Atlanta: This resource guide is designed for educators, parents, and community organizations to help identify signs of bullying in Muslim students and offers best practices for providing support.
• Addressing Online Hate: Reference and preparation document created by SERENE-RISC for educators that details learning objectives related to hate speech.
• Addressing Online Hate: Informational resource developed by SERENE-RISC for educators that outlines ways to combat online hate. 
• Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: Webinar developed by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario for elementary teachers to address anti-Asian racism.
• Teaching resources: Online stories and articles compiled by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights with information related to human rights made by teachers, for teachers.
• Teaching Materials on Antisemitism and Racism: Teaching materials and lesson plans on antisemitism and nazi racism. Resource provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Coaching for School Coaches: Islamic Speakers Bureau, Atlanta: This infographic provides school coaches with guidance on accommodating the religious needs of Muslim student-athletes, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
• Educational Materials: Canadian Race Relations Foundation: A catalogue for organizations and educators to make use of in cultivating an inclusive environment. 
•  Educator's Tools: Fight Racism in Canada!: CCNC - SJ : A video series developed in collaboration with teachers, students and families from Asian Canadian communities across the Greater Toronto Area. 
• Accommodating Muslim Students During Ramadan: Yes, I’m Hot In This:  A free poster to help educators create safe and inclusive spaces for Muslim students during the month of Ramadan.
• Voices of Canadian Lesson Plan Resource: Harmony Movement: This free resource provides lesson plans with downloadable online materials for interactive activities adaptable for grades 5 to10 on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion by focusing on various aspects of a persons’ identity.
• Four Ways to Respect Muslim Students during Ramadan: YouTube: This video by the Islamic Speakers Bureau, Atlanta, provides an overview for school administrators and teachers on the religious practices and traditions observed by Muslim students during Ramadan. It highlights how fasting, prayer, and other observances can impact students' daily school life, encouraging schools to create a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Responding to Bias Incidents  in Middle and High Schools: Resources and Best Practices for School  Administrators & Educators: A guide compiled by the Anti-Defamation League that offers practical strategies for educators to address and prevent bias-related incidents in schools, fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment.
• Guidelines for Teaching about 9/11 in the classroom: Islamic Speakers Bureau, Atlanta: A fact sheet for educators with guidelines on how to discuss 9/11 in a classroom setting. It emphasizes the importance of promoting an inclusive, respectful, and non-biased approach when covering the topic.

Historically, equity-denied communities have suffered from a lack of access to timely medical care, discriminatory or abusive treatment from staff or medical providers, and improper accommodations, resulting in disparities such as: 

• Poorer health outcomes: Racialized individuals often have lower life-expectancies compared to their White counterparts, higher rates of chronic diseases and illnesses, higher rates of improper or malnutrition, and suffer from more preventable diseases and suicides.
• Underrepresentation in medical fields and research data: Relying on “White” data, medical treatments, knowledge and practice can often ignore the factors and physiology that racialized patients may face.  White-ness in the medical system is also characterized by the lower representation of equity-denied individuals within the healthcare system, from doctors to executives.
• Mistrust in the medical system: Legacy of historical experiences, experiments and abuse result in equity-denied communities often delaying seeking treatment, or not seeking any at all.
• Abuse, malpractice, and trauma: Stereotyping, implicit biases, and discrimination affect the quality, access, and level of care that equity-denied patients receive. Patients can feel ignored, not taken seriously, or not treated at all, or suffer incidents of hate which can worsen health conditions or create distress and mental-health impacts.

Sources: Canadian Mental Health Association and National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health 

• Understanding Health Inequities: Impacts of Discrimination, Racism and Hate: An infographic highlighting health inequities and their impact on healthcare, created by the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion.
• Trends in Health Inequities in London, Ontario: An infographic highlighting health inequities trends in London, hate crimes, and how poverty, housing and food instability make inequities worse. This resource was created by the the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion. 
• How Providers Can Address Hate and Discrimination in Healthcare: An infographic highlighting how healthcare providers can address hate and discrimination in their workplace. This resource was created by the the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion. 
• Key Public Health Resources for Anti-Racism Action: This key resource from the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health helps practitioners explore the connection between racism and health. It offers culturally sensitive training modules, critical articles on health inequity, and tools to foster equity-based practices in healthcare. 
• Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Advocacy 101 Digital Toolkit: This resource from the Ontario Nurses’ Association is designed to help healthcare professionals identify and dismantle discrimination in healthcare settings. It provides educational tools, best practices, and actionable strategies for addressing systemic racism, promoting allyship, and supporting equity-denied groups.

• Microaggressions towards immigrants: Explore three informative infographics created by the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership that focus on recognizing and addressing microaggressions directed at immigrants: what are microaggressions, the harmful effects of microaggressions, and responding to microaggressions. 
• Online Learning: Human Rights Office, Western University: The Western University Human Rights Office online learning page offers a range of educational resources to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) competencies. These include free and accessible training on topics such as unconscious bias, disability-related discrimination, human rights, and gender-based analysis.  
• Educational and inclusion guides: Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion: A list of overarching guides on topics of inclusion and diversity in the Canadian workplace.
• The Micropedia of Microaggressions: A resource by Micropedia that provides the first encyclopedia of microaggressions, with examples of what microaggressions and harmful language look like towards different equity-denied group.

• Trainings on Indigenous Relations: Indigenous Relations Academy: Paid training that serves as an effective resource for organizations to improve Indigenous relations.
• A Framework for Cross-cultural Dialogue: 4Rs Youth Movement: A youth movement that engages people in conversations pertaining to Indigenous reconciliation through training workshops and gatherings.
• Media Reference Guide and Tip Sheet: The 519: A reference guide for media to ensure informed and equitable reporting of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
• Creating Authentic Spaces: The 519:  A toolkit and resources to support organizations to foster inclusive environments for transgender individuals. It provides education on gender identity and expression, actively challenges transphobia, and outlines practical steps to make spaces more welcoming. The toolkit also features workshops and infographics to guide conversations and allyship.
• Education and Training: The 519: A glossary of terms to enhance your understanding of inclusion, equity, and diversity.
• 2SLGBTQIA+ Resources: EGALE: A comprehensive collection of tools and information aimed at supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It features educational materials, research, advocacy guides, and links to various organizations and initiatives that promote inclusivity and human rights. 
• Reconciliation Toolkit for Business Leaders: A resource from the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, offering guidance and actionable tools for business leaders and organizations to advance reconciliation and foster Indigenous inclusions.
• Reporting Hate and Finding Support: A valuable resource by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, providing data, recommendations, guides, strategies, and tools on reporting hate acts as well as community support resources for both the general public and specific equity-denied groups.  

• Guide to Online Hate: Hatepedia: A reference tool to identify various symbols, terms, and themes associated with hate speech both online and offline. It categorizes content into explicit hate symbols, contextual hate, and internet memes with hateful uses, providing resources to understand the complex nature of online hate.
• Hate in London, Ontario: Explore information on the impacts of hate crimes, how to identify and report them, and available support for victims by watching videos from the Rights and Responsibilities Initiative.

• Combat Cyber Space Crimes: The Rights and Responsibilities Awareness Initiative (RRAI) website focuses on educating Ontarians about legal, financial, and cultural rights and responsibilities. It offers awareness sessions and projects aimed at reducing online crime and promoting community empowerment, with services available in multiple languages.
• Block Hate: Building Resilience Against Online Hate Speech: This project by YWCA Canada aims to address the increasing issue of online hate speech, particularly among youth and marginalized communities. The initiative focuses on developing resilience and fostering a sense of community through workshops, training, and resources that educate individuals on recognizing, responding to, and preventing hate speech in digital spaces. 

• Anti-Racism Resources: The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) offers a comprehensive anti-racism resource list to support individuals and organizations in addressing and combating racism. This list features educational materials, toolkits, and links to organizations that promote equity and justice, aiming to empower users with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster anti-racist practices in various settings.
• Resources on Anti-Asian Racism: Elimin8Hate: The Elimin8 Hate website offers a variety of resources aimed at educating individuals and communities about anti-Asian racism, hate, discrimination, and how to foster inclusivity. The resources include toolkits, training materials, and guidelines designed to empower users to take action against hate and promote understanding across diverse groups.
• Being an out and proud trans ally: The OFL sheet provides essential information and guidance on how to support transgender individuals and create inclusive environments. It outlines practical steps for allies, including using correct pronouns, understanding the importance of gender identity, and advocating for policies that protect the rights of transgender people.
• I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much: A TED talk by Stella Young which tackles the misery memoir surrounding disabled people. Young urges people to rethink their ideas around disability and unlearn the objectification of people with disabilities.  
• Two-Spirit: Tips for Practicing Allyship:  The OFL sheet offers practical advice for individuals looking to support Two-Spirit people effectively. It emphasizes understanding cultural significance, respecting identities, and advocating for rights, while encouraging allies to actively listen and engage in ongoing education about Two-Spirit issues.
• Trans Allyship: Talking about Pronouns:  The OFL sheet provides essential guidance on understanding and using correct pronouns for transgender individuals. It emphasizes the significance of pronouns in affirming identity, offers tips for asking about and respecting people's pronouns, and highlights the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all.
• City Symposium: Anti-Black Racism: A video exploring the systemic nature of anti-Black racism and its impact on individuals and communities. It features discussions on the historical context, personal narratives, and strategies for fostering awareness and action against racial discrimination, emphasizing the importance of allyship and community engagement in addressing these issues.
• Eight Ways to Support Disability Justice and Counter Ableism: An article by two professors, Michelle Stack and Heidi L. Janz, on the best practices to adopt in order to foster inclusivity and support disability justice. 
• My Kid Came Out to Me! What Now?: A glossary of gender-related terms and information related to using correct pronouns developed by Fairy Godparents London and Area. 
• Anti-Black Racism in London, Ontario: This video, created by WeBridge for the Stop Tolerhating campaign, showcases the experiences of Londoners facing anti-Black hate in London, Ontario. It also explains what anti-Black hate is and its effects on the Black community in London. 

• Facts About Anti-Black Racism: A fact sheet with information on the motivations and impacts of anti-Black hate in Canada, emphasizing issues such as systemic racism and discrimination against African, Black, and Caribbean individuals. It highlights statistics on the Black population in Canada and London, Ontario, alongside current initiatives and calls to action aimed at combating these issues.
• This is Ableism: Inclusion Canada: This is Ableism is a campaign brought forward by people with disabilities in Canada. The website includes personal testimonies of individuals with disabilities and infographics for allies.  
• Let's #RewriteTheRules: A campaign to unlearn the predisposition of society towards able-bodied and neurotypical individuals. It is a venture to build inclusive communities by understanding the ways in which society’s unwritten rules marginalize disabled people.