Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program

The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program supports the mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage by building on Canada's strength as a diverse and inclusive society.

The Program's objectives are to:

• support communities in confronting racism and discrimination, promoting intercultural and interfaith understanding and fostering equitable opportunities to participate fully in Canadian society
• promote and engage in discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination at the domestic and international levels
• strengthen research and evidence to build understanding of the disparities and challenges faced by racialized and religious minority communities, and Indigenous Peoples

The Department of Canadian Heritage is implementing enhanced protocols and processes for funding programs that support Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy to help ensure that organizations and individuals that espouse racist, antisemitic and other forms of hateful content will not be eligible to receive government funding.

The Program has three funding components: Events, Projects and Community Capacity Building. It also includes one separate initiative, the Paul Yuzyk Youth Initiative for Multiculturalism.

Events component — Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program

The Events component provides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament.

Expected results are that participants and communities will gain knowledge, develop strategies and take action to:

• increase awareness of Canada’s cultural diversity
• increase awareness of issues affecting full participation in society and the economy, related to culture, ethnicity and/or religion
• increase capacity within communities to address racism and discrimination

Read more about who can apply for funding for the Events component.

Projects component — Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program

The Projects component provides funding for community development, anti-racism initiatives and engagement projects that promote diversity and inclusion by encouraging interaction among community groups.

Expected results are that participants and communities gain knowledge, develop strategies and take action to:

• increase awareness of Canada’s cultural diversity
• increase awareness of issues affecting full participation in society and the economy, related to culture, ethnicity and/or religion
• increase capacity within communities to address racism and discrimination

Read more about who can apply for funding for the Projects component.

Community Capacity Building component — Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program

The Community Capacity Building component provides funding for capacity building projects that will contribute to the recipient's ability to promote diversity and inclusion of racialized and religious minority communities, and Indigenous Peoples.

Expected results are:

• strengthening governance and building partnerships — building the capacity of organizations and promoting collaboration between service providers
• e-capacity — building and/or strengthening the online and social media presence of eligible organizations
• establishing an overall external communication strategy
• recruitment and training of volunteers

Read more about who can apply for funding for the Community Capacity Building component.

Paul Yuzyk Youth Initiative for Multiculturalism

The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program will award grants of $250, $500 and $1,000 to support youth-led projects that promote diversity and inclusion, while addressing issues of racism and discrimination in local communities.

Read more about the Paul Yuzyk Youth Initiative for Multiculturalism.