About the Anti-Racism Office - PEI: A Place Where Everyone Belong
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is one of Canada's fastest-growing provinces within Canada. Shaped by the contributions of racialized and Indigenous peoples, settlers of many generations, and newcomers from around the world, PEI is home to many. The Government of Prince Edward Island (GPEI) established the Anti-Racism Office within the Executive Council Office to promote a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to addressing systemic racism, advancing diversity, and achieving meaningful anti-racism outcomes. The government also understands that diversity is one of PEI’s greatest strengths. It has made commitments to ensure that every resident has an equal opportunity to be recognized, contribute and thrive in our province.
The Office have a clear mandate to implement GPEI commitments to anti-racism by ensuring that a whole-of-government approach is used with an anti-racism lens, working closely with government departments to dismantle racism and ensure that policies, programs, and services are designed in ways that are respectful, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of racialized and Indigenous communities. This includes recognizing and addressing the diverse and intersecting experiences within the communities, supporting PEI community, and administering anti-racism grants.
Guiding Principles
The following are the guiding principles: of the Anti-Racism Office:
| Engagement | Accountability | Community Centered |
| Consistent, meaningful partnership with racialized, Indigenous communities and ethnocultural organizations as the foundation of all anti-racism policies and programs. | Government staff and institutions are transparent and responsible to community, with frameworks to dismantle systemic racism, measure success, track progress, and report results annually. | Our work is driven, informed, and directed by the needs of racialized and Indigenous communities. |
Role of the Anti-Racism Office
The Anti-Racism Office will:
- Support the use and application of an anti-racism lens, including intersectional approaches
- Work with departments to apply an anti-racism lens on new and existing policies, legislation, programs, services and strategies
- Continue meaningful engagement across government to better address racism and discrimination
- Develop anti-racism tools and resources for internal and external use
- Conduct research and jurisdictional scans to identify anti-racism best practices, educational materials, and resources
- Offer training, in partnership with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and support to all government departments
- Build and maintain relationships with key ethnocultural organizations, Indigenous organizations, and community stakeholders
- Continue engagement with, and support to the Anti-Racism Table
- Enhance opportunities for appropriate collection and use of disaggregated data
Anti-Racism Mandate
Our mandate is anchored in the PEI Anti-Racism Action Plan, developed through deep engagement with racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, ethnocultural organizations, youth, seniors, newcomers, and many others across PEI to address systemic racism, promote diversity, and apply an anti-racism lens to policies and services. It organizes government commitments around three interconnected pillars, Inclusive Culture and Community Cohesion, BIPOC Representation and Advancement, and Leadership, Legislation, Program, and Policy Review, each targeting a different dimension of systemic racism in PEI.
Funding
There are three Anti-Racism funds available to supporting racialized and Indigenous communities in leading solutions that confront systemic racism, reflecting Prince Edward Island's (PEI) experiences, priorities, and strengths:
| Anti-Racism Grant | Anti-Racism Microgrant | Anti-Racism Cyberviolence Prevention |
For groups and organizations to complete an anti-racism, sustained and structured project The program offers funding to established community organizations, Indigenous governments, bands, councils, or non-profits, institutions, and associations to complete large-scale projects with broader reach to address systemic racism. | For individuals, groups, and organizations to take grassroots anti-racism action The program offers up to $5,000 funding for youth, individuals, and organizations to complete small-scale, community-based projects to address systemic racism, acknowledging the fact that all meaningful change begins with an idea. | For individuals, groups, and organizations to take grassroots anti-racism action The program offers funding to youth, individuals, and organizations to complete projects that build digital literacy, prevent cyberbullying and cyberviolence and promote safe, positive, respectful, and inclusive online behaviours and environments. |
Funding Criteria Indigenous, bands, councils, or non-profits; Non-profit organizations, institutions, and associations; Advocacy organizations; Educational institutions; and Municipalities. | Funding Criteria Youth aged 14–24 years; Individuals aged over 25 years; Professional associations; Non-profit organizations and board; Community groups and grassroots organizations. | Funding Criteria Youths and Individuals aged over 14 years; Community, Non-profit, Advocacy, and Charity Organizations; Educational institutions; and Municipalities |
How to Apply
The programs open for applications annually and are reviewed and administered by the Anti-Racism Office. Visit the relevant grant webpages below or contact the Anti-Racism Office directly to be notified when the next application opens. Applications must meet the relevant eligibility criteria for each stream.
| For Grant, visit Anti-Racism Grant | For Microgrant, visit Anti-Racism Microgrant | For Cyberviolence, visit Anti-Racism Cyberviolence Grant (coming soon) |
Priority Themes for the Grants
All grants should address systemic change priorities, including but not limited to
- Reducing systemic racial barriers in education, health care, justice, housing, and employment
- Anti-racism education, awareness, and capacity-building
- Preventing harm against racialized women and gender-diverse people
- Improving anti-racism governance within organizations
- Addresses digital well-being and cyberbullying through a multi-faceted approach
- Emphasize education, prevention, support, and systemic changes for cyberbullying and cyberviolence.
Grant-Writing Workshops Available
In partnership with community organizations, the Anti-Racism Office offers free grant proposal writing workshops in Kings, Prince, and Queens Counties before application cycle opens to help applicants develop strong proposals. Watch out for workshop announcements on this page or contact the Anti-Racism Office for more information.
Questions? Contact the Anti-Racism Office at AntiRacismInfo@gov.pe.ca or (902) 368-6895
Anti-Racism Table
Through Engage PEI, in 2021 the Anti-Racism Table was formed to identify ways and actions to address systemic racism on PEI. It is tasked with making recommendations to the PEI government to view practices and activities through a culturally inclusive lens. In particular, the group will develop actions to address systemic racism in and through:
- Education
- Justice and policing services
- Provincial legislation, regulations, and policies
- Opportunities for employment and job security
- Health, mental health, and wellbeing
- Housing
- Social programs
Learn more about the Anti-Racism Table
Contact the Anti-Racism Office Team
- Omar Broderick, Director of Anti-Racism Initiatives
- omarbroderick@gov.pe.ca; 902-218-7853
- Toyin O. Adekanmbi, Junior Policy Analyst
- toadekanmbi@gov.pe.ca; 902-218-8495
The Anti-Racism Action Plan for Prince Edward Island 2023-2028 is available online.
Executive Council Office
5th Floor, Shaw Building
95 Rochford Street
P.O. Box 2000,
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
General Inquiries:
Phone: 902-368-4502
Fax: 902-368-6118
Engage PEI Inquiries:
engagepei@gov.pe.ca
Visit Engage PEI to learn more about serving as a member of an agency, board or commission (ABC).
