The Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership (RDLIP) has released their Understanding Racism in Red Deer Report. The report is based on a survey conducted in March of 2021. 

The survey had 665 respondents within the 2-week span of the survey being conducted. 60% of respondents were female and 36% of the respondents are male. 85% of respondents were between the ages of 19-60 years old. 70.8 % of respondents identified themselves as white; 5% Indigenous; 3% black; 3% bi-racial; 3% Southeast Asian; and 2.3% Latinx. 82.3% of the respondents said that their primary language is English. 83.3% of respondents said that they were born in Canada. 

Here is a look at some of the survey findings: 

  • 49.8% of the respondents said racism was is worse in Red Deer than other places. 
  • Indigenous people were 3.6 times more likely than White people to experience racist treatment by the local police in the last 5 years, while Visible Minorities were 2.6 times more likely than Whites to experience racism from the local police. 
  • Racism was experienced most online, in public places such as streets, parks, and bus stops, at schools and workplaces. 
  • Racism was experienced least in private business, private homes, restaurants and religious places such as churches, mosques and temples. 
  • Top 3 types of racism experienced most frequently are: 1) stereotyping; 2) inappropriate jokes; 3) racial slurs/comments. 
  • Top 3 types of racism that had the most negative impact are: 1) unfair grading in school; 2) inaccurate treatment in a health facility or clinic; 3) missed housing opportunities.
  • Top 3 ways to help reduce racism in Red Deer according to respondents: 1) more people intervening in racist situations; 2) better cultural training and protocols for police; 3) supportive practices and policies. 

The RDLIP is a community-based partnership aiming to create a community which openly receives newcomers (immigrants and refugees); embraces cultural diversity; strives to understand the needs of newcomers to provide access to a full range of services and participation in all aspects of society; and works to strengthen the understanding of two-way responsibility & benefit for newcomers and the broader community. 

You can read the full report by following this link.