New website focuses on racial discrimination

Ranjit Khatkur
A woman of South Asian origin, who faced discrimination at work and recently settled a high profile Human Rights claim, has launched a website, www.E-Race.ca, aimed at providing resources for people of colour who suffer discrimination.
Ranjit Khatkur, a retired Peel District School Board Vice-Principal was overwhelmed by the response to her case from others within her community that she decided to form E-Race Discrimination Ontario.
The website is a resource of information about racialized discrimination including articles, a speakers resource of experts with stories and experience to share, and information about training opportunities for youths.
“We want to focus on our young professionals obtaining anti-oppression training and becoming the trainers for institutions in Peel,” says Khatkur, who migrated to Canada from England. “Building stronger communities starts by providing youth with leadership training so they understanding the history of racialized systemic discrimination and the important of removing barriers to create harmony and inclusion in our diverse and growing community.”
E-Race.ca is looking to expand the speakers resource and invites community members to submit an application on the website. In addition, community members who have faced racial discrimination are invited to submit their stories and share their experiences at E-Racediscrimination@mail.ca or khatkurr@hotmail.com.
Khatkur says, “The power of change and inclusion comes from the courage of victims to share their stories and the will for change comes from the ability to listen.”
She told The Camera that E-Race Discrimination Ontario is open to people of colour adding that she has reached out to members of the Black community with the hope of including them in the process.
Through her leadership, E-Race has been created with a collective of South Asian leaders, experts, victims and survivors of racism, that support the need to combat racialized systemic discrimination in public institutions in the Region of Peel.
“The pain of racial discrimination cannot be dismissed or bought-off through mediations and resolutions behind closed doors,” says Khatkur. The victims are coming forward and uniting to be the voice of change. “There must be willingness to acknowledge and accept responsibility, only then can we begin to review the policies and programs that have caused the harm. True change has to come from deep within the core of the institution.”
Members of E-Race demand accountability from public institutions through the identification and elimination of barriers. These barriers include hiring and selection; retention, promotion, professional development and career advancement. This is essential to ensure that the workforce in Peel is equitably well represented by skilled South Asians at all levels.
The official launch of E-Race Discrimination will be held on March 21st 2014, with a panel discussion.