UPDATE: Note changes in locations for some dates, below...
Intersections: A Dialogue Series is an opportunity to engage with Challenging Racist ‘British Columbia’: 150 Years and Counting (CRBC). Produced as part of the commemorations of 150 years since BC joined Canada, this open-access, multimedia resources documents how the recent cycle of anti-racist activism in this province is part of a broader history of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities challenging white supremacy for over 150 years. This seven-week in-person series brings people together in intentional conversations to:
- encounter our collective past
- locate ourselves as participants in the ongoing story of this place
- explore how to respond faithfully to the truths we find together
...so we can participate with God in restoring creation and affirming the dignity of all people.
A team of trained moderators will offer will offer each of the seven sessions which are based on the information covered in the CRBC project, using video, song, prayer, self-refection exercises, readings and group discussions.
When
This series will take place on Wednesday mornings, 10am-noon, alternating between the churches of St Mary's in Oak Bay (1701 Elgin Rd), and St George's in Cadboro Bay (3909 St George's Lane), starting on September 27, 2023. There is no cost, but registration is required.
Register online here, by phoning St Mary's church office at 250-592-2212 (M-Th, 8:30am-1:00pm), or emailing info@stmarysoakbay.ca
Series Outline
Sept 27 @ St Mary's—Session 1: Introduction. Introduces pedagogy and content for the series.
Oct 4 @ St George's—Session 2: Land, language, treaty. Highlights the interconnection of land, language and the treaties that were signed, or not, in the process of colonization.
Oct 11 @ St George's—Session 3: Residential ‘school’ System. Explores the legacy of residential ‘schools’ and the implications for us today.
Oct 18 @ St Mary's—Session 4: Restrictive immigration. Unpacks the ways in which the provincial government restricted immigration from racial groups other than white European and engages some contemporary statistics for reflection.
Oct 25 @ St George's—Session 5: Japanese internment. Revisits the response from Canadian authorities to Japanese Canadians during WWII and anti-Asian racism as it is experienced today.
Nov 1 @ St Mary's—Session 6: Black experiences. In the shadow of the Black Lives Matter movement, this session seeks to expose the experience of Black people in the province, both historically and in contemporary BC.
Nov 8 @ St George's—Session 7: Where to from here?, This session will complete the series, but it is also the beginning of our next steps on this journey.