British Columbia‘s racist incident helpline handled 807 calls in its first year of operation, with nearly 94% of callers reporting their needs were met, according to statistics released by the provincial government.
The toll-free service, launched May 30, 2024, made more than 2,329 referrals to support services across the province. Each caller received an average of three referrals, indicating people dealing with racism need help on multiple fronts including legal advice, peer support and mental health resources.
“Racism has no place in B.C., but we know it exists, and we are determined to continue to fight it in all its forms, through all the tools available at our disposal,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “As part of that work, we are proud to provide this resource that is connecting so many people in need with services that can help them heal and reclaim their sense of safety and belonging.”
The call volume exceeded expectations, with B.C. receiving more than double the racism-specific calls reported by California’s hate helpline in its first year, despite California having seven times B.C.’s population.
Workplace incidents account for largest category
The helpline data shows workplace incidents represented the largest category of racist encounters, accounting for 22.3% of calls. Service provider interactions followed at 17.2%, while incidents at home or with neighbours made up 17.7% of reports.
Public spaces accounted for 12.3% of incidents, schools 9%, and online encounters 1.5%. The remaining 12.9% fell into other categories.
The most common need expressed by callers was for criminal justice and legal services at 39.4%, followed by mental health and substance use disorder services at 22.8%.
Service reaches across province
Vancouver generated the highest call volume among urban areas, followed by Victoria and Surrey. In rural communities, Courteney, Gibsons and Moberly Lake topped the list.
About 47% of calls came from urban areas while 8% originated in rural communities. The average call lasted 15 minutes.
Callers who disclosed their ages ranged from under 10 to over 60, with the largest groups falling between ages 30-39 (23.2%) and 20-29 (19.6%).
Community organizations receive funding boost
The province invested $2.2 million in 32 community organizations during the 2023-24 fiscal year to strengthen support networks for people affected by racism.
“The racist incident helpline is a core pillar of government’s efforts to counter racism and discrimination in B.C.,” said Jessie Sunner, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives. “It bridges a gap between people dealing with the trauma of racism and the essential services they need to heal.”
One caller whose family experienced harassment from a neighbour said the service provided relief. “I know this is a long process, but it makes me feel better to talk about everything,” the caller said. “Thank you for your time and for listening to me. I feel less pressured now. This has been really helpful.”
The caller accepted referrals for tenant rights resources, legal assistance and mental health supports.
Multilingual service operates weekdays
The helpline operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at 1-833-457-5463. Service is available in more than 240 languages, and after-hours callers can request callbacks during regular hours.
About 2.6% of callers refused suggested referrals, while 3% had unmet needs due to lack of available programs in their area.
The service handles discrimination based on skin colour, culture, ethnicity or place of origin. For emergencies, people should call 911.
