Anti-hate work led by the United for All coalition is getting a $168,000 boost, thanks to the Ontario Solicitor General’s Safer and Vital Communities (SVC) Grant.
United Way East Ontario serves as the backbone for United for All.
On Friday, March 21, 2025, United for All brought its community partners together at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Ottawa, including the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Police Service, and three other local organizations which also received SVC grant funding for its Building Bridges Against Hate event. This event was the first in a series of activities aimed at stamping out hate in all of its forms across our region.
Taking action
The SVC grant allows United for All to host a series of events, workshops and learning opportunities over the next year, focused on empowering community leaders to address anti-Black racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-2SLGBTQ+ ideology, and misogyny.
For example, the coalition is launching a training course for community leaders to be able to intervene when they see hate incidents happening in their communities. United for All is also equipping these leaders to be able to pass along their knowledge – creating many more anti-hate advocates across East Ontario.
United for All is working alongside the other SVC grant recipients—the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES), Suradway, and Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre—as well as the city and police service, to ensure alignment of activities and enhance our overall community impact.
“As the climate around hate and division intensifies in Ottawa and surrounding areas, we must come together as individuals, local organizations, and communities to address the root causes of hate.”
The SVC grant is helping CHES produce public education videos and live presentations about antisemitism and antisemitic hate crimes. These pieces will mainly be targeting students, educators, police, and social workers.
Suradway aims to raise awareness about the hate crimes affecting the East African community and encourage individuals and families to come forward to report incidents. Beyond awareness, the organization says the SVC grant will provide tangible support for victims of hate crimes, connecting them with mental health resources, legal guidance, and culturally sensitive counseling.
Meanwhile, Pinecrest-Queensway plans to host forums on anti-hate efforts and trauma-informed responses, as well as coffee houses where folks can have conversations about hate and where misinformation can be dispelled. The community health centre will also be creating multilingual anti-hate posters and educational materials, storytelling workshops, and wraparound services for victims of hate crimes.
There were about 150 people at the Ron Kolbus Centre on Friday to support the launch of these new initiatives. This included representatives from organizations like community health centres, Jewish community services, Muslim community services, community housing, crisis centres, children’s services and refugee services, as well as folks who work in municipal government, food security, and community navigation.
Uniting our community against hate
The Ottawa Police Service reported local hate crime incidents were at an all-time high in 2023, and though the number of incidents dropped slightly in 2024, we know the numbers are likely much worse than what’s reported.
United for All recognizes that any one program or initiative cannot solve hate, violence or extremism on its own.
“Change must be informed by those who know best, including our Black leaders and community members. That’s why the launch of United for All’s Building Bridges Against Hate Learning Series and the Ottawa Stops Hate Together campaign are so important. We are moving forward, together.”
Since 2016, United for All has been bringing together social service agencies, faith-based organizations, policymakers, health providers, criminal justice professionals, cultural groups and more – all with the common mission to build safe, compassionate, resilient communities for everyone.
“We may be living in uncertain times right now, but one thing is clear: If we don’t work together to stamp out hate and violence in our communities, things are only going to get worse. We’re grateful to the Solicitor General for this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing the impact we’re going to collectively have on our communities as a result of this investment.”
The SVC grant is part of a $1.7 million provincial investment to help stop hate-motivated crimes across Ontario.
The theme of this year’s grant is Preventing Hate-Motivated Crime Through Community Collaboration with a focus on cultural, ethnic and faith-based hate in communities that have experienced an increase in hate-motivated crime.
Join us in creating stronger, safer and more inclusive communities across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County and Renfrew County. Together, we can overcome hate and violence.
Stay connected with United for All at unitedforall.ca.
