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Delta needs more multi-cultural inclusion and diversity, says Bishop

Mayoralty candidate Sylvia Bishop is making another campaign promise. Last week, the current member of city council pledged to address unfunded parks, recreation and cultural needs in Delta.
sylvia bishop

Mayoralty candidate Sylvia Bishop is making another campaign promise.

Last week, the current member of city council pledged to address unfunded parks, recreation and cultural needs in Delta. Today she’s promising to establish a new framework on multi-cultural inclusion and diversity.

She noted a recent Stats Canada report identified Delta’s increasing cultural diversity with 33 per cent, or 31 000 people, as immigrants or immigrant heritage.

She noted she’s heard from many who believe the city can do more and want to assist improving programs and services.

“Delta has a rich diversity of cultures. We can do much more when it comes to inclusion and diversity. I am committed, when elected mayor, to form a framework that will focus on collaboration and ways of enhancing partnerships between our multicultural rich community,” she said.

Bishop noted there’s some things the city is already doing such as programs at seniors’ centres as well as trying to have bilingual staff in service centres. The city also participates and supports many of the multicultural events but it could do more, she said.

“We need to ask ourselves questions like: how ethnically diverse are we throughout the city; How can we, working in collaboration, not just support and participate in events in our multicultural community, but initiate programs and services so we meet the needs of all of our residents? These are two questions at the top of my mind."

She added Delta can learn from neighbouring communities and develop a “made for Delta” plan.