Faces of the Coast is a group of individuals and organizations coming together to take action and raise awareness about discrimination and hate on the Sunshine Coast.

Our Activities

Film Festival
Join us for a free Diversity Film Festival March 10th at the Heritage Play House in Gibsons or March 17th at the Sechelt Nation Community Hall. Doors will open at 6.45 and the festival will start at 7.00 pm. Come and join us!

Feature film:
• Defining Diversity, Creating Community – Tony Papa, Powell River, 2010, 48 min.

Short films:
• Friendship Songs & Dreams – Sháshishálem class, Youth of the Sechelt Nation, DOXA – Vancouver
• Documentary Film Festival, 2008, 4 min.
• I’m Jimmy – Templeton Secondary School, Vancouver, 2011, 1 min.
• Jaded – Cal Garingan, NFB, Work for All, 2010, 15 min.
• Heart of Hate – Tyler Voigt, Fuzzy Filmz, Comox Valley, 2011, 11 min.

Interested in more films? Here are some interesting links:
• Comox Valley Dialogue films: http://www.cjc-comoxvalley.com/cirp/dialogues.html
• Youth 1 minute short films, Racism. Stop it!: http://www.diversityteam.org/resources/124
• Anti-racism films: http://www.nfb.ca/playlist/anti-racism-films/
• Bridging cultures:http://www.nfb.ca/playlist/bridging-cultures/

Dialogue and Stories
In 2010 and 2011 we organized a community dialogue at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt. Over 60 people talk with us about diversity and inclusion on the coast. Leading up to the dialogues we organized a story contest, where people told us their stories when they felt or didn’t feel welcomed and included on the Sunshine Coast. Click here to read a selection of the stories.

Postcards
To raise awareness about our project, we have designed, printed and distributed free postcards throughout the coast. Three of our story writers have selected an image that captured their story.

Research
In 2010 we posed the question ‘does discrimination exist on the Sunshine Coast? How does it affect you and what helps to combat it?’ Through focus groups and interviews we identified the presence of discrimination across a wide range of ‘isms’ and we identified the strong assets we have in our communities to counter this. Click here to view the presentation of our findings.

Our partners in diversity
• District of Sechelt
• Sunshine Coast Social Planning Council
• Capilano University
• Sunshine Coast Community Services
• Sechelt Downtown Business Association
• Roberts Creek Community School
• Chatelech/Sechelt Elementary Community School

Do you want to get involved?
Faces of the Coast is run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers and professionals. We are constantly looking to opportunities to expand our network and have more people involved. Do you want to get involved and help us make the coast the most welcoming and inclusive place to be for everyone?
Contact April Struthers at april@alofii.com or at 604 885 0651

Or come to one of our meetings, Every 3rd Monday of the month from 7 – 8.30 pm, please call April for the location.

Other Interesting Links
www.diversyteam.org