Supporting our communities

The Anti-Racism Action Program is one important means by which the Government of Canada implements Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

The Anti-Racism Action Program is intended to help address barriers to employment, justice and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities.

The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program supports the mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage by building on Canada's strength as a diverse and inclusive society.

The Program's objective is to build an integrated, socially cohesive society by:

• building bridges to promote intercultural understanding
• promoting equal opportunity for individuals of all origins
• promoting citizenship, civic engagement and a healthy democracy

The Community Support for Black Canadian Youth Initiative provides funding for projects that address the unique challenges faced by Black Canadian youth by:

• combating discrimination through awareness raising and/or digital literacy
• providing opportunities for Black Canadian youth, and empowering them through the promotion of Black history, culture and identity
• developing leadership skills and civic engagement

The Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) is designed to help communities at risk of hate-motivated crime improve their security infrastructure, which will help make Canada safer for all Canadians.

Celebrate Canada provides funding to community-based activities celebrating and promoting National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27 and Canada Day on July 1. These celebrations enable Canadians to appreciate Canada’s cultural, ethnic, linguistic and geographic diversity.

The expected results of Celebrate Canada’s support of community-based activities include:

• providing access to celebrations across Canada, to enable all Canadians to appreciate Canada’s cultural, ethnic, linguistic and geographic diversity
• creating opportunities for Canadians to participate in celebrations that create a sense of pride and belonging to Canada

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program was created to help you celebrate your community – both its past and its present. This program increases opportunities for local artists, artisans, heritage performers or specialists to be involved in their community through festivals, events and projects. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program offers funding through three separate components:

• The Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations
• Community Anniversaries component provides funding to local groups for non-recurring local events, with or without a minor capital project
• Legacy Fund component provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50 % of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000

The objectives of the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program are to:

• strengthen Indigenous cultural identity and participation in Canadian society
• preserve and revitalize Indigenous languages and cultures

The Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program offers two funding components to eligible Indigenous organizations:

• The Indigenous Languages Component (formerly known as the Aboriginal Languages Initiative) supports the reclamation, revitalization, maintenance, and strengthening of Indigenous languages through community-driven activities
• The Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting (NAB) component supports the production and distribution of Indigenous audio and video content

The Youth Take Charge Program aims to strengthen youth attachment to Canada through engagement. In this context, youth is defined as individuals between 7 and 30 years of age.

Key expected results include youth being engaged in communities and aware of the importance of being an active and engaged citizen.

The program supports youth-led projects that include activities in one or more of four thematic areas:

• arts and culture
• civic engagement and youth service
• economic activities
• history and heritage