Racism in Winnipeg: Newcomer to Canada shares 'colourism' experience

Racism isn't just a problem for Winnipeg's aboriginal population, according to some new Canadians living in the Manitoba capital.

Winnipeg has been in the spotlight since a Maclean's magazine article last week claimed it is the most racist city in Canada.

The article prompted a response from Mayor Brian Bowman and others in the community.

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While the Maclean's article focused on the city's aboriginal citizens and the discrimination they face, other Winnipeggers say they have also had to deal with racism.

Hazim Ismail, who came to Canada from Malaysia a year and a half ago to study psychology at the University of Winnipeg, says racial discrimination seems to be more concentrated here than in other cities like Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal.

Ismail says he doesn't even use his first name because it draws a politically charged response from some people.

"My first name is actually Mohammed. I rarely use it because Mohammed carries something really heavy with it," he said Monday.

He added that whenever he has to show his student ID or passport, he gets a response along the lines of, "Oh, your first name's Mohammed."

"It makes me feel uncomfortable and I think it's sort of like a self-fulfilling prophecy where I think I'm failing because I'm perceiving them perceiving me differently," he said.

Ismail said he has experienced what he calls "colourism" in Winnipeg, with some people assuming he does not speak English because of his darker skin colour.

The barriers often come down once they hear him speak English, Ismail said, but he added that there have been some scary moments.

For example, he recalled being at a local restaurant with another international student when two guys confronted them.

"I think they were a bit drunk or whatever, but they were basically yelling at us to go back to our countries," he recalled. "We were a bit scared."

'Just need to mingle'

Ismail said one way to combat racism is to meet people from different ethnic backgrounds.

"I think they just need to mingle more and be exposed," he said.

Meeting new people and forging connections is a central focus at KidBridge, an English conversation group that brings together First Nations and immigrant/refugee mothers every week.

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"I've got to believe that walls of racism can be dismantled with something as simple as a shared meal or a shared story or a shared conversation," said KidBridge director Lorelle Perry.

Perry said it's through shared meals that the mothers find common ground and teach their children about other cultures.

"We can use where we're coming from as building blocks for the shared future, which is inevitable," she said. "We can't change the past, but we can influence our future."

Leona Boulanger has shared her story about growing up on a reserve with other KidBridge moms, and she has learned a lot from the group too.

"I really enjoy when I communicate with them. It's fascinating to learn about them," she said.