Winnipeg to mark 1 year since Maclean's called city most racist in Canada
Brian Bowman holding special event on Friday 'to really show the nation what we're made of'
Winnipeg has changed for the better in the past year since Maclean's magazine called it the most racist city in Canada, says Mayor Brian Bowman.
Bowman says the community came together to tackle racism after Maclean's published a cover story on Jan. 22, 2015, about racial issues in the Manitoba capital — specifically, the divide between the city's indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
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The story elicited a mix of criticism and praise from people across the country and prompted the mayor to host a national anti-racism summit in September.
A year later, Bowman said while racism will never be eliminated, he is proud of how much he believes Winnipeg has changed in the past year.
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"If the article acted as a catalyst for greater action on our collective part, then that's a positive thing," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"I re-read it over the last week. It's a tough read. They're heart-wrenching stories that are chronicled in that story. But what has been the most heartwarming is the response. We've converted an ugly headline to a very heartwarming response as a community…. It's something that I think all Winnipeggers should be proud of."
Bowman is marking the one-year anniversary of the Maclean's article with a special event Friday at city hall. He is inviting everyone to attend.
Friday's event will look back on the year's accomplishments in promoting racial inclusion and chart a course for the future, he said.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I think it is a significant opportunity for our community to really show the nation what we're made of," Bowman said.
"It is something that is being noted by other mayors and other leaders across Canada -- that the tone and the dialogue and … the actions that are occurring in Winnipeg are moving solidly in the right direction."
Bowman added that he has invited the author of the Maclean's article, Nancy Macdonald, to the event on Friday.