Region launches ‘We All Belong Here’ campaign to fight hate crimes

Hate crimes are still a big problem in Waterloo Region. CTV’s Karis Mapp tells us about a community effort to create change.

In an effort to ensure every resident feels safe and included, the Region of Waterloo has launched a campaign called ‘We All Belong Here.’

The goal of the initiative is to raise awareness on identity-based hate.

“We’ve been hearing time and time again how incredibly difficult it is for many community members in Waterloo Region to feel safe and to feel well,” said Fauzia Baig, the region’s director of equity, diversity and inclusion, said on Thursday.

The campaign is a collaboration between Region of Waterloo and the Combating Hate Action Table, a committee made up of over 30 community leaders from various sectors.

Back in 2023, Statistics Canada data showed Waterloo Region topped the list of Ontario municipalities when it came to police-reported hate crimes per capita.

“We did see a decrease from 2023 and again, a decrease from 2024 in the first two quarters of this year,” explained Waterloo Regional Police Service Insp. Aaron Mathias.

Despite the decrease, the latest data from Statistics Canada still places the region within the top three areas of the province when it comes to hate crimes.

That’s why the region’s newly-launched campaign encourages community members to continue calling out and reporting hateful behaviour.

“We can’t shy away from acknowledging what’s happening and we have to name it,” Baig said.

A Grand River Transit bus has dedicated a vehicle to the cause. People in Waterloo Region may spot a specially wrapped bus displaying the campaign’s name and logo featuring a variety of hands.

“The idea is that [the message] gets seeded in all of us,” added Baig. “We carry it in our hearts long after the signs and the paint peels away, the message stays and resonates.”

On the initiative’s website, residents are asked to take a personal pledge of reflection on ways they can make a difference in their everyday lives.