From Hate to Hope mural unveiled in Keremeos, B.C.

A collaborative mural project – one of four in B.C. – designed to bring communities together and spark conversations about hate was recently unveiled in the South Okanagan.

A mural designed to bring communities together and spark conversations about hate was recently unveiled in B.C.’s Similkameen Valley.

One of four projects in B.C., the local From Hate to Hope mural now stands in front of the South Similkameen Health Centre along Highway 3.

“The murals are all entitled Hate to Hope as well to really capture this transition we’re hoping we can make as a province as a society from the kind of hate we’ve experienced during COVID to a much more peaceful and hopeful time,” said Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender.

The South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS), Interior Health, and B.C.’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner partnered to create this piece.

The project is built on recommendations from the commissioner’s inquiry into hate during the pandemic compiled in the From Hate to Hope report.

“We released the final report of a large public inquiry we were conducting, and the inquiry was looking into the rise of hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final result was a report with 12 recommendations,” said Govender.

“The recommendations are largely aimed at the provincial government but also at police and social media companies. So, we’re still working on trying to get those recommendations implemented, but at the same time, we wanted to make sure that this work continued to have life in the community. So, we’ve been doing murals.”

The piece includes four panels which were each designed by SOICS’ youth who brainstormed ideas about how hate has impacted local communities.