FILE PHOTO: Arjun Singh.

(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - A Kamloops councillor wants city council to ‘declare active opposition to racism’ in light of events and attitudes becoming more prominent south of the border and in Canada.

Coun. Arjun Singh brought a motion to council that, while symbolic, sends a message of support to immigrants and people facing discrimination and promotes inclusivity. Singh says with the current trends in the United States, it’s important to reaffirm the city’s stance.

“Some people may think it’s not that big of deal,” he says. “But having experienced racism and having that present in my family over the years it is certainly an issue that we always have to consider and be mindful of.”

The motion, which will be voted on at the next council meeting, calls diversity an asset and indicator of a healthy society.

Singh points to Kamloops’ Canada Day celebrations, which are hosted by the city’s multicultural society as an example of the country’s diverse background and its role in the country.

“I think we should be very proud of the fact that our multicultural community leads our Canada Day celebrations. It’s been like that for 40-45 years,” he says. “We lead with the fact that we are composed of people of different cultures and different community and we’re all Canadian at the same time and it’s a beautiful thing.”

While he thinks of Kamloops as an inclusive city, Singh says he’s open to conversations with the members of the public about if the city should or could do more.

Singh spoke out earlier this year against racism after American President Donald Trump’s infamous ‘muslim ban.’

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