Edmontonians believe their city is a better place to live because of the diversity of people who call Edmonton home, according to a survey commissioned by Racism Free Edmonton a collaborative group of organizations committed to speaking out against racism and engaging the community in discussing the topic. Of those surveyed, 76% believe that diversity makes Edmonton a better place to live, but many feel that certain citizens face discrimination based on their age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability. Racism Free Edmonton will use the data in its work speaking out against discrimination. “We all have a responsibility to speak out against discrimination in Edmonton and these results provide an important starting point for discussion,” said Councillor Amarjeet Sohi. “We are very encouraged that most Edmontonians support City Council’s vision for a diverse and welcoming city, but there is still work to be done in terms of understanding how and why discrimination continues to occur in our City.” The survey measured opinions of the city as a welcoming place and perceptions of discrimination against certain groups. The University of Alberta’s Population Research Lab conducted telephone surveys with 400 Edmontonians, aged 18 and older, from May 25 to June 22, 2011.    Of respondents polled: 76% feel having people from different backgrounds makes Edmonton a better place to live 71% believe people in Edmonton are friendly and welcoming 29% think people who come to Edmonton should change to be more like other community members Asked about hearing or seeing an individual being treated unfairly: 20% recorded the person was Aboriginal 18% recorded that the person was/looked poor 13% recorded the individual was overweight 12% recorded the person was of a sexual minority 10% recorded the situation involved a person with a disability Asked to identify settings or situations where they had heard of Edmontonians being treated unfairly: 25% recorded dealings with Edmonton Police 21% recorded shopping in Edmonton stores 21% recorded looking for jobs 18% recorded looking for housing Racism Free Edmonton will use the results of the study to measure achievements and plans on revisiting this type of study in the future. “This is an important opportunity to learn from the opinions and experiences of Edmonton residents,” said Councillor Sohi. “We consider this valuable data that will help Racism Free Edmonton determine areas of interest and our priorities for the coming years.”  

View original content here:
Survey Says Edmontonians Believe a Diverse City is a Better City