Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre - HARRC

The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) is envisioned as a centre that provides advocacy, community resources, evidence-based research and strategic support to residents experiencing racism and discrimination within the community. The centre was launched in April 2018 as a collaborative pilot project involving the City of Hamilton, McMaster University and the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion. The centre arose from community need for a resource to address issues facing Hamilton related to racism and discrimination. The HARCC was informed by years of hard work from the City’s Committee Against Racism and other community advocates.

HARRC was paused in February 2019 to allow for more community engagement and stakeholders’ input to better define the centre’s mandate, activities and success factors. In 2019, various public engagement activities were conducted, with a staff recommendations report.

In December 2019, City Council endorsed recommendations and directed staff to retain a consultant and re-establish HARRC with an independent Board of Directors. Council also directed that the re-establishment process must be informed by residents with lived-experiences, and by the lenses of equity, diversity and inclusion.