After a year that brought us the lows of a xenophobic Brexit campaign and the (re-)normalization of racial politics in the US, many progressives around the world are looking at Canada as a beacon of hope for diversity and multiculturalism. Yet, Canada is neither free from oppressive and divisive ideologies nor immune to their open resurgence—and the country is struggling to confront this reality: “People in Canada generally will do anything to avoid talking about race,” says Desmond Cole, a Toronto-based journalist and activist.

So how do we talk about racism in Canada to affect positive change? On February 8, Peace Talks explores this question with a panel of speakers who have deep experience in confronting racism. Guest moderator Robert Daum - Fellow for Diversity & Innovation at SFU’s Centre for Dialogue - will facilitate a conversation with Seemi Ghazi, Kory Wilson and Hope Sealy.