Community Dialogue
Richness in Diversity
“Dialogue helps us move beyond what we think we know by embracing a diversity of viewpoints. Through dialogue we come to understand each other and our potential. Dialogue is a perfect metaphor for multiculturalism. It is a process of give and take where meaning is negotiated through focused conversation.” – JOANNA ASHWORTH, Simon Fraser University
In January or 2010, the Cowichan Intercultural Society received funding from Embrace BC to coordinate a third Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Dialogue. This project had been preceded by two successful community dialogues – Diversity Lives Here (2008) and Returning to the Circle – Ways of Knowing (2009).
A critical aspect of this project was the establishment of a collaborative Dialogue Committee which was representative of the diversity present in the Cowichan Region. The committee was comprised of a broad and diverse group of community members who demonstrated their passion and commitment to co-creating a Cowichan Region where everyone could feel a sense of belonging.