What is the Discrimination Reporting Tool (DRT)?

The DRT gives community members a safe place to be heard when they experience or witness discrimination. It offers a supportive, non-judgmental space to share what happened, feel acknowledged, and know that no one has to navigate these experiences alone. We also track incidents of discrimination to help identify patterns and emerging needs, which guides us in strengthening supports, advocating more effectively, and working toward a safer, more inclusive community for everyone.

What counts as discrimination?

Discrimination can include verbal harassment, exclusion, microaggressions, threats, online abuse, denial of services, or systemic barriers based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, immigration status, or other protected characteristics. If something feels harmful or unfair, we encourage you to report it, even if it feels like it was a small thing, or is something that happens often.

To learn more about human rights and how discrimination is defined and protected under Canadian law, visit Canadian Human Rights Tribunal – Human Rights.

Why is reporting discrimination important?

There are a few reasons. Most importantly, no one needs to suffer alone. We are here to listen with empathy and compassion and, if directed to do so, we can intervene and work toward helping others better their intercultural competencies. We can also provide resources for more indepth support.

Secondly, incidents of discrimination go largely unreported for a number of reasons: fear of reprisal, a feeling that nothing will get done anyway, and the normalization of discrimination, to name a few. This means that it’s hard to understand the level of impact racism and discrimination have in a community. It’s a challenge to address a problem if we don’t truly understand it.

Lastly, these reports help us secure funding to better support you and our community. While we know discrimination happens regularly, documenting it allows us to show funding organizations the full picture. It also helps us understand the challenges people face, so we can create safer, more inclusive spaces and strengthen the support available. Even if you don’t need to be contacted, please consider making a report every story helps us build stronger support and resources for everyone.

If I’m just a witness of discrimination, should I still report it?

Yes. Any time discrimination happens in our community, we want to know about it. Even if you don’t need or want to be contacted, it is very helpful for us to know about these incidents so we better understand how we can be of help to the community.

What can I expect after submitting a report?

In the form you will indicate if you would like to be contacted. If you answer no, there will be no contact and we will file the report for our own records.

If you do want to be contacted, a peer supporter will reach out to you via email within 3-5 business days. After listening to your report, they will guide you through the next steps. 

I don’t need or want to talk to anyone about the incident I experienced. Should I still report it?

Yes. Even if you don’t want to be contacted, submitting a report still helps us understand the challenges people face in our community. It also allows us to show potential funders the real impacts of discrimination, so we can secure the support needed to continue creating safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.

What do you do with the reports?

The reports stay in our database for future reference.  In aggregate, reports help us build valuable statistics on discrimination, which, in turn, will help us to build better resources to address it.

How anonymous is this reporting system?

Only staff will have access to the reports.  We may consult with advisors on a case-by-case basis with the consent of the person making the incident report.

What kind of support can I expect from Intercultural Kootenays?

Intercultural Kootenays is not a legal, medical, therapeutic, or immigration service. We are not lawyers, doctors, therapists, or immigration consultants.

What we offer is peer support. If you choose to be contacted, you can speak one-on-one with a peer supporter who will listen with care and respect, believe your experience, and support you at your own pace. You are always in control of what you share.

If it feels helpful, we can also assist you in finding and connecting with other community or professional resources.

At your request, Intercultural Kootenays can reach out to the individual or organization involved to let them know an incident has occurred and to offer learning resources that support reflection, accountability, and stronger intercultural understanding.

What if I need help making a report or have other questions?

We strive to make this reporting process accessible. If you need language support, accommodations, or assistance completing the formm or have any other questions, please contact us at hello@interculturalkootenays.com and we will do our best to support you.