The South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS) is carrying on the fight against racism with the return of its Confronting the White Elephant forum on May 23.

The anti-racism community forum runs from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and is free to attend, however, it does require registration as spaces are limited. 

Previously, the forum has included special guests such as the provincial head of anti-racism efforts, and this year will feature award-winning actor and activist Jesse Lipscombe. 

"This year鈥檚 forum is a call to action,鈥� said Cherry Fernandez, executive director of SOICS. 鈥淲e want to create space for people to lean into the discomfort, challenge passive attitudes, and walk away with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of an anti-racist community.鈥�

SOICS describes the colonial concept of white supremacy and the racism it fosters as akin to the metaphorical White Elephant as an expensive or unspoken problem that comes at a great cost if ignored. 

鈥淪imilarly, racism affects us all 鈥� whether we see it or not. The longer we pretend it isn鈥檛 there, the more harm it causes,鈥� said Fernandez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the legacy and burden we all carry 鈥� It will continue to cost us all, unless we face it 鈥� honestly and together.鈥�

To learn more or register, visit soics.ca/anti-racism/white-elephant.