This message is shared on behalf of Don Lovisa, President, Durham College.

On January 29, 2017, a tragic act of terror at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City took the lives of six people and seriously injured 19 more.

Each year on this day, the Durham College (DC) community remembers the victims of this heinous attack and recommits to ending hate and racism in Canada. I encourage you to stand together with the DC community and Canadian Muslims against Islamophobia and do your part to create a welcoming and inclusive society.

There are a number of ways you can show your support and take proactive steps to help end Islamophobia. The National Council of Canadian Muslims and its Green Square Campaign encourages people to wear a green patch on your clothes. This small gesture honors those who have lost their lives while also representing our collective commitment to build an inclusive society that rejects prejudice. Let’s show our support for one another and let them know that hatred has no place in our community.

The Durham College Library has a number of resources available that can help you learn about Canada’s Muslim communities and the importance of standing against Islamophobia:

• London Attack: The Rise of Hate Crimes in Canada, CBC
• Canadian Values and the Muslim World by Aisha Ahmad
• Islamophobia: Understanding Anti-Muslim Racism Through the Lived Experiences of Muslim Youth (Vol. 5) by Naved Bakali
• In Full Voice, National Film Board of Canada
• The Mosque: A Community’s Struggle, CBC
• You See Monsters
• Thinking About Religion and Violence. Episode 22, Islam, Violence, and Islamophobia

We know that days like these can be difficult for members of our DC community, and we’re here for you. If you need support, access our resources and supports.