Sarwan Singh Randhawa, TOL Councillor Mel Kositsky, Shar Dubas, Langley International Festival ED, Sandy Shih, Langley Community Services - Immigration Services Manager 
Friday, March 20, 2009: United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination organized by the Muriel Arnason Library and Langley Diversity Committee was well attended. The theme of the discussion was ‘Intercultural Communication Awareness’. Several interesting stories were shared to educate the people and making them aware of how the miscommunication can create misunderstandings, and how a little more knowledge about other cultures can help to make Canada a friendlier place to live in.Speaking on the issue, Sarwan Singh Randhawa said that people should not make judgements based on the colour, race or appearance. Giving an example, Sarwan said that as an iceberg has a visible section above the waterline and a larger invisible section below the waterline, and you can see only the part that is above the water, in the same way, a culture has some aspects that you can observe and others that you can only imagine or intuit. Like an iceberg, the part that is visible is only a small part of a much bigger whole.
“No culture is right or wrong, they just have different traditions and values,” he added.
It was also highlighted that learning a couple of words in other languages can make a big difference. A handout of commonly used words in 12 languages (wresources.blogspot.com) was also circulated.
Councillor Mel Kositsky, and Shar Dubas, Langley International festival ED, also shared their views on diversity. Sandy Shih from the Langley Community Services said that it is good to celebrate this day because there is a lot of diversity in Langley. A Chinese artist also showed the participants how to paint Chinese characters.
Roughly 60 people came by to check out the event and indulge in some refreshments.
