A fundamental commitment at the Vancouver School District is to improve the well-being and achievement for all students through engaging, equitable learning environments, inclusive curriculum and culturally rich learning opportunities. Recognition of occasions, like cultural and heritage holidays and months, incorporate inclusion and celebration of our diverse society in the everyday activities at schools.
With October as Islamic Heritage Month in Canada, this month saw many activities and curriculum ties to celebrating the rich cultures of the Muslim faith. In addition to school-based activities, a resource guide was provided to educators to assist them in featuring Islamic heritage in lesson plans tied to the provincial curriculum. It includes an educators' primer and examples and guidance about celebratory announcements for holidays and observances such as Ramadan and the days preceding Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. The resource guide also provides stories and examples about historic and ongoing contributions of Muslim Canadians which are readily aligned to the BC curriculum throughout kindergarten to Grade 12, as well as facts about traditions, practices and sects within Islamic communities.
BC is home to nearly 80,000 Muslims from diverse cultures who contribute to the social fabric of our province. Islamic Heritage Month provides students and staff throughout the District with an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of Muslim communities and to learn about the history of Islam in Canada. It also provided focused attention the importance of standing together in solidarity against anti-Muslim hate, Islamophobia and all forms of hate, and to foster greater understanding, acceptance and social cohesion among people of diverse faiths in and beyond Vancouver.
