Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau 
Our culturally-rich communities make York Region one of the most vibrant and tolerant communities in Canada. The four dedicated officers of the Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau are actively engaged in building strong partnerships with the thriving religious and ethnic communities and organizations to ensure the needs and concerns of our multicultural communities are met.
Our members continually work to connect with new communities in the region and address issues and concerns related to police services, while actively promoting inclusivity and tolerance.
Designated Hate Crime Investigation Team
York Regional Police takes pride in the strides made in the investigation of hate-motivated crime. We have a dedicated investigative unit and specially trained hate crime investigators at each District to assist officers in investigations where hate may have played a part. In 2009, York Regional Police officers investigated 76 reported cases of hate-motivated crime, a decrease of seven per cent from the previous year. A substantial improvement was noted in graffiti occurences, which saw a 44 per cent reduction.
What is a Hate/Bias Crime?
It is a criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by the suspects' hate/bias or prejudice against an identifiable group or person based upon race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or other similar factor.
What is Hate Propaganda?
Hate propaganda is an offence in which genocide is advocated, or the hate of an identifiable group is publicly communicated. An identifiable group is defined by race, colour, religion or ethnicity.
When should I report a Hate/Biased Crime?
- When you feel threatened, have been assaulted or harassed
- When your property has been damaged
- When you have witnessed a Hate/Biased Crime
AND
- You feel victimized based upon the suspect's hate/bias
When should I report a Hate/Biased Crime?
Victims of Hate/Bias crimes are targeted simply because of who they are. Trauma extends beyond the obvious physical and emotional inflictions. Victims may be reluctant to report these crimes for numerous reasons. They may fear reprisals, they may fear for their safety. York Regional Police encourages members of the public to report Hate/Bias Crimes, whether they are a victim, or have witnessed a Hate/Biased Crime.
York Regional Police continues to work in partnership with its richly diverse communities. In response to our growing diversity and our intolerance of Hate/Bias crimes in March 2001, we established a Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau.
The Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau liaises with community groups, monitors Hate/Bias crime investigations and avails themselves to officers seeking expertise.
It is the responsibility of all of us to stop Hate/Bias crimes. Encourage anyone you know who has been victimized to report the crime. If you have been the victim of a Hate/Biased crime yourself, report it. Our collective intolerance of Hate/Biased crimes is a clear message to anyone harboring such fanaticism that it will not be tolerated.
2009 Highlight
Community Outreach Nets Results
York Regional Police is deeply committed to building strong community relationships and we have found that by encouraging honest and practical discussion, community members themselves can play a strong role in our goal of keeping our communities safe.
Following the outstanding success of the first York Regional Police breakfast meeting, facilitated by the Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau in 2008, members of that unit and the York Regional Police senior command participated in a series of breakfast meetings throughout 2009. 
Chief Armand La Barge, Deputies Bruce Herridge and Eric Jolliffe, District Headquarters command officers and members of the Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau met with representatives from a variety of diverse communities in 2009, including the Afghan community, B’nai Brith, the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians, the Iranian community, the Islamic Society of Markham, the Korean community and the Hindu Temple Society.
The meetings provided an opportunity for police to connect with community leaders on a personal level, building trust and establishing partnerships that have proven to stand the test of time. They help improve how we communicate with all our communities and give community members an outlet to relay concerns, neighbourhood issues and cultural information that only improve the quality of the policing services we deliver daily.
During a breakfast meeting with the Hindu Temple Society, for example, a society executive raised concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety issues his community experienced around religious holidays. In response to this, at the request of York Regional Police, a thorough assessment of the area was conducted by the Region of York transportation department staff and video cameras were set up to record traffic volumes for analysis with the goal of improving safety for all road users in that neighbourhood.
The breakfast meetings have also resulted in an increased level of police participation in a variety of community events. In 2009, York Regional Police was invited to participate for the first time in the Festival of Fire hosted by the Persian community in Richmond Hill. The Festival of Fire celebrates Chaharshanbe Suri, which marks the eve of the last day of the year in the Persian calendar. Many of our members, including Chief La Barge, were proud to take part in this special day.
We also found the meetings increased attendance at our own cultural events like the annual Black History and Asian Heritage Month celebrations.
"We have learned that spending time building partnerships with our diverse communities results in a stronger, more vibrant, more inclusive community as a whole and that benefits each and every resident of York Region," said Chief La Barge.
"In York Region, we have proven that despite our many differences in language, in culture and in religion, we can not only live together in peace and harmony, we can thrive and prosper," he added. "That is a testament to the character and commitment of the individuals involved in building those bridges and we are honoured to be a part of that process."
