“A Bit of Shame and Remorse May Go a Long Way”: Exploring the Social Impact of Discriminatory Practises in Thompson, Manitoba

The community of Thompson is a regional hub which provides services to a number of surrounding communities in northern Manitoba. Demographically Thompson presents an intersection of diverse cultures and is unique in that it has the highest population per capita of Indigenous residents in all of Canada. Anecdotally we know that divisions of race persist within the community. This is especially clear in reference to issues of homelessness. The following study was designed in order to develop a picture of negative attitudes which stigmatize the community’s most vulnerable populations and in turn address how prejudice contributes to the marginalization of homeless people within the city of Thompson. In examining the climate of public opinion on the topics of race and homelessness, recommendations have been provided to constructively reduce the impact of negative opinion and provide pathways for developing a healthy, cohesive community dynamic.