LEGAL NEWS

New Law Targets Symbol Of Intimidation

By Sanjay Campbell, Community Legal Worker at BLAC

Canada has passed Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, making the noose a prohibited hate symbol under the Criminal Code. The change recognizes the noose's long history as a symbol of racial terror and intimidation against Black communities.

The amendment comes as hate crimes continue to rise across Canada and follows several recent incidents involving nooses displayed in workplaces and public spaces. By recognizing the noose as a hate symbol, the legislation strengthens legal protections against hate and sends a clear message that symbols of racial intimidation have no place in Canadian society.

Read the full release

When Intent Isn't Enough? Lessons from Thorne

By Kareem Guimba, Staff Lawyer at BLAC

A recent Divisional Court decision in Thorne v. Good Health Walk-In Clinic reinforces an important principle of human rights law: misgendering can be discriminatory, even when it is unintentional. As one of the lawyers representing the applicant, this decision is particularly meaningful because it clarifies how discrimination should be assessed and reaffirms the importance of centring the lived experiences of transgender people.

In this case, the applicant, a Black transgender man, was repeatedly referred to using incorrect pronouns despite informing clinic staff of his name and pronouns. The Human Rights Tribunal initially dismissed the application, finding the misgendering was inadvertent. The Divisional Court disagreed, holding that the Tribunal failed to consider whether the misgendering was connected to the applicant's gender identity and whether it caused an adverse impact. The Court ordered a new hearing.

The decision reminds us that human rights law is concerned not only with intention, but also with impact. A person's dignity is not diminished simply because harm was unintended. For transgender and gender-diverse people, names and pronouns are deeply connected to identity, respect, and belonging. Misgendering can undermine all three, regardless of whether it was deliberate.

As Pride Month reminds us of both the progress made and the work that remains, this decision sends an important message: human rights protections must meaningfully reflect the lived realities of those they are intended to protect. It also serves as an important reminder that the legal system must continue to listen, learn, and ensure that every person has the opportunity to be fully heard.

INTIATIVES

Black Justice Hub Launches

In the foreground, a man in a light blue shirt sits with his arms crossed at a round blue table, while the background shows a group of people attending a meeting around similar tables.

Community members, legal professionals, advocates, and partners gathered for the official launch of the Black Justice Hub. The event created space for discussion, reflection, and shared learning on how the Hub can support legal professionals, community workers, and Black communities navigating the justice system

A man in a suit stands at a podium with a laptop in the foreground, while an audience sits at tables in the background of a conference room.

In the foreground, a blue tablecloth covers a round table with a document, while in the background, two people stand at a podium presenting to a large projected screen.

Left: Demar Kemar Hewitt, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Black Legal Action Centre, welcomes attendees and reflects on the vision behind the Black Justice Hub. Right: Taufiq Hasmani and Melody Izadi share their expertise and contributions to the Black Justice Hub, highlighting the importance of accessible legal knowledge and collaborative efforts to address anti-Black racism within Canada's justice system.

The Black Justice Hub has officially been launched, a new online resource designed to support lawyers, advocates, community workers, and individuals navigating legal issues that disproportionately impact Black communities.

The Hub focuses on criminal law, child protection, immigration, prison law, and civil litigation—areas where Black communities are disproportionately impacted and where legal responses to anti-Black racism continue to evolve. By bringing together case law, research, practical tools, and legal resources in a single location, the Hub makes it easier for lawyers, advocates, community workers, and self-represented individuals to find and apply the information they need.

Developed through BLAC's Justice Canada-funded project, Combatting Anti-Black Racism through Litigation and System Navigation, the Black Justice Hub represents an important step toward expanding access to justice and supporting those working to advance equitable outcomes within Canada's legal system.

The launch event brought together lawyers, advocates, community organizations, and project contributors to commemorate the official launch of the Hub. Remarks were delivered by Demar Kemar Hewitt, Executive Director and Neto Naniwambote, Chair of the Board, while the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, joined virtually to offer congratulatory remarks. Contributors and speakers reflected on the ongoing impact of anti-Black racism within legal and administrative systems, the importance of accessible legal resources, and the role that collaborative initiatives can play in advancing access to justice.

Attendees also had an opportunity to explore the Hub's resources and learn more about how it can support advocacy, litigation, and system navigation efforts across Canada.

Black Circle of Care Initiative Continues

Building Capacity Through Human Rights Education

From May 12-24, BLAC Staff lawyer Zainab Adewusi and Paralegal and Intake Coordinator Shevaun Pierre organized a three- day virtual learning series in partnership with Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal services, the Neighborhood Group community Services, and the Onatrio Justice Education Network.

Designed for new community legal clinic staff and law students, the series provided practical training on Ontario human rights law and the skills needed to support individuals navigating the human rights system.

Participants learned from experienced lawyers and advocates, including Nana Yanful, former Founding Legal Director of BLAC, Atrisha Lewis, Todd Pribanic-White, and Runako Gregg, who shared their expertise and practical experience in the field.

The series helped stregthen participants understanding of human rights law while building the cpapacity of future legal advocates and community workers across Ontario.

Thank you to the Association of Community legal Clinic of Ontario for Funding this initiative.

Supporting Mental Wellness Through Legal Education

A woman in a red dress presents a flowchart about the "Process of Duty to Accommodate" on a projector screen, with a blurred background of an indoor sports facility.

BLAC Staff Lawyer Zainab Adewusi leads a presentation on the duty to accommodate, helping participants better understand their workplace rights and the legal protections available under Ontario's Human Rights Code.

A group of people are seated at tables in what appears to be an indoor ice rink, with a banner displaying information in the background.

Attendees engaged in meaningful discussion on workplace rights, accommodations, and the role legal education plays in supporting mental wellness.

BLAC recently partnered with African Community Services of Peel to deliver a public legal education session as part of the Know Your Rights: Strengthen Your Mind Men's Mental Wellness Workshop.

Presented by Staff Lawyer Zainab Adewusi, the session focused on workplace mental health accommodations and legal protections available to employees experiencing mental health-related disabilities. Participants learned about their rights under Ontario's human rights framework and employers' duty to accommodate.

The workshop also created space for broader conversations about men's mental health, wellness, and reducing stigma within communities. Through partnerships like this, BLAC continues to provide accessible legal information and support Black communities in understanding and exercising their rights.

BLAC Presents at CLEO's Housing Law Conference

BLAC paralegal, Raianna Wedemire-Peart presented at CLEO's Housing Law Conference, sharing practical guidance on housing discrimination, tenant rights, and navigating Ontario's human rights and tenancy systems.

Her session explored protections under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the roles of the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), and the unique legal considerations facing residents of co-operative housing. Through real case examples and practical scenarios, participants gained valuable tools for identifying discrimination and understanding the legal remedies available to them.

By contributing to collaborative public legal education initiatives like CLEO's Housing Law Conference, BLAC continues to support community workers and advocates with accessible legal information that strengthens access to justice.

NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITIES

Please feel free to share our news with your friends and family, and reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. To learn more about our work, visit our website or follow us on social media