On October 11, 2024, the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) held a significant National Townhall to discuss the recommendations made by the Steering Committee for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. These recommendations, outlined in the report A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, are currently being reviewed for potential implementation by the government.

During the event, attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from the Co-Authors of the report, who provided an in-depth overview of the proposed recommendations, their rationale, and the anticipated government response. The townhall also shed light on the implications of these recommendations for advancing restorative and reparatory justice within Black communities across Canada.

The event featured presentations by members of the External Steering Committee, including:

• Zilla Jones – Criminal defense lawyer, writer, and anti-racism educator
• Akwasi Owusu-Bempah – Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Director of Research for the Campaign for Cannabis Amnesty

Following these presentations, a distinguished panel of experts provided additional insights into the strategy’s potential impact. The panel included:

• Dr. Myrna Lashley – Associate Professor at McGill University’s Dept. of Medicine, specializing in trans-cultural psychiatry, and researcher at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research
• DeRico Symonds – Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives at the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) and President & Founder of Ignite Consulting
• Dunia Nur – President & CEO of the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council
• Craig Wellington – CEO of the Black Opportunity Fund

This townhall provided valuable insights into the process behind the Black Justice Strategy and opened a platform for discussion on advancing justice reforms for Black Canadians.

To learn more, access the full report here and visit the Black Opportunity Fund’s website here.