In September 2023, the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) spearheaded the Alberta chapter of the CBJS initiative. Through a series of community sessions and surveys, ACCEC gathered invaluable insights and experiences from members of the Black community to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination within Canada’s justice system, which has contributed to the overrepresentation of Black individuals in the criminal justice system. The outcome of these efforts is a comprehensive report, “A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy,” crafted by an external Steering Group. This report includes 114 recommendations aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and addressing the pervasive anti-Black racism in the justice system. The report’s recommendations were shaped by consultations and engagements led by 12 Black-led, community-based organizations across Canada, including ACCEC, alongside feedback from Justice Canada’s online survey.

On October 8th, 2024 at 6 PM EDT, the Black Opportunity Fund will host a national town hall to discuss the Steering Committee’s report and the recommendations for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. The event will feature prominent community leaders and experts, including Dr. Myrna Lashley (Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, McGill University, and Adjunct Researcher at the Culture and Mental Health Research Unit of the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research), Dunia Nur (President & CEO of ACCEC ), DeRico Symonds (Director of Community Engagement and Justice Initiatives at the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute) and Craig Wellington (CEO of the Black Opportunity Fund ).

Date: October 8th, 2024 

Time: 6 PM EDT

Venue: Online Session