Updates & Press

Release: Supreme Court of Canada decision is a win for human rights

17/12/2017Economic security, Gender-based violence Press

VANCOUVER – Today, the Supreme Court of Canada released its judgment in Schrenk v BC Human Rights Tribunal, a case about the scope of human rights protections against discriminatory harassment in the workplace. The Court ruled in the complainant’s favour, finding that human rights law prohibits discrimination in the workplace regardless of whether it is perpetuated by an … Read more Release: Supreme Court of Canada decision is a win for human rights

Release: BC still not making the grade in women’s equality, despite modest improvements

06/12/2017Access to justice, Criminalization, Economic security, Family well-being, Gender-based violence, Healthcare Press

VANCOUVER – Today, West Coast LEAF released its ninth annual report card on the rights of women in BC. While BC has pulled up its grade in seven of the nine key areas this year, the report card still shows a serious need for improvement in order to fulfill international commitments on women’s human rights. The … Read more Release: BC still not making the grade in women’s equality, despite modest improvements

Release: Supreme Court of Canada hears Trinity Western law school appeals

29/11/2017Access to justice, Gender-based violence Press

OTTAWA – Tomorrow, West Coast LEAF is at the Supreme Court of Canada to support the Law Society of British Columbia’s (LSBC) decision to deny accreditation to a proposed law school at Trinity Western University (TWU), an evangelical Christian university located in British Columbia, which requires its students and employees to sign a Community Covenant … Read more Release: Supreme Court of Canada hears Trinity Western law school appeals

Release: #JusticeReformBC – Broad coalition of legal organizations calling for significant reform to BC’s justice system

30/08/2017Access to justice, Criminalization, Economic security, Healthcare Press

Pivot Legal Society, Community Legal Assistance Society, BC Civil Liberties Association, and West Coast LEAF are calling on the provincial government to implement significant changes to BC’s justice and legal systems in order to support marginalized and Indigenous communities in the province, and to improve the delivery of justice to all British Columbians. The organizations … Read more Release: #JusticeReformBC – Broad coalition of legal organizations calling for significant reform to BC’s justice system

Release: Women’s equality experts intervene in lawsuit over solitary confinement

04/07/2017Criminalization, Gender-based violence Press

VANCOUVER – Today, an historic legal challenge to the use of solitary confinement in Canada’s federal prisons goes to trial at the BC Supreme Court. The equality rights organization West Coast LEAF (Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund) will be in Court to argue that solitary confinement causes specific and severe harms to women inmates. The case … Read more Release: Women’s equality experts intervene in lawsuit over solitary confinement

More than a rainbow sticker

15/05/2017Access to justice, Gender-based violence, Healthcare Update

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), an important occasion to check in with ourselves here at West Coast LEAF about how consistently and effectively we are challenging these oppressions every day in our work. In September 2018, West Coast LEAF announced our expanded mandate to work towards justice and equality for all people … Read more More than a rainbow sticker

Release: Feminist coalition responds to verdict in Wagar retrial for sexual assault

01/02/2017Gender-based violence Press

A coalition of feminist organizations committed to ending violence against women offers support to the complainant at the conclusion of the retrial of sexual assault charges against the accused, Alexander Wagar. Mr. Wagar’s criminal case came to international attention due to the conduct of the first judge who heard the case, Justice Robin Camp. Mr. … Read more Release: Feminist coalition responds to verdict in Wagar retrial for sexual assault

Release: Coalition of women’s organizations commends Camp decision

30/11/2016Gender-based violence Press

A national Coalition of women’s organizations commends today’s decision by an Inquiry Committee appointed by the Canadian Judicial Council that recommends the removal of Justice Robin Camp from his position as judge. The unanimous five-person committee concluded, “Justice Camp’s conduct is so manifestly and profoundly destructive of the concept of the impartiality, integrity and independence … Read more Release: Coalition of women’s organizations commends Camp decision

Release: BC Court of Appeal decision a disappointing loss for equality

01/11/2016Access to justice, Gender-based violence Press

VANCOUVER – In a step backward for the legal profession, the BC Court of Appeal (“BCCA”) has dismissed an appeal regarding the Law Society of BC’s rejection of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University (“TWU”). In Trinity Western University and Brayden Volkenant v Law Society of British Columbia, the BCCA found that the Law Society’s decision … Read more Release: BC Court of Appeal decision a disappointing loss for equality

Release: Canadian child care system under the international microscope

25/10/2016Economic security, Family well-being Press

VANCOUVER – Today, West Coast LEAF and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC) are at the United Nations in Geneva to participate in a review of Canada’s federal and provincial progress under the international bill of women’s rights. West Coast LEAF and CCABC are meeting with the UN Committee on the Elimination … Read more Release: Canadian child care system under the international microscope