Updates & Press


Release: A huge win for parents’ right to privacy at BC Court of Appeal

For Immediate Release – April 25, 2023 Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – Yesterday, the British Columbia Court of Appeal released a decision that improves protections for parents’ right to privacy when being surveilled by the family policing system, also known as the child welfare system. The decision in T.L. v. … Read more Release: A huge win for parents’ right to privacy at BC Court of Appeal



Release: BC Gender Equality Report Card finds province failing to meet urgent needs in healthcare and economic security

January 24, 2023 – For Immediate Release Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – Today, West Coast LEAF released a report card assessing BC’s progress in advancing gender equality in economic security and access to healthcare. The Gender Equality Report Card reveals that from January 2021 to November 2022, the BC … Read more Release: BC Gender Equality Report Card finds province failing to meet urgent needs in healthcare and economic security



Release: Case to determine parents’ right to privacy at BC Court of Appeal

For Immediate Release – January 16, 2023 Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – Today, West Coast LEAF is intervening at the BC Court of Appeal in a case that will impact how parents are surveilled by the family policing system (also known as the child welfare system), T.L. v the Attorney … Read more Release: Case to determine parents’ right to privacy at BC Court of Appeal



Release: A huge win for single mothers fleeing violence

December 15, 2022 – For Immediate Release Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands—After five years of fighting to be heard, single mothers will finally have their day in court. Today, the BC Supreme Court granted the Centre for Family Equity (CFE), formerly known as Single Mothers’ Alliance (SMA), public interest standing … Read more Release: A huge win for single mothers fleeing violence



Release: BC Human Rights Tribunal rules family policing system discriminated against Indigenous mother

November 23, 2022—For Immediate Release Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – The BC Human Rights Tribunal ruled yesterday that the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society (VACFSS), a delegated agency of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, discriminated against an Afro-Indigenous mother, R.R., while R.R.’s children were in … Read more Release: BC Human Rights Tribunal rules family policing system discriminated against Indigenous mother



Release: Rights groups to argue in Supreme Court case that survivors of gender-based violence and their equality rights claims cannot be ignored by the courts

October 5, 2022 – For Immediate Release Ottawa, unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory – The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) discriminates against refugee women, yet courts have decided not to consider their arguments. When the Supreme Court of Canada hears submissions in Canadian Council for Refugees, et al. v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, et al. on October … Read more Release: Rights groups to argue in Supreme Court case that survivors of gender-based violence and their equality rights claims cannot be ignored by the courts



Release: Rights groups call on BC government to dismantle framework for policing families

October 26, 2022 – For Immediate Release Vancouver, unceded Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) homelands – Family advocates are calling on the BC government and Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD) to dismantle the framework for policing and surveilling families in BC. MCFD’s current framework for investigation, intervention, and child removal in … Read more Release: Rights groups call on BC government to dismantle framework for policing families



Our new visual identity

Over the past few years, we have continued to deepen West Coast LEAF’s work to advance justice and equality for all women and people who experience gender-based discrimination. Our work is rooted in relationship-building and sustained community engagement. In all we do, we center the people most impacted and marginalized by systems of injustice and … Read more Our new visual identity