NSRLP West is celebrating its first year in operation. We’ve been working throughout in consultation with our friends at NSRLP in Windsor, where it all began.
Here’s a quick recap on what we’ve been up to since we launched last October.
Bringing a Team Together
NSRLP West hired a Research Assistant (RA) in the fall 2019. Sarah Ewart (3L) undertook research and outreach relating to SRLs in BC.
Hayley Waring was brought on as NSRLP’s Project Coordinator and Kathy Sinclair as Project Planner in February 2020. Hayley is responsible for the day-to-day operations of NSRLP West, while Kathy assists with strategic planning.
In May 2020, NSRLP hired four additional summer RAs: Jana Chouinard (3L), Kendra Barlow (2L), Becca Dickson (3L), and Jenny Bains (3L). In September 2020, NSRLP West also engaged two student volunteers from Pro Bono Students Canada to work on legal research projects: Qian Wang (1L), and Sam Prette (2L).
Expanding Our Vision - Integration of Recommendations
In early 2020, the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) published Expanding Our Vision, a report that addresses the systemic and practical reasons behind the low number of Indigenous peoples filing human rights complaints in BC. Written by Ardith Walpetko We'dalx Walkem QC, the report how the human rights mechanisms and practices can be reformed to better acknowledge and serve Indigenous Peoples. During the summer of 2020, the entire team at NSRLP West read Expanding Our Vision and decided to apply some of its recommendations to our projects. We are honoured to be able to work with Ardith to help lift up and carry forward some of the ideas in her report.
Community Outreach and Engagement
The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from launching any major community-building events we’d planned. However, this past September, NSRLP West hosted weekend information tables at the downtown Kamloops Farmers’ Market and at the Kweseltken Market at the Kamloopa Powwow Grounds to increase awareness about what we do. While we don’t provide legal advice, we help individuals navigate the legal system and suggest useful resources.
We were spoke to around 100 people at the five markets we attended.
