On Saturday, November 2, 2024, the British Columbia Black Advocacy Society hosted a highly impactful seminar titled, “Ignorance Is No Excuse: Navigating the Canadian Legal System as a Black Person.”
Held virtually on Google Meet, the event served as an enlightening platform for addressing key legal and systemic challenges faced by Black individuals in Canada.
The event featured a panel of licensed professionals who delivered actionable insights on a variety of topics, ranging from navigating contractual agreements to understanding the intricacies of Canada’s legal and governmental frameworks.
With an engaged audience and dynamic speakers, the seminar lived up to its promise of providing crucial guidance on understanding and utilizing legal systems effectively.
Highlights of the Event
The program began promptly at 5:00 PM PST with opening talks and housekeeping rules. From there, the event moved seamlessly through a series of focused discussions, each spearheaded by an expert speaker.
Sorting Out Family/Matrimonial Disputes & Navigating Police Interactions
Speaker: John Atoyebi (standing in for, Jide Muftau)
John Atoyebi provided practical advice on resolving family and matrimonial disputes, emphasizing legal tools available to Black families.
He also shared crucial strategies for handling interactions with law enforcement and understanding the criminal justice system.
Entering into Contracts & Real Estate Market in Canada
Speaker: Tobi Abisoye
Tobi Abisoye demystified the complexities of entering into contracts and the challenges of navigating Canada’s real estate market.
Her session offered invaluable advice for anyone planning to secure property or engage in major legal agreements.
Filing Complaints Against Government Agencies and Corporations
Speaker: John Atoyebi
John Atoyebi shared key steps for filing complaints against government agencies, service providers, and crown corporations, emphasizing the importance of documenting grievances and knowing one’s rights.
Canada Income Tax for Migrants
Speaker: Stanley Omotor
Stanley Omotor closed the lecture sessions with an insightful presentation on understanding income tax for migrants.
He offered actionable tips to simplify the often-confusing tax process for newcomers to Canada.
Interactive Q&A Session
A dedicated Q&A session followed the lectures, where attendees posed thought-provoking questions to the panelists. The discussions ranged from clarifying technical points to exploring real-world applications of the advice shared.
This segment truly demonstrated the event’s value, as participants gained personalized insights to address their concerns.
A Fulfilling Experience
The event concluded with closing remarks at 7:00 PM PST. Attendees left the seminar feeling empowered, equipped with the knowledge needed to navigate Canada’s legal system with confidence.
The speakers’ expertise and ability to break down complex topics resonated strongly with the audience.
The British Columbia Black Advocacy Society once again proved its commitment to advocating for and educating the Black community in Canada.
This seminar was a resounding success, and the overwhelmingly positive response from participants reflects the importance of such initiatives.
Looking Ahead
The British Columbia Black Advocacy Society remains steadfast in its mission to provide resources, advocacy, and support for Black communities. Stay tuned for future events by visiting our website at www.bcbas.ca.
If you missed this seminar, be sure to catch the next one — you won’t want to miss the opportunity to gain critical knowledge and connect with experts in the field.