Black History in the Making: Exploring strategies inspired by the Federal Black Class Action Lawsuit to advance employment equity

Nicholas Marcus Thompson is a human rights advocate, labour union leader and non-profit executive dedicated to eradicating systemic discrimination within and beyond Canada's civil services and unions. He has made an impact at esteemed institutions like Amnesty International, the Senate of Canada and the United Nations and held significant leadership positions within Canada’s labour movement. As President of the Union of Taxation Employees Toronto North since 2018, Nicholas advocates for workers' rights at the Canada Revenue Agency. 

In 2020, Nicholas galvanized federal public service workers to initiate a $2.5 billion class action lawsuit against systemic discrimination. He became Executive Director for the Black Class Action Secretariat in 2022, leading the fight against systemic racism and discrimination. Nicholas's advocacy has resulted in legislative and policy changes, removing barriers for marginalized workers. He has received prestigious awards, including the Bob Marley Humanitarian Award and the Bromley Lloyd Armstrong Human Rights Award, recognizing his relentless pursuit of equity, inclusion and human rights.

Nicholas graduated from the Labor College of Canada and is a certified Human Rights Consultant through the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights in Washington, USA. He has earned certificates in crime, justice and society from the University of Sheffield and in journalism from the University of Strathclyde.

Courtney Betty is a lawyer, public speaker and one of Canada's leading champions of diversity and equity. His career began with the Department of Justice Canada representing the Government of Canada in complex constitutional law, civil, criminal, commercial and immigration legal matters. He provided crucial legal opinions on war crimes legislation and served as counsel in a significant tax fraud prosecution. 

Betty played a pivotal role in the drafting of legislation to legalize medical cannabis as a representative of the Government of the British Virgin Islands. He spearheaded the deregulation of telecommunications in Jamaica, a model that was later adopted throughout the Caribbean.

In Ontario, he developed the first crime prevention program specifically designed for federal statutes, focusing on the Narcotic Control Act. Despite initial skepticism from some RCMP members, Courtney garnered support from 18 RCMP detachments, leading to the program's nationwide adoption.

Deeply committed to youth empowerment, Courtney developed and implemented three distinct youth center programs, positively impacting over 1,000 marginalized youths and serving as a model for other communities.

Furthermore, he shared his expertise as an instructor at UPEI, teaching summer courses on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, focusing on equality and legal rights.