August 24, 2026
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner to intervene in case with implications for students’ freedom of expression and assembly
Vancouver, B.C. — B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner will intervene in an upcoming Court of Appeal case to clarify how human rights protections apply to university students who speak out or […]
June 29, 2026
A strong and democratic Canada depends on human rights
Today, the heads of Canada’s human rights commissions at the federal, provincial and territorial level issue the following statement: A strong and democratic Canada depends on human rights The start […]
June 24, 2026
New guidance supports local governments to address the unequal impacts of disasters
Vancouver B.C. – B.C’s Human Rights Commissioner has released new guidance for municipalities and regional districts to apply a human rights-based approach to emergency management plans. The Commissioner’s Rights Under Pressure: […]
June 11, 2026
Commissioner disappointed by Court’s decision not to apply the Charter value of equality to Victoria bylaws impacting unhoused people
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner expressed disappointment today at the Supreme Court of British Columbia’s decision in Fox, Scheu and Smith v. City of Victoria and Attorney General of […]
June 10, 2026
50 groups across B.C. tackle harmful misinformation through Commissioner’s Community Amplifier project
Vancouver B.C. – More than a thousand origami cranes hang from the ceiling at Kelowna’s Downtown Library, representing the personal stories and identities of community members to debunk harmful misinformation about […]
May 27, 2026
ADVISORY: Media invited to Commissioner’s live discussion on press freedom, ft. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression – June 2
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner is hosting the fifth livestreamed conversation in the Beyond the Headlines series, which will cover a human rights issue that is increasingly in jeopardy […]
May 4, 2026
Statement: Commissioner calls for a return to facts as misinformation undermines human rights and democratic systems in B.C.
Vancouver, B.C. – As Human Rights Commissioner, mandated to promote and protect human rights in B.C. under the Human Rights Code, I am troubled by misinformation and disinformation that undermine […]
April 16, 2026
Rights Commissioner’s inquiry results in improved access to rights information and lower detention rates for vulnerable adults, but more improvement necessary
Vancouver, B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner has released her first progress report to assess uptake of the recommendations from the Inquiry into detentions under the Adult Guardianship Act (AGA). […]
March 12, 2026
Human Rights Commissioner calls fowl play on crime spree committed by birds
Vancouver, B.C. – Knife-wielding birds are on the loose! That might be what you think if you only caught the opening of the latest video from B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner’s […]
February 27, 2026
Commissioner’s immersive exhibit on moving from hate to hope arrives in Victoria
Victoria, B.C. – BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner is hosting an audio-visual exhibit in Victoria that will allow visitors to witness the stories of the people impacted by […]
February 24, 2026
Commissioner says Settlement Agreement between Johnson family and the Vancouver Police still has potential to dismantle racism in policing
Vancouver, B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, has released her final report on the fulfilment of the Agreement between the Vancouver Police Board (VPB) and the Johnson family […]
February 19, 2026
Commissioner welcomes decision protecting LGBTQ people from hate speech
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner welcomes the Human Rights Tribunal’s (Tribunal) decision in British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) on behalf of Chilliwack Teachers’ Association v. Neufeld, which affirms that […]