February 4, 2026
Inquiry into the exclusion of media from the 2023 Hastings decampment finds transparency and oversight process were compromised
Vancouver B.C. – The final report of B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner’s Inquiry into the exclusion of media from the Hastings decampment in April 2023, titled Un(media)ted, reveals that the City […]
December 12, 2025
Human Rights Commissioner reacts with concern to recent emphasis on involuntary care, based on findings of new report
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s independent Human Rights Commissioner is expressing serious concerns about recently released General Guidance for Physicians on Treatment of Children and Youth with Substance Use Disorders Under […]
December 5, 2025
B.C. Human Rights Commissioner pleased with court decision upholding Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner welcomes the B.C. Court of Appeal’s groundbreaking decision today to affirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples through its interpretation of the Declaration on the […]
December 2, 2025
Transformative stories shape human rights conversations across B.C. as Commissioner celebrates one year of book club
Vancouver B.C. – Stories and the written word can be transformative—they can provide a window into someone else’s experience and can make us feel seen by having our experience reflected. They challenge us to consider different perspectives. This is what B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner had […]
December 1, 2025
Nine-foot cellphone to land in Victoria, challenging the public to STOP misinformation
Victoria, B.C. – This week, people in Victoria might be surprised to see a nine-foot-tall interactive cellphone standing at the University of Victoria or the Royal BC Museum. They might be taken aback as they notice the larger-than-life screen displaying images and articles that look a lot like what they see in their social media feeds. And when they stop for a […]
November 25, 2025
Harm reduction advocate uses lived experience to show why we need to move past stigma and support people with addiction and mental health challenges
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) has released their latest I Love My Human Rights video featuring former drug user Guy Felicella. After 30 years […]
November 13, 2025
Commissioner releases statement on toxic drug crisis, calls on government to put politics aside to save lives
Vancouver B.C. – Today, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, released a position statement on the human rights impacts of the toxic drug crisis, emphasizing the need to place evidence-based […]
October 21, 2025
Commissioner’s five-year plan focuses on five strategic priorities for human rights in B.C.
Vancouver B.C. – BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (BCOHRC) has released a five-year strategic plan with new priorities and grounding approaches aimed at driving transformative social and legal […]
September 13, 2025
Commissioner says misinformation threatens human rights and challenges public to help STOP it in new campaign
Vancouver B.C. – A video shows a helicopter setting fire to a dense forest. The caption that reads, “That’s how your fire started,” implying this is the cause of one […]
June 10, 2025
Human Rights Commissioner to intervene in case to clarify Charter rights of encampment residents
Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner has been granted leave to intervene in a case before the Court of Appeal on the rights of unhoused people living in encampments. […]