News

On January 21, the Schulich School of Law’s Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq (IB&M) Initiative received the Excellence in Equity and Diversity Award at the Canadian Bar Association–Nova Scotia’s Annual General Meeting. The award, established by the CBA-NS’s Equity Committee, recognizes legal workplaces that are going above and beyond to advance equity and diversity in the legal profession and in the general community.

“I was honoured to virtually accept the Canadian Bar Association-Nova Scotia Branch's Excellence in Equity and Diversity Award on behalf of the IB&M Initiative,” says Kelsey Jones, Director of the IB&M Initiative. “For 32 years the IB&M Initiative has been advancing equity and diversity in the legal profession and will continue to do so for years to come. This award reflects the dedication and hard work of all the past directors, administrative assistants, alumni, current students and our many supporters in the community.”

The IB&M Initiative at the Schulich School of Law (then Dalhousie Law School) was established in 1989 to increase the representation of Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq in the legal profession in order to reduce discrimination.

“When the Indigenous Blacks and Mi’kmaq Initiative was created, it was an unprecedented, unconventional and radical “made in Nova Scotia” innovation,” says Richard Devlin, Acting Dean of the Schulich School of Law. “While it was supported by many, there were also some skeptics. However, none of us could ever have dreamed that more than three decades later it would be so successful.”

Devlin adds, “The IB&M Initiative is the result of the hard work and collaboration of many and a testament to the belief that, with imagination and hope, real changes are possible. While we recognize that our work is not yet done, this award from the CBA reinforces our passion and commitment to help transform the legal profession in the pursuit of a more inclusive and just legal system. We are humbled and grateful for this recognition.”