FACL BC Contractor Posting: Executive Coordinator

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (“FACL BC”) is looking for a highly-motivated 1L or 2L BC law student to serve as our next Executive Coordinator, to help fulfill our mission of promoting equity, justice and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the broader community. This is a one-year paid independent contractor position at a competitive hourly rate.

FACL BC is a pan-Asian organization celebrating the diversity of our Asian communities - we explicitly encourage applicants who identify as being “Asian-Canadian”, including but not limited to South Asian, West Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, or any other self-identifying Asian-Canadian law students from any BC law school (Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of Victoria, and Thompson Rivers University) to apply.

As part of our mission to continue diversifying our operations outside of the Greater Vancouver area, based on equal qualifications, preference may be given to candidates applying from the University of Victoria or Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law

Apply here: https://forms.gle/RYXugfcRPau99xN37 

Deadline to apply: Sat, Apr 1 at 11:59PM Pacific Time.  

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so please apply early. Only qualified candidates who are shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.

Term: May 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024

Rate: $24.00 per hour

Who are we?

FACL BC is a diverse coalition of Asian-Canadian legal professionals working to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian-Canadian legal professionals and the broader community.  FACL BC is the largest equity-seeking bar organization in British Columbia with over 500 members across all areas of the legal profession including students, associates, partners, in-house counsel, public service, and the judiciary.  

In November 2022, we hosted our signature 11th Annual Gala, “Belonging”, featuring Justice Michelle O'Bonsawin of the Supreme Court of Canada and Judge Brent Hoy of the BC Provincial Court as our keynote speakers.  

FACL BC was also the winner of the 2022 Clawbies award for Best Podcast and the 2021 Clawbies award for Best Innovative Project for our ground-breaking documentary, “But I Look Like a Lawyer”, which captures stories of the discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by members of the Pan-Asian legal community.  

Our documentary was also selected for The 26th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival and will be screened at the upcoming NALP Annual Conference in Vancouver. You may also recall learning about our documentary in school, as it is mandatory viewing for incoming students at the Peter A. Allard School of Law and recommended reading for incoming students at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law.

What are we looking for?

• Current 1L or 2L student who self-identifies as Asian-Canadian and is attending the University of Victoria Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law or Peter A. Allard School of Law;

• Outstanding organizational and communication skills (verbal and written);

• Experience planning events for non-profit organizations, student clubs or similar organizations;

• Experience with platforms such as Google Drive and Zoom is an asset;

• Experience with social media platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook is an asset;

• Experience with Linktree, graphic design (Canva), and website management (Wild Apricot) is an asset;

• Willingness to learn, adapt and problem-solve;

• Ability to work independently, with another Executive Coordinator, and with multiple stakeholders;

• Ability to meet tight and competing deadlines within a highly active organization; and

• Ability to work occasionally in the evenings and on weekends, as required.

The successful candidate must possess a personal laptop and a reliable Internet connection. Additional training on the software applications listed above will be provided to the successful candidate.

What are your responsibilities?

 Administrative

• Respond to director requests for assistance with events, operate Wild Apricot (our membership/website platform) or another platform, Zoom, Canva and Google Drive, and send out emails;

• Approve new membership applications, maintain an orderly archive and assist the Treasurer with financial matters on Wild Apricot;

• Contact Wild Apricot to troubleshoot issues that arise;

• Apply for CPD credits or other professional credit approvals for FACL BC’s events;

• Assist in recording board meeting minutes and/or action items, if needed;

• Attend FACL BC monthly board meetings (typically the second week of each month), as required; and

• Assist the Treasurer with collecting information and drafting grant applications for FACL BC.

Communications

• Review and respond to emails received in the general FACL BC inbox and forward other inquiries accordingly to the appropriate committee and director(s);

• Coordinate with the Membership Committee to draft and send out monthly email newsletters to FACL BC’s membership;

• Assist in sending out calendar invites to directors for board meetings;

• Assist with preparing marketing materials, including updating the FACL BC website, Instagram page, LinkedIn account, Facebook page and newsletter; and

• Report regularly to the President and FACL BC Executive Committee as needed.

Event Planning

• Provide logistical support for FACL BC events including creating event pages on Wild Apricot, Zoom and Facebook;

• Make event name tags for attendees and speakers;

• Set up and attend  virtual events, where requested;

• Assist the Secretary with updating our internal events calendar with new events and changes, if needed;

• Create and send thank you cards and arrange to deliver FACL BC merchandise to event guests and event speakers, as required; and

• Such other FACL BC-related services, and deliverables, as we may request.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/RYXugfcRPau99xN37 

Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously.  For details, please see our FACL BC Privacy Policy here.

March 8, 2023

Today, on International Women’s Day, FACL BC celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and girls, here in British Columbia and around the world. We honour all those who stand up for gender and racial equality, in big and small ways. We also affirm our commitment to advocating for gender equality and uplifting the voices of Asian women in the legal community.

However, this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #EmbraceEquity, reminds us all that equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Learn more about the difference between equity and equality here. 

We also encourage you to explore our ​​resource list that highlights the voices and work of Asian women in the legal profession: Amplifying Asian Women in Law: A FACL BC International Women’s Day Resource List. 

January 29, 2023

Today, Canada observes the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.

Six years ago, six Muslim men were brutally and tragically murdered while they prayed at the Québec City Mosque. Nineteen others were injured and one of those injured was left paralyzed. The loss to their families and community is tremendous.

On this day, we honour the lives of the men who were lost in this heinous act of violence and Islamophobia. FACL BC invites you to take a moment of silence to remember these victims and all victims of hatred: 

• Ibrahima Barry
  
• Mamadou Barry
  
• Khaled Belkacemi
  
• Aboubaker Thabti
  
• Abdelkrim Hassane
  
• Azzedine Soufiane
  

FACL BC also takes this time to honour and remember the lives of the four members of a Pakistani-Canadian Muslim family who were killed while out walking together in London, Ontario on June of 2021. We stand against the racism and fear perpetuated against Muslims in this country and everywhere. 

The National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia acts as a reminder that Muslim people and those perceived to be Muslim continue to face discrimination and the threat of violence. However, for those who face discrimination, no such reminder is needed.

FACL BC welcomes the appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamaphobia. Ms. Elghawaby is a journalist, an expert on issues of equity and inclusion, and a human rights advocate. Her mandate in her new role is to serve as champion, advisor, expert, and representative to the Canadian government for the purpose of enhancing efforts to combat Islamophobia and promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada. 

We encourage allies and those within the legal community to learn about Islamophobia and the actions we can take to combat this issue. FACL BC is an official sponsor of the Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline, a free and confidential hotline aimed at providing legal assistance to anyone who has been a victim of Islamophobia. 

We are pleased to announce that FACL BC won a 2022 Clawbies Award for Best Podcast. Thank you to our anonymous nominators, supporters, and podcast listeners for making this award possible! We are excited to continue highlighting the diverse and unique stories of our FACL BC community. 

The Canadian Law Blog Awards, also known as the Clawbies, started in 2006 with the goal of highlighting great blogs published by the Canadian legal industry. The Clawbies are intended to be a showcase of Canadian legal blogging, and to promote a sense of community. 

Listen to the FACL BC podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

November 25, 2022

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) expresses its warmest congratulations to Justice Mabel Lai on her appointment to the Ontario Court of Justice. Prior to her appointment, Justice Lai was the President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Ontario (FACL ON), having previously served on the organization’s board of directors for a number of years.

Justice Lai graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering in 2006 and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2009. Following graduation, she clerked for the Court of Appeal for Ontario before being called to the Ontario Bar in 2010. Prior to her appointment, she was Crown Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Crown Law Office (Criminal) and her practice included prosecuting allegations against police and cases involving large-scale fraud. Justice Lai appeared before the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous criminal law appeals. She has also made numerous presentations to the judiciary about digital and expert evidence in criminal law and since 2019, she managed the training of provincial wiretap agents and advised and provided education to federal Crown and other policing partners.

In addition to her involvement with FACL ON, Justice Lai also served on the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Research Ethics Board, participated in mentorship programs, and coached the Osgoode Hall Gale Cup moot team for eight years.

The judicial appointment of Justice Lai is a monumental and celebratory occasion for the national Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers network. A diverse bench that reflects Ontario’s diverse communities and their perspectives and experiences increases public trust and confidence in the judiciary and improves the administration of justice. FACL BC strongly believes that the appointment of an Asian Canadian woman with a demonstrated history of being committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal profession will strengthen Ontario’s judicial system, access to justice, and the ability of other young Asian Canadian women to see themselves reflected in positions of authority and repute.

November 24, 2022

FACL BC is pleased to publish its Position Paper on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Proposed Legal Professionals Regulatory Modernization. Following engagement with various stakeholders, FACL BC presented its Position Paper to the Ministry of the Attorney General as part of its early consultation and engagement process.

FACL BC supports in principle many of the proposals in the Intentions Paper, such as providing the regulator with a clear mandate and designing a more flexible licensing framework for paralegals. However, FACL BC has serious concerns that some proposals which purport to modernize the current regulatory framework to better serve the public interest may inadequately address this goal and may even have the potential to adversely impact the ability of the legal profession to foster diversity, maintain its independence, and provide access to justice for all British Columbians. 

FACL BC takes the position that, while the underlying goals of the proposed legal professionals regulatory modernization are laudable, the Ministry’s Intentions Paper lacks the specificity and detail to determine whether many of the proposed reforms will actually positively contribute to access to justice and the public interest. 

FACL BC is especially concerned about the proposed reduction in the size of the proposed board of directors which will likely undermine and stifle recent improvements in representation by reducing the diversity of voices at the decision-making table. FACL BC looks forward to continuing to work with the Ministry to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian Canadian legal professionals and the broader community on this important modernization.

Read FACL BC's full position paper here: FACL BC Position Paper on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Proposed Legal Professionals Regulatory Modernization.pdf

November 21, 2022

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (“FACL BC”) is thrilled to recognize that Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, received royal assent on November 17, 2022. Bill C-5 has repealed 20 mandatory minimum sentences and has removed certain restrictions on the imposition of conditional sentence orders, which allow for a term of imprisonment to be served in the community. These amendments will increase judicial discretion in sentencing by repealing provisions that required judges to impose terms of incarceration regardless of the circumstances in which the offense was committed or the characteristics of the individual offender.

FACL BC submitted a brief in support of Bill C-5 to both the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.

FACL BC supported Bill C-5 for a number of reasons, including that mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on conditional sentence orders disproportionately affect racialized communities, especially Indigenous and Black communities with whom FACL BC stands in solidarity. These amendments will allow judges to reserve harsh jail sentences for circumstances in which they are genuinely warranted.

With its registered office located in the city of Vancouver, FACL BC is situated on the unceded, traditional territories of Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓ə (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As a province-wide organization, we also recognize that our members are situated on the traditional territories of diverse First Nations, including the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations (Victoria), and the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops). FACL BC encourages all settlers to learn about the Indigenous peoples upon whose traditional lands they occupy. One excellent resource to do this exploratory work can be found here.

In acknowledging this traditional territory, we also recognize Indigenous peoples’ stewardship of the land predates the establishment of the earliest European colonies in British Columbia. FACL BC holds a deep respect for these traditional territories and the richness that they hold in terms of the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples who continue to live upon them.

Additionally, FACL BC acknowledges the fact that many territories in what is now known as British Columbia are unceded, meaning that Indigenous peoples never surrendered their sovereignty over the land or entered into treaties. We recognize the dispossession of these territories and the inherent jurisdiction that the Indigenous peoples still hold over them.

As immigrants and descendants of immigrants, we at FACL BC acknowledge the complicated relationship between the Asian community and Indigenous peoples. While there is solidarity and understanding to be found in our similar experiences with systemic racism and discrimination, as well as stories of our coming together in acts of community and resistance, we are also settlers and occupiers of dispossessed land. To acknowledge our privilege as settlers is to recognize our own contribution to the lasting effects of colonialism, and we at FACL BC are cognizant of our status as uninvited guests on the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples.

We also acknowledge the discrimination and injustices Indigenous peoples still face. FACL BC is dedicated to its mandate of promoting equity, justice, and opportunity across the legal community, as well as using our platform to address intersecting forms of oppression. We recognize that there are intersections between Asian communities and many equity-seeking groups, and are committed to decolonial solidarity and the full realization of Indigenous rights.

October 28, 2022

The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) congratulates Justice Kevin D. Loo, K.C., and Justice Anita Chan on their recent appointments to the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Justice Loo, K.C., was born and raised in Vancouver and was a commercial civil litigator and partner of Nathanson, Schachter & Thompson LLP before joining the judiciary. Justice Loo’s great-uncle Andrew Joe, whom he calls an early influence in his legal career, was the first Chinese-Canadian called to the Bar in British Columbia. Prior to his appointment, Justice Loo was featured on FACL BC’s podcast on February 2021 and July 2022.

Justice Anita Chan was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Vancouver with her family at a young age. Prior to her appointment, Justice Chan was Crown Counsel at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada with a practice focused on complex and lengthy organized crime trials.

FACL BC is heartened to see two esteemed Asian-Canadians appointed to the judiciary. Diversity in appointments allows decision makers to bring a range of experiences and perspectives to bear and to make better-informed decisions. Having a bench that reflects British Columbia’s diverse communities increases public confidence in judgments and strengthens the administration of justice. As Justices for the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Justice Loo and Justice Chan will decide cases that affect our communities, our province, and our country. We are confident that their diversity and experience as Asian-Canadians will prove to be strengths in their new roles.

FACL BC Statement on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2022 

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (“FACL BC”) affirms our commitment to reconciliation and our dedication to acting in solidarity with our Indigenous colleagues, clients, and community members. 

Each year, September 30^th is recognized throughout Canada as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honours the children who never returned home and the Survivors of Canada’s Residential School systems. It is also a day for the public to commemorate the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools as part of a national commitment to reconciliation. September 30^th is also Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family, and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not a typical “holiday”. September is a difficult time of year for Survivors of Residential Schools as a painful reminder of the time of year when thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their homes and forced to attend institutions of forced assimilation, genocide, and abuse. For the rest of us settlers who reside in what is now known as Canada, September 30^th is an opportunity to reflect upon our roles in reconciliation and to lean in, listen to, and learn from Indigenous peoples. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation writes:

“Our country is in the midst of a long overdue national conversation about the true history of these lands. For decades, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit have been silenced and ignored to preserve a façade that this country is one relatively untouched by racism.

Reconciliation is not a self-fulfilling prophecy, and it cannot happen without truth.

Canada, this is your opportunity to begin to walk the path of Reconciliation. We ask you to listen with your hearts. We ask you to remember the children who never came home and the Survivors who did, beyond this week and the occasional headline. We ask you to learn what it means to be Treaty people and how together we can ensure that the tragedy of residential schools is remembered—not for a few years, but forever.”

This year, we encourage you to take some time to learn more about Indigenous peoples across Canada and to reflect on what active and engaged reconciliation efforts you can undertake and commit to. As Pan-Asian-Canadians and members of other equity-seeking groups, it can be easy to forget our own privilege and the benefits we gain from living as uninvited guests in what is known as British Columbia and yet we were once subjected to many of the colonialist and discriminatory restrictions that continue to bind Indigenous communities. But as settlers and legal professionals, it is imperative we use our privilege for the betterment of all those who continue to suffer from systemic oppression. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to reflect on our role in advancing reconciliation. 

To start, FACL BC encourages everyone to familiarize themselves with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (“TRC”) Final Report and 94 Calls to Action. From 2008 to 2014, the TRC heard stories from thousands of Residential School Survivors and others impacted by their tragic history. In 2015, the TRC released its Final Report, which contained 94 Calls to Action. Of these 94 Calls to Action, only 13 have been completed, 62 are at some stage of progress, and 19 have not even been started according to Beyond 94, a tracking project launched by CBC News. Some other Indigenous-led organizations claim even fewer Calls to Action have been answered.

Included in the TRC’s Calls to Action are 20 Calls to Action directly related to the Canadian legal system including:

• 27 – We call upon the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to ensure that lawyers receive appropriate cultural competency training, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal– Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.

• 28 – We call upon law schools in Canada to require all law students to take a course in Aboriginal people and the law, which includes the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and antiracism.
• 52 – We call upon the Government of Canada, provincial and territorial governments, and the courts to adopt the following legal principles:
• • i. Aboriginal title claims are accepted once the Aboriginal claimant has established occupation over a particular territory at a particular point in time.
  • ii. Once Aboriginal title has been established, the burden of proving any limitation on any rights arising from the existence of that title shifts to the party asserting such a limitation.

These particular Calls to Action, along with all the others, should inform the way we continue to practice and progress the law as legal professionals. Systemic racism against Indigenous Peoples continues to be a major issue within the legal profession (including challenges faced by Indigenous practitioners), as demonstrated by this mini-documentary by a group of Indigenous Lawyers in BC: “But I Was Wearing a Suit”.

Further learning and resources you can engage with this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation include:

• Visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and their Education Programs
  
• Checking out this year’s Orange Shirt Day events happening across Canada and their educational resources
  
• Visiting the Government of Canada’s Learn more about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples Across Canada resource
  
• Reading the TRC’s Final Report and 94 Calls to Action and other Reports
  
• Checking out CBC News’s Beyond 94 or Indigenous Watchdog to track progress on the TRC’s Calls to Action
  
• Watch the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC’s mini-documentary “But I Was Wearing a Suit”
  
• Watching the Formal Apology to Former Indian Residential School Survivors
  
• Reading the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Residential School History
  
• Visiting the official pages of National Indigenous Organizations: Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Métis National Council
  
• Finding out which Indigenous Peoples’ land you are a guest using this interactive map

If you are in Vancouver, consider checking out the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC and the following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events:

(1) Tracey Morrison Memorial Bannock Walk

The Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS), the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU), and our OUR STREETS Block Stewardship Program will be holding the  Tracey Morrison Memorial Bannock Walk on Friday, September 30.

The event will begin at 1:00pm at the VANDU Office at 380 East Hastings, corner Dunlevy. The event will begin with a traditional drum opening, followed by speakers. The organizers will be frying bannock at VANDU, which we will then distribute across the neighbourhood at the end of the event. Participants are welcome to bring their own drums and bannock to share with the community!

This event is being held on National Truth and Reconciliation Day in honour of Tracey Morrison, a WAHRS warrior and leader who was known in the neighbourhood as the Bannock Lady. 

Link to the event's Facebook page here. 

(2) Orange Shirt Day at Oppenheimer Park

Join us to Honour the Survivors of Residential Schools, the legacy carried by their families and to commemorate those who didn’t return home. We honour the Children with free BBQ, Bouncy Castles, Crafts, Giveaways & CIB Rap Battles. Please wear your Orange Shirt in Support.

Organized by Wendy Nahanee. Link to the event's Facebook page here. 

(3) Orange Shirt Day at Trout Lake

Join Nisga'a Ts'amiks Vancouver Society to honour the lost children and survivors from the Indian Residential Schooling system on Friday, September 30, 2022 for Truth and Reconciliation Day. 

We will be featuring a ceremony, drumming and sharing songs and stories with all attendees. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in event activities.
Organized by the Nisga’a Ts’amiks Vancouver Society. More info here. 

(4) Frozen River Opening Night

In nîkwatin sîpiy, Grandmother Moon tells the story of two eleven-year-olds, born under the same blood moon, but in different parts of the world. This new play follows their stories as they meet in a forest, and that of their descendants who meet in the present day in what is known as Manitoba. A broken promise from the past can be righted when there is finally an openness to learn from those who have protected and honoured the waterways for centuries.

Co-written by Métis artist Michaela Washburn, Anishinaabe/Miami artist Joelle Peters and Carrie Costello, Manitoba Theatre for Young People‘s Frozen River (nîkwatin sîpiy) is a timely theatre work for children ages five-and-up.

Presenting complex issues around environmentalism, community interconnection and issues of reconciliation, the show incorporates terms from the maskeko-Ininiwak (Swampy Cree) language.

The play runs from September 28, 2022 to October 16, 2022 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. Tickets can be purchased here.

Contact: Advocacy Committee – advocacy@faclbc.ca