A reminder of the tragic death of Jean Junior Olivier, killed by the Repentigny police
Youth Forum on Racism
The youth forum on racism aims to strengthen young people's ability to identify, understand, and combat racism in all its forms.
forms, by providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to promote inclusion and equality in their communities.
It also aims to encourage constructive and open dialogue on lived experiences of racism, racial profiling, and resilience in the face of systemic racism, with a view to developing collaborative strategies and concrete actions for sustainable social change.
Theme: Youth United Against Racism: Dialogues, Understanding and Actions for Inclusion
Date: June 8, 2024
Hours: 9am-3pm
Location: Centre à Nous, Repentigny
An Evening of Art and Activism: LAKAY's Cabaret Against Racism in Repentigny
As part of the 2024 Week of Action Against Racism (WAARC), the LAKAY organization is offering a remarkable initiative: a Cabaret Against Racism. This event will be held on Saturday, March 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at LaPerle Express Restaurant, located in the charming town of Repentigny, in the Lanaudière region.
The Cabaret Against Racism is more than just an event; it's a movement, a celebration of diversity, and a demonstration of solidarity against the scourge of racism. It's an invitation to come together, share, and enrich ourselves through contact with others, in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
The evening promises to be memorable, with a program featuring a series of artistic performances as varied as they are enriching. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience intense and moving moments through poignant slam poetry and socially conscious music. These performances are not only intended to entertain; they also aim to raise awareness and encourage collective reflection on issues of racism and diversity.
The choice of LaPerle Express Restaurant as the venue for the event was not insignificant. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, this establishment is owned by members of the Black community and offers an ideal setting for an evening of this caliber, where art and social engagement come together to create an unforgettable experience.
Entry to this cabaret is free, but registration is required. Those interested can reserve their place by visiting this link: https://www.zeffy.com/fr-CA/ticketing/b3742c1f-df1f-4ba9-ab8e-0f49bf212bd2
This demonstrates LAKAY's commitment to making this event accessible to all, highlighting the importance of inclusion in the fight against racism.
This Cabaret Against Racism is a unique opportunity for residents of Repentigny and the surrounding area to actively participate in a worthy cause, while enjoying an evening rich in emotion and cultural discoveries. It's an invitation to join a broader movement, to take part in a constructive dialogue, and to celebrate together the richness of human diversity.
Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to unite with the community to say no to racism and yes to solidarity, empathy, and unity. Join us on March 30th for an evening where art becomes the voice of tolerance and fraternity. Together, let's make the Cabaret Against Racism a highlight of this Week of Action Against Racism, a moment where every performance, every musical note, every word spoken contributes to building a more inclusive world that respects diversity.
Registration: https://www.zeffy.com/fr-CA/ticketing/b3742c1f-df1f-4ba9-ab8e-0f49bf212bd2
Young voices against racism and racial profiling: a writing contest that inspires hope and change in Quebec
The awards ceremony for the "My Pen Against Racism and Racial Profiling" contest was held this Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Repentigny Recreation Centre, bringing together more than one hundred participants, including students, parents, teachers, and leading figures in the fight against racism. This initiative, co-organized by the LAKAY organization and the Profiling Observatory of the University of Montreal, provided a platform for young people to express their thoughts and creative solutions to the problems of racism and racial profiling.
The competition saw enthusiastic participation from students from various schools in the Lanaudière region, who submitted texts reflecting a deep and personal understanding of the issues of racism. Jacie-Mya Alfred, a student at Collège de l'Assomption, won first prize in the secondary school category with her work entitled "My Colour Is Not a Crime," a poignant text that highlights the prejudices and injustices suffered by Black and Indigenous communities.
The Minister responsible for combating racism, Mr. Christopher Skeete, expressed his admiration for the initiative, highlighting the hope he found in the active participation of young people in this project. He congratulated the organizers for creating a platform that allows young people to contribute meaningfully to the debate on racism and racial profiling.
Pierre Richard Thomas, Director of LAKAY, also emphasized the importance of the competition, highlighting the crucial role of schools, parents, and teachers in encouraging young people to engage in discussions on such important social issues. He noted that the submitted texts demonstrate enormous potential for positive change in society.
The director of the Profiling Observatory shared the challenges the jury faced in selecting the winners, due to the exceptional quality of the submitted texts. This abundance of high-quality contributions led to the addition of a second prize, highlighting the participants' commitment and creativity. She expressed her hope for a more just society, inspired by the fresh and constructive perspectives of these young authors.
The event not only rewarded young talent for their literary contributions, but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of youth in building a more inclusive and equitable society. By giving students a platform to express their ideas, the "My Pen Against Racism and Racial Profiling" competition plays a crucial role in raising awareness and educating about the issues of racism and racial profiling, while encouraging constructive dialogue for the future.
Here is the list of winners:
| Price | First name | Name | Cycle | Level | School | Title of the text |
| First cycle - 1st prize | Nayla-Nour | Maouche | 1st | Sec 1 | Saint-Sacrement College | A colorful world. |
| 1st cycle - 2nd prize | Florence | Burnt | 1st | Sec 3 | Esther-Blondin College | One misunderstood woman among so many others |
| 2nd cycle - 1st prize | Jacie-Mya | Alfred | 2nd | Sec 3 | Collège de L'Assomption | My skin color is not a crime |
| 2nd cycle - 2nd prize | Saffra | Sall | 2nd | Sec 4 | Saint-Sacrement College | A rain of suffering |
| First cycle favorite | Amira | Shaimi | 1st | Sec 1 | Saint-Sacrement College | Without our different colors, the rainbow would not exist. |
| A favorite in the second cycle | Ramsey Shamara | Lacouture | 2nd | Sec 3 | Saint-Sacrement College | Seeing life in color |
| A favorite in the second cycle | Esther | Valansline Romain | 2nd | Sec 5 | Collège de L'Assomption | The plight of visible minorities in foreign lands |
| Best English text | Komal | Ahmed | 2nd | Sec 3 | Saint-Sacrement College | Clouds |
Lakay condemns the hateful act suffered by the daughter of Ms. Lyndia Barthold in Terrebonne
Repentigny, Quebec Lakay wishes to express its outrage and strong condemnation following the hateful attack suffered by the daughter of Ms. Lyndia Barthold and three other young Black girls in Terrebonne. This violent act, which occurred on November 21, 2023, is completely unacceptable and reveals deep concerns about the safety and well-being of Black communities in the Lanaudière region.
According to Ms. Barthold's statement, a hooded white man attacked the young women at their home on Matamec Street, armed with an axe and a knife, while hurling racist insults. The victims, including Ms. Barthold's eldest daughter, were treated in an abject and discriminatory manner.
Alarming is the fact that the incident, although quickly reported to the Terrebonne City Police Service, did not receive the immediate attention it required. The lack of prompt action and the apparent indifference of the authorities raise questions about the existence of systemic racism within law enforcement. It took the intervention of the Coalition Rouge for the investigation to finally be taken seriously.
Joël DeBellefeuille, founder and executive director of the Coalition Rouge, emphasizes the urgent need to examine the discriminatory behavior of law enforcement in the cities of Terrebonne, Repentigny, and Mascouche. He compares the situation to that of racist cities in the southern United States in the 1950s, an alarming comparison that cannot be ignored.
Three weeks after the attack, the victims were contacted by an investigator, and a month after the incident, a suspect was arrested and charged. This slow police response is unacceptable.
Alain Babineau, Director of Racial Profiling and Public Safety for the Coalition Rouge, insists that a systemic racism problem exists within the Terrebonne police service. Negligence in investigating and protecting victims based on their race is as serious as excessive police surveillance based on racial criteria.
Lakay is asking Terrebonne police officials to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Ms. Barthold's family and is calling for immediate action to thoroughly investigate this incident and is demanding concrete measures to eliminate any signs of systemic racism within law enforcement.
About Lakay
Lakay is an organization dedicated to promoting equality and fighting racism. Our mission is to support Black communities in their pursuit of justice and equality.
Guidelines on police stops from the Minister of Public Safety: A smokescreen: racial and social profiling continues
Montreal, December 8, 2023 – The League for Rights and Freedoms (LDL), the Clinique Droit de cité, the Coalition Rouge, Lakay, and the Quebec City branch of the League for Rights and Freedoms note that the Guidelines on Police Stops (the guidelines) are a smokescreen and will do nothing to address the problem of police stops and racial and social profiling in Quebec. The guidelines were added to the website of the Ministry of Public Security without any public announcement from the responsible minister, François Bonnardel.
The guideline maintains the arbitrary practice of street checks, even though police officers in Quebec do not have the authority to make stops under statute or common law. Police stops, or street checks, violate the rights and freedoms of the entire population and are a known and documented source of systemic racial and social profiling. Indigenous, Black, racialized, and marginalized populations are disproportionately targeted by this practice.
To finally put an end to this arbitrary practice, two elements must be included in the guidelines. In fact, in a letter dated November 8, 2023, 36 community groups, advocacy groups, unions, and legal clinics clearly indicated to Minister Bonnardel the need to include at least these two elements in the guidelines.
First, the guideline maintains the observable facts criterion, which leaves the door open to police arbitrariness. The guideline should instead adopt the legal standard of reasonable grounds to suspect. In the absence of reasonable grounds to suspect a clear link between a person and a recent or ongoing criminal offence, a police officer should not attempt to collect that person's identifying information.
Second element: the guideline contains no obligation for police officers to inform any person stopped – and on the basis of reasonable suspicion – that they are not legally obliged to identify themselves and answer questions, that they can refuse to do so and that they can leave without fear.
The Quebec government and Minister Bonnardel cannot claim that a guideline stating that police stops must not be discriminatory will combat the systemic problem of racial and social profiling. Do they need reminding that section 10 of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms has already prohibited discrimination based on grounds such as race or social status since 1975?
With this guideline, the Quebec government and Minister Bonnardel are once again demonstrating that they have no intention of seriously fighting racial and social profiling.
Quotes
«The Quebec government must put an end to police stops, an arbitrary practice that creates insecurity for the individuals and communities targeted by the police. Instead of taking action, Minister Bonnardel is adopting a policy that maintains these stops. He is allowing the scourge of racial and social profiling to continue,» stated Lynda Khelil, spokesperson for the LDL.
«It’s enough to deny it; racialized populations, particularly the Black community, are discriminated against in public spaces. The excessive police stops of Black, racialized and Indigenous people constitute racial profiling and a form of harassment,» says Maxim Fortin, coordinator of the LDL – Quebec chapter.
Josiane Mondou, coordinator at the Clinique Droit de cité in Quebec City, observes in her work that "a person in a vulnerable situation will be more likely to be stopped by police for trivial reasons which lead to unnecessary stress and even to tickets, directly hindering the recovery of people.".
«It is essential that the Quebec government take concrete steps to combat racial and social profiling. This current guideline shows a lack of serious commitment to this fight, and this must be rectified to ensure a just and equitable society for all,» says Pierre Richard Thomas, president of Lakay.
«"Police stops are either illegal (Nova Scotia), regulated by law (Ontario) or prohibited everywhere in Canada except Quebec! After the appeal of the Yergeau judgment, the message to government police is clear: we have your back," says Alain Babineau, director of racial profiling and public safety for the Coalition Rouge.
Highlights
A police stop is a situation where a police officer attempts to obtain a person's identity and collect information from them, even though the person has no legal obligation to identify themselves or answer questions. The person is not suspected of any offence or crime. The information may then be recorded by the police officer in a database for police intelligence purposes, which constitutes an abusive collection of personal information. A police stop occurs outside the context of a police investigation and is not among the recognized police powers of arrest and detention. Police officers in Quebec do not have the authority to conduct police stops under statute or common law.
Letter to Minister Bonnardel, November 8, 2023, co-signed by 36 organizations: https://liguedesdroits.ca/ligne-directrice-sur-les-interpellations-policieres-et-cadre-de-collecte-de-donnees
Second report on police stops in Montreal recommending a moratorium on stops (June 2023): https://spvm.qc.ca/upload/02/Rapport_final_2e_mandat.pdf
Campaign to ban police stops in Quebec: https://liguedesdroits.ca/campagne-interdiction-interpellations-policieres
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For information and interviews:
Elisabeth Dupuis, Communications Officer, League for Rights and Freedoms, Cell: 514-715-7727
Racial Profiling Behind the Wheel: An Urgent Call for Structural Change
In a report on racial profiling during traffic stops in Quebec, published on December 6, 2024, researchers reveal the devastating consequences of racial profiling on the lives of Black and Arab drivers in Quebec. Stemming from the Racial Profiling in Traffic Stops project, initiated in 2020, this report highlights the urgent need to take action to eliminate these discriminatory practices.
Recommendation 1: Moratorium on Unjustified Traffic Stops
The report strongly recommends imposing a moratorium on all unjustified traffic stops. This underscores the need to immediately suspend practices based on pretexts or tricks, which contribute to the systematic discrimination against Black and Arab drivers.
Recommendation 2: Amendment to Article 636 of the CSR
Another key recommendation of the report concerns amending section 636 of the Quebec Highway Safety Code. The objective is to end traffic stops without justifiable cause and to limit police discretion. The report emphasizes that decisions to conduct a traffic stop must be based on reasonable grounds to suspect an offence, thus reinforcing the need to justify these actions.
Recommendation 3: Transparent Collection and Analysis of Ethnoracial Data
In agreement with the communities concerned, the report recommends that police services collect data on the ethnic and racial background of individuals they stop. This data should be independently analyzed, made accessible, and publicly available annually. This recommendation aims to provide crucial transparency, highlighting patterns of racial profiling to promote greater accountability.
The report also presents the findings of the methodology used, which included interviews with 25 Black and Arab individuals who had experienced traffic stops. Their poignant accounts reveal the profound impact on the victims' mental and physical health, as well as the detrimental consequences for their daily lives, family relationships, and trust in public institutions.
Professor Marie-Eve Sylvestre, involved in the project, emphasizes the urgency of action: "These recommendations are not just suggestions, but imperatives to restore trust and fairness within our justice and road safety system.""
The LAKAY organization calls on the authorities to implement these recommendations without delay. It is time to turn words into action and build a future where every citizen, regardless of their ethnic origin, can move about freely without fear of discrimination while driving.
Here is the link to the report: https://www.observatoiredesprofilages.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Rapport-interceptions-routieres_VF.pdf
Discussion on the New Student Complaints Process
Lakay is pleased to invite you to its upcoming lunchtime conference, which will bring together representatives from the National Student Ombudsman and members of the Lanaudière racialized parents' committee. This discussion will take place on Zoom during the lunch hour to best accommodate your busy schedule.
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Time: noon to 1 p.m.
Registration link: https://shorturl.at/cnsyA
This conference will be an opportunity to present the new complaint handling process in Quebec schools. We are confident that your participation and questions will enrich this important discussion.
To confirm your attendance, please register at this address: https://shorturl.at/cnsyA by November 27, 2023 à 6 p.m.
2nd edition of the Lakay Intercultural Exchange and Sharing Day in Repentigny
In the context of Quebec Intercultural Week, Lakay, a passionate advocate for cultural diversity, is pleased to announce the 2nd annual Intercultural Exchange and Sharing Day. This event will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Repentigny Recreation Centre, located at 740 Pontbriand Street.
This day, open to a universal audience, promises to be a rich experience, filled with encounters, sharing, exchanges, and intercultural explorations. The festivities, free of charge, take place in an atmosphere conducive to discovering the profound cultural facets that form the fabric of our community.
Around twenty booths, set up throughout the day, will showcase traditions from diverse backgrounds through exhibitions, handcrafted pieces, culinary tastings, and artistic performances. Lakay warmly invites everyone to join in celebrating the cultural mosaic that forms the very essence of our society.
About Lakay
Lakay, as an entity dedicated to promoting the rights of cultural communities and celebrating cultural diversity, works to establish intercultural dialogue and encourage mutual enrichment within society.
Launch of the "My Pen Against Racism and Profiling" competition to celebrate artistic expression and fight against discrimination.
November 1, 2023, marks the official launch of the "My Pen Against Racism and Profiling" literary competition, an initiative of the non-profit organization Lakay in collaboration with the Profiling Observatory. This competition aims to encourage young people's artistic expression, raise awareness about the fight against racism and profiling, and promote cultural diversity. Lakay is proud to collaborate with schools in the Lanaudière region on this event.
- Pierre Richard Thomas, president of the Lakay organization, states: ""We are delighted to launch the second edition of our 'My Pen Against Racism and Profiling' competition. It is an opportunity for young people to express themselves, share their thoughts on these important issues, and use their writing as an instrument for change."'
- Céline Bellot, director of the Profiling Observatory, adds: ""Racial and ethnic profiling is a persistent problem in our society. This competition offers young people a platform to express their experiences and ideas on this issue and help us move towards a more just and equitable society.""
The competition is open to high school students in the Lanaudière region, who are invited to submit their entries by January 20, 2024. The entries can address a variety of topics related to racism, profiling, cultural diversity, and social inclusion. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their writing skills, express their creativity, and contribute to positive social change.
The awards ceremony, to be held on February 17, 2024 during Black History Month, will be an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young writers and to foster meaningful intercultural encounters.
Lakay would like to warmly thank the school administrations in the Lanaudière region who collaborated on this initiative, as well as all the teachers and students who are committed to promoting diversity, equality and respect for human rights.
For more information on Lakay's "My Pen Against Racism and Profiling" competition, please visit www.lakay.quebec/concours.
About Lakay
Lakay is a non-profit organization based in Repentigny dedicated to promoting multiculturalism, raising awareness of issues in Canadian and Quebec society, and defending the rights of racialized communities. Lakay strives to create a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful world, with a focus on education, awareness, and community engagement.