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On January 21, the Schulich School of Law鈥檚 Indigenous Blacks & Mi鈥檏maq (IB&M) Initiative received the Excellence in Equity and Diversity Award at the聽Canadian Bar Association鈥揘ova Scotia鈥檚 Annual聽General Meeting.聽The award,聽established by the聽CBA-NS鈥檚聽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.

鈥淚 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,鈥� says聽Kelsey Jones, Director of the IB&M Initiative. 鈥淔or 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.鈥�

The IB&M Initiative at the Schulich School of Law聽(then 鲍鱼tv Law School)聽was established in 1989 to increase the representation of Indigenous Blacks & Mi鈥檏maq in the legal profession in order to reduce discrimination.

鈥淲hen the Indigenous Blacks and Mi鈥檏maq Initiative was created, it was an unprecedented, unconventional and radical 鈥渕ade in Nova Scotia鈥� innovation,鈥� says聽Richard Devlin, Acting Dean of the Schulich School of Law. 鈥淲hile 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.鈥�

Devlin adds, 鈥淭he 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.聽We are humbled and grateful for this recognition.鈥�