SECTIONS CLOSE
  • Home
  • Directory
    • Artists
    • Black Youth & Family Services
    • Books
    • Business
    • Films
    • Politicians
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Film & TV
    • Music
    • Stage
  • The Experts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • Money
    • Motivation
    • Parenting
    • Real Estate
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Technology
    • Travel
  • Profiles
    • Artists
    • Business
    • NFP/Charities
    • Personalities
    • Food & Drink
    • Sponsored Profiles
  • The Father Project
    • Fathers Responses
  • Archive
  • Newsletter Archive
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • PCA
    • 2024 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2023 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2022 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2021 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2020 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2019 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
    • 2018 ByBlacks.com PCA Winners List
  • Restaurant Week
    • Prix Fixe Menus
      • Prix Fixe Menus - AB
      • Prix Fixe Menus - BC
      • Prix Fixe Menus - NS
      • Prix Fixe Menus - NB
      • Prix Fixe Menus - ON
      • Prix Fixe Menus - PEI
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • FAQs
  • Editorial
  • General
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sales
  • User Login

ByBlacks.com | #1 online magazine for Black Canadians

Legal

Ontario Company Sues Black Employee For Speaking Publicly About Racism In The Workplace

Ontario Company Sues Black Employee For Speaking Publicly About Racism In The Workplace
Agim Williams
Walker Law Professional Corporation By Walker Law Professional Corporation
Published on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - 16:56
Agim Williams was employed by Vac Developments Limited in Oakville, Ontario from January 2018 to June 2021 as an Aerospace Sheet Metal Mechanic.

On March 11, 2021, Williams discovered a noose drawing on his company locker. Williams brought the drawing to the attention of human resources. Human resources requested that the drawing be removed and did not investigate further.

On May 12, 2021, company employees discovered highly offensive and racist comments directed at Williams that had been written on one of the company’s bathroom stalls. A photo of the message shows writing saying: "Kill William the Ape" and "F--k BLM”.

Although the comments were removed, the management of Vac instructed its employees not to tell Williams what had occurred. Contrary to that instruction, an employee told him the contents of the message the next day.

anti-black-racist-threats-in-bathroom-1-5503447-1627406011452.jpeg

Williams felt unsafe and requested that management address the issues. Despite repeated requests, management only called the police to investigate the graffiti in the bathroom a full week after it had been removed. The investigation was inconclusive. Williams felt that management was not confronting racism in the workplace.

One month after police began investigating, on June 16, 2021, Williams was laid off, along with several other employees. He believed that the move was partially related to him getting the police involved to address the anti-Black racism. He decided to go public and contacted CTV News. CTV also contacted his employer, but they declined to comment. 

An article on Mr. Williams’ situation was released by CTV News on July 9, 2021. The article named the employer, summarized Williams’ situation, and featured various quotes from him about racism in the workplace and his continued concerns for the safety of remaining employees of colour at the company.

Black man who worked at VAC Developments Ltd. alleges receiving racist threats, noose drawn on locker | CTV News

Legal Proceedings

Williams then launched a lawsuit against his ex-employer on September 17, 2021. He sued for damages for wrongful dismissal and breach of the Ontario Human Rights Code.

On November 10, 2021, Williams’ ex-employer countersued for damages to their reputation and an injunction. This countersuit may have been prepared to prevent Williams from publishing any more public statements about the company.

Williams then brought a motion, which is a request before a judge to dismiss the employer’s lawsuit against him.

Decision

The Ontario Superior Court dismissed the employer’s lawsuit. The Court placed particular emphasis on weighing the competing interests at play. The Court assessed the following:

  • the public interest in allowing the company’s counterclaim to proceed; and
  • the public interest in protecting Williams’ freedom of expression.

The Court sided in favour of Williams. In doing so, it stated that “the public interest overwhelmingly favours the protection of [Mr. Williams’] expression.” In finding this conclusion, it stated: “There are few expressions more essential to a productive pluralistic society than the elimination of workplace racism.”

Vac Developments Limited then appealed this decision but their appeal was ultimately dismissed. According to HR Law Canada: 

"The appeal decision marks the end of the legal battle over the defamation claim, but the broader issues related to Agim Williams' original complaint of wrongful dismissal and workplace harassment remain unresolved."

Last modified on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 20:38

Featured Directory Listings

  • Oya Black Arts Coalition (OBAC)
    Oya Black Arts...https:/...Name: Oya Black Arts Coalition (OBAC)
  • Frontlines TO
    Frontlines TOfrontlines.toName: Frontlines TO
  • Becoming Institute Inc.
    Becoming Institute...https:/...Name: Becoming Institute Inc.
  • Hudson Law Office Professional Corporation
    Hudson Law Office...Name: Hudson Law Office Professional Corporation
  • Edible Bliss 11
    Edible Bliss 11https:/...Name: Edible Bliss 11
  • SEE ALL LISTINGS
  • RACISM
  • ANTI BLACK RACISM
  • DISCRIMINATION
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • LEGAL
Walker Law Professional Corporation By Walker Law Professional Corporation

Latest from Walker Law Professional Corporation

  • “Go Back To Work Slave.” Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Awards Black Woman Just $250 In Damages For Racist Comment
  • Racial Profiling at the Airport: A Closer Look at the Edwards Case
  • Fired CFO Awarded Over $640K After Discrimination Battle
  • The Right To Know: Why Failed Police Applicants Deserve An Explanation
  • Appeal Rejected: Toronto Police Officers Found Guilty On All Counts In Neptune Four Case

MORE IN THIS CATEGORY

Appeal Rejected: Toronto Police Officers Found Guilty On All Counts In Neptune Four Case
Appeal Rejected: Toronto Police Officers Found Guilty On All Counts In Neptune Four Case 25 July 2023
The Right To Know: Why Failed Police Applicants Deserve An Explanation 01 April 2024
The Right To Know: Why Failed Police Applicants Deserve An Explanation

RELATED STORIES

Racism Is A Public Health Crisis

Racism Is A Public Health Crisis

11 February 2025
They Said My Brain Was the Problem. Turns Out My Psychosis Was A Racial Trauma Response

They Said My Brain Was the Problem. Turns Out My Psychosis Was A Racial Trauma Response

13 November 2024
Jazz, Mail, And Justice: How Two Black Pioneers Changed Canada’s History

Jazz, Mail, And Justice: How Two Black Pioneers Changed Canada’s History

26 September 2024
ByBlacks.com | #1 online magazine for Black Canadians
Magazines Canada
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • FAQs
  • Editorial
  • General
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Sales
  • User Login
Copyright © 2013 - 2025 ByBlacks.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
developed by Nuevvo