Former Canadian principal dies by suicide after harassment for pushing back against anti-racism training

A former Canadian principal died by suicide after submitting a lawsuit in opposition to the Toronto District College Board in response to the harassment he confronted for arguing with an anti-racism teacher who claimed Canada was extra racist than the U.S.

Richard Bilkszto, 60, labored for the college district for twenty-four years and retired in 2019, in accordance with the Toronto Star. He continued to do contract work as a fill-in principal till his popularity was “systematically demolished” after difficult a Black teacher throughout two anti-racism coaching classes in 2021, he alleged in a lawsuit filed in opposition to the district earlier this yr. 

The teacher allegedly accused him of supporting white supremacy for pushing again in opposition to her claims.

In a press release on social media, Bilkszto’s legal professional, Lisa Bildy, mentioned her consumer took his personal life on July 13 as a result of the harassment stemming from the coaching classes precipitated him “extreme psychological misery,” including that the “stress and results” of the incidents “continued to plague” him.

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Richard Bilkszto, 60, took his personal life on July 13 due to harassment and bullying, in accordance with his legal professional. (X (previously Twitter))

On April 26, 2021, Toronto District College Board educators attended an anti-racism training addressing the struggles of Black folks, the Toronto Star reported. The session was led by Kike Ojo-Thompson, founding father of the KOJO Institute, a consulting agency that gives anti-racist coaching.

Bilkszto alleged in his lawsuit that Ojo-Thompson instructed educators that Canada might be thought-about extra racist than the U.S. as a result of Canada has “by no means reckoned with its anti-Black historical past.” Bilkszto, who disagreed with the trainer and challenged her feedback, was condemned for showing to undermine a Black girl.

“We’re right here to speak about anti-Black racism, however you in your whiteness assume which you could inform me what’s actually happening for Black folks” Ojo-Thompson mentioned, in accordance with the lawsuit.

Throughout a follow-up session every week later, Ojo-Thompson allegedly recalled their disagreement from the primary session and used Bilkszto’s efforts to problem her claims as a “real-life” instance of somebody supporting white supremacy.

The Toronto Star reported that the anti-racism trainings had been led by Kike Ojo-Thompson, founding father of the KOJO Institute. (KOJO Institute)

Bilkszto mentioned he reported Ojo-Thompson’s alleged misconduct, however claimed that the college board did not look into it, including that one unidentified board member allegedly praised Ojo-Thompson for dealing with his “discomfort.”

The Office Security and Insurance coverage Board investigated the incident after Bilkszto filed a “psychological stress damage” declare and located that Ojo-Thompson’s conduct was “abusive, egregious and vexatious, and rises to the extent of office harassment and bullying.” Bildy mentioned the investigation deemed her consumer a sufferer, and he was supplied two months of misplaced earnings.

Regardless of the findings of the investigation, Bilkszto mentioned his popularity was tarnished by the trainer’s feedback about him and the college board’s response.

After a six-week medical leave later that yr, the district wouldn’t reinstate his contract, the Toronto Star reported. Bilkszto claimed this was both due to his broken popularity or as retribution for asking the Office Security and Insurance coverage Board to research the incident.

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Richard Bilkszto labored for the Toronto District College Board for twenty-four years and retired in 2019, however continued to do contract work as a fill-in principal. (Getty)

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In his final months alive, Bilkszto is alleged to have spent his time advocating in opposition to the district’s varied packages targeted on addressing inequity.

The varsity board, in a press release following Bilkszto’s demise, thanked him for his 24 years of service and for returning to the district as a fill-in principal after his retirement in 2019.

“Our hearts exit to Richard’s household and family members,” district spokesperson Ryan Chicken mentioned in a press release to the Toronto Star. “He was a robust advocate for college kids — notably these in grownup and different training — and labored tirelessly to create an surroundings that fostered scholar success for college kids of all ages.”

The KOJO Institute mentioned in a press release earlier this month that the allegations in Bilkszto’s lawsuit give “an inaccurate and incomplete image” of what occurred through the coaching classes.