The BCCA Presents: Inaugural Community Gala and Award Ceremony Fundraiser: Celebrating Black Excellence

is a Canadian politician and lawyer who has been serving as the 37th and current premier of British Columbia since November 18, 2022.

He worked at Pivot Legal Society from 2005 to 2008^[3] before becoming executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) from 2008 until 2012.^[4]

He was an adjunct professor of law at the University of British Columbia from 2009 to 2013^[5] and served as president of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

A member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, David Eby has represented the riding of Vancouver-Point Grey since 2013. From 2017 to 2022, he served in the John Horgan cabinet as attorney general.^[6] After being elected leader of the BC NDP in 2022, Eby was sworn-in as premier. He led the party to a slim majority victory in the 2024 provincial election.

Haiqa Cheema was appointed as Assistant Deputy Minister, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Branch, on March 6, 2023. Haiqa has a master’s degree in public policy and brings experience as Director of Policy with the Office of the Premier and Ministerial Advisor to the Attorney General. She led the work on the Anti-Racism Data Act, National Redress for Japanese Canadians, Anti-Racism Act, and Racist Incident Helpline.

Haiqa was instrumental in Alberta’s Anti-Racism Action Plan. She currently sits on University of Toronto’s Advisory Committee on Mobilizing Justice. She has previously served on the board for Paths for People, Friends of Royal Alberta Museum Society, Ask Her YYC, Muslim Association of Canada and TakingITGlobal. 

As Assistant Deputy Minister, Haiqa supports and leads a wide breadth of multiculturalism and anti-racism priorities and initiatives, including conducting a full review of anti-racism laws in other jurisdictions.

With the new Anti-Racism Act now in place, she engages in stakeholder consultations to ensure the act represents the diverse cultures, experiences, and backgrounds of British Columbians.

Lindsay (she/her/hers) is a partner at Moore Edgar Lyster LLP where she practice human rights, labour and administrative law. She has extensive experience advancing complex human-rights related issues before tribunals, arbitrators and all levels of court, including before the Supreme Court of Canada. Over the course of her career, Lindsay has contributed thousands of hours of pro bono legal services to individuals and social justice organizations on important equality-related cases. She is passionate about access to justice and the use of strategic litigation to help bring about positive social change.

Lindsay has volunteered extensively for organizations both in the community and within the legal profession. When not engaged in litigation on behalf of her clients, Lindsay currently focuses much of her energy on teaching and training others within and around the legal profession. Among other things, she is Co-Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Society’s BC’s annual Human Rights Conference, a regular speaker for various legal education providers and an instructor at the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School. She is also an Editorial Board member and contributing author of the British Columbia Administrative Law Practice Manual published by CLE BC. 

When not advancing the interests of her clients or training others how to do the same, Lindsay can be found trying to encourage her three children to stop fidgeting at the dinner table or to wait for her on their way down the ski hill.

Afifa Hashimi is an associate lawyer at Moore Edgar Lyster LLP in Vancouver, BC, on unceded Coast Salish territory. She practices union-side labour law, human rights law, employment law, and administrative law. She holds a law degree from the University of Victoria and a BA (Honours) in Political Science from Simon Fraser University.  

Afifa is passionate about human rights and advising and advocating for unions, workers, and individuals. She has been featured as a conference speaker and panelist on topics related to discrimination and human rights law. Afifa has also engaged in advocacy work, research, writing, and facilitation through several public interest organizations, with a focus on racial and gender justice. She is the recipient of the Canadian Bar Association’s 2024 Douglas Miller Rising Star Award.

Afifa is currently a Co-Chair of the Human Rights Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association – BC Branch, the Vice Chair of the South Asian Legal Clinic of BC board, and a member of the Legal Equity and Diversity Roundtable (LEADR). She is a former Vice President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers of BC, and an associate producer of the organization’s 2021 documentary about discrimination, stereotyping, and bias experienced by members of the pan-Asian legal community.