Accusations made of systemic racism in Pointe-Claire
Tribunal begins June 16 with 25 people set to testify including current and former mayor
A Pointe-Claire blue-collar worker claims to have endured constant racism while working for the city and will testify about it before a provincial tribunal today.
Alrick Bowen says he was shocked when, within a month of getting his job in the parks department of the City of Pointe-Claire, he began hearing racist remarks.
Bowen alleges he endured years of being the target of racial slurs, as well as physical aggression.
"Racism is not something you become numb to," Bowen told CBC News.
"It affects your quality of life, your family, your ability to be happy outside of your job and how you function as a human being."
His case will be heard today at the Quebec government's Tribunal administratif du travail, which hears appeals to decisions made by labour relations boards in the province.
Bowen is challenging the decision of the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail not to consider his health problems a work-related injury.
Some 25 people are expected to testify before the tribunal.
A constant burden
Bowen was a temporary worker and was advised by colleagues that if he complained, he would not only be ignored, but it would cost him his chance of becoming a permanent employee, he alleges.
He says he kept the job because he needed to support his family.
"I have a son who is six years old and a daughter who is two years old. So obviously being a father, this was a constant burden, having a job to support them," he said.
He repeatedly contacted his union but wasn't given answers, he said.
In 2014, he got a lawyer, then last year he enlisted the help of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR).
Fo Niemi, the executive director of CRARR, said it's the first time he's heard of this kind of racism in Pointe-Claire.
The West Island is viewed as "upper middle class, anglophone, multi-racial — it's an area where racism of this nature is not supposed to exist," Niemi said.
"The use of the 'N-word', the physical intimidation … this isn't 1950s Alabama," he added.
When CRARR wrote to the city on Bowen's behalf, he said they issued a polite denial.
He expects to hear from more people like Bowen during this week's tribunal.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
City intervened to help
In a statement, Pointe-Claire spokeswoman Marie-Pier Paquette-Séguin said the city intervened on Bowen's behalf more than once.
"The first was with a grievance settlement in 2008 with the approval of his union, and the second with an investigation to verify his harassment allegations in 2013," she said.
"His duties were even changed to help him."
with files from Shaun Malley