Latest news with #LSBC
National Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Michael Higgins: Woke B.C. law society hostile to verifiable reality
At the beating heart of every woke institution lies an ideology so powerful and sacred that everything, including truth, must be subservient to it. Article content Whatever the ideology, it is usually cloaked in virtuous sentiment and undisputed righteousness so that it appears less a belief and more an incontrovertible truth. Article content Article content What began for British Columbia lawyer Jim Heller as a straightforward battle to get his law society to admit what he believes is a simple truth about the Kamloops residential school graves has now morphed into questions over ideology. Article content Article content Is the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) ideologically captured by the Indian residential school narrative? And if so, is the LSBC unable to distinguish what is true? Article content Article content These questions arise from new legal documents in Heller's libel suit against the LSBC. He accuses the law society of defaming him for questioning the narrative that 215 'bodies' were found in unmarked graves at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021. Article content Heller wanted the law society to insert the word 'potential' before 'unmarked graves' in its educational material for lawyers to highlight that no bodies have, to date, been discovered, or unearthed, at the site. Article content He contends that for this 'crime' he has been accused of being a racist and a denialist, hence the lawsuit. Article content In its defence, the LSBC has filed a Response to Civil Claim (RCC) in which it denies libelling Heller, accuses him of holding 'misinformed and misguided views' and says its course material is accurate. Article content Article content Heller has now filed an application to strike the RCC, claiming it is 'convoluted and incomprehensible' and is mainly the view of various academics opining about the Indian residential school system. Article content Article content But his application also accuses the LSBC of being ideologically driven. Article content 'The LSBC is significantly involved in promoting various ideological perspectives,' says the application. 'Its defamation of Heller and its conduct in this litigation reflects an emotionally charged ideological culture in which objective fact-finding and ethical standards have become secondary to the objective of protecting certain narratives.' Article content It adds, 'The tone and content of the RCC and rejection of a quick and inexpensive settlement reflects the use of this litigation to promote ideological perspectives and to double down in its attacks of Heller intended to deter potential debate on certain subjects.' Article content In his affidavit to the court, which the National Post has seen, Heller says, 'I have observed a cultural change at the LSBC over the last few years and believe ideological perspectives have compromised objectivity and ethical decision-making on certain subjects. Such perspectives include, for example, belief about the legal system's complicity in the genocide of Indigenous people and the need to 'decolonize' institutions, policies, procedures and practices.' Heller cites the LSBC's 2023 report of the Indigenous Engagement in Regulatory Matters Task Force in which the law society 'acknowledges that it has contributed to the perpetuation of colonialism' and that 'violation of Indigenous rights have been authorized by colonial law and normalized within colonial society.'
The Star
07-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
New partnership to enhance vocational education, training in Laos
A representative from the Lao School of Business and Commerce (left) and a representative from the LFND display the signed agreement in Vientiane last week. VIENTIANE: Young people from ethnic communities and families of Lao Front for National Development's (LFND) staff will have greater access to free vocational and language education under new cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening human resources and promoting inclusive development. The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the Research and Training Centre of the Central (LFND) and the Lao School of Business and Commerce (LSBC) and the Ethnic Technical and Vocational College was signed in Vientiane last week. The agreements outline long-term collaboration in scholarship provision, curriculum development, and skills training. Under the MoC with LSBC, the school will offer 95 full scholarships each year for a Higher Diploma in Business Administration. Of these, five are reserved for children of LFND central staff, while 90 are allocated to Grade 7 students from Vientiane and 17 provinces. LSBC will waive tuition fees for all recipients during the three-year programme. The school will also grant 100 percent tuition-free English language training to LFND employees and a 50 percent fee reduction for their spouses and children. It will provide six-monthly and annual reports to the LFND on student performance and academic progress. Meanwhile, the cooperation with the Ethnic Technical and Vocational College targets ethnic high school graduates, offering scholarships in Chinese-language higher education programmes. The college will award three scholarships per year for the first five years and six per year for the following 12 years, all with full tuition exemptions. To support this initiative, the LFND will assist in developing the college's campus in Viengkeo village, Xaythany district, coordinate with relevant authorities, and contribute political education content to the curriculum. Two LFND staff will be assigned to the college, and scholarship recipients' progress will be monitored regularly. Both colleges will work with the LFND to introduce short-term training courses in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for staff, students, and the public. They also plan to carry out joint research to improve educational quality and better align with labour market needs. The MoC with LSBC is valid from 2025 to 2030, while the agreement with the Ethnic Technical and Vocational College will run from 2025 to 2040. These partnerships mark a significant step in expanding education opportunities and improving workforce readiness for communities across Laos. - Vientiane Times/ANN
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Life Sciences BC Receives Over $1.1 Million to Catalyze the Growth of BC-based Life Sciences Companies
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 31, 2025-- Life Sciences BC (LSBC), a non-government, not-for-profit organization that works to advance British Columbia's (B.C.'s) life sciences sector, announces approval to receive over $1.1 million over three years in funding from PacifiCan to deliver on its Life Sciences Growth Catalyst Project. This project focuses on enabling B.C. life sciences companies with networks, opportunities, skills, and knowledge to scale in Canada and beyond. The funding is through PacifiCan's Business Acceleration Pilot (BizAP). LSBC, through the project, will support the expansion of B.C. high-growth life sciences companies and make a meaningful impact on the sector. The program is designed to foster regional economic development — job creation, revenue growth, and capital attraction. The funding will also be used to expand LSBC's annual Invest in BC conference, which attracts over 100 global investors to the province and facilitates over 450 partnering and investor meetings for B.C.'s small and medium enterprises. 'We're thrilled to partner with PacifiCan to deliver on this exciting project that will bring high-quality jobs, economic development, and ultimately patient impact to the province,' said Wendy Hurlburt, LSBC President & CEO. 'Supporting B.C. companies to become competitive will elevate our sector, strengthening B.C.'s position as a global life sciences leader.' 'Through tailored programs like the Business Acceleration Pilot, PacifiCan is serving the unique needs of British Columbian entrepreneurs so that they can turn their ambition into reality,' said the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan). 'By partnering with organizations such as Life Sciences BC, PacifiCan is helping B.C. businesses grow here at home and compete on a global stage.' LSBC has put together an advisory council of life sciences leaders to provide strategic direction and help select companies to participate in this initiative, ensuring LSBC continues to meet sector needs. About Life Sciences British Columbia Life Sciences BC (LSBC) is a not-for-profit, non-government sector association that works to advance British Columbia's life sciences community through numerous local, national, and international initiatives. We nurture economic development in the province through leadership; facilitation of investment and partnering; government collaboration; and promotion of our world-class life sciences sector. Life Sciences BC (LSBC) is a not-for-profit, non-government sector association that works to advance British Columbia's life sciences community through numerous local, national, and international initiatives. We nurture economic development in the province through leadership; facilitation of investment and partnering; government collaboration; and promotion of our world-class life sciences sector. Marketing & Communications Manager SOURCE: Life Sciences BC (LSBC) Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 01/31/2025 03:00 PM/DISC: 01/31/2025 03:00 PM
