Former Canadian principal Richard Bilkszto tragically died by suicide following harassment for opposing anti-racism training and a petition calling for an inquiry into his death has garnered over 1000 signatures.What Happened To Richard Bilkszto?
Richard Bilkszto, a former Toronto principal, died by suicide on July 13, 2023. He was 60 years old. Bilkszto had been harassed and bullied after he disagreed with an anti-racism instructor during a training seminar in 2021. The instructor, Kike Ojo-Thompson, had said that Canada was more racist than the United States. Bilkszto disagreed, and Ojo-Thompson labeled him a supporter of white supremacy.
Article continues below advertisementBilkszto filed a lawsuit against the Toronto District School Board, alleging that the board had failed to protect him from Ojo-Thompson's harassment. The board denied the allegations, but a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) investigation found that Bilkszto had been the victim of workplace bullying.
Despite the WSIB's findings, Bilkszto said that the damage had been done. He was plagued by anxiety and insomnia, and he felt that his reputation had been ruined. On July 13, 2023, he took his own life. Bilkszto's death has sparked a petition demanding an inquiry into his death. The petition has already received more than 1,000 signatures.
The petition's organizers say that they want to know why Bilkszto was harassed and bullied, and why the Toronto District School Board failed to protect him. They also want to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else.
Article continues below advertisementBilkszto's death is a tragedy. He was a dedicated educator who cared deeply about his students. He should not have been subjected to the harassment and bullying that he experienced. His death is a reminder that workplace bullying is a serious problem and that it can have devastating consequences.
We need to do more to protect workers from workplace bullying. We need to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or any other characteristic. We also need to hold employers accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying. Bilkszto's death is a wake-up call. We need to take action to prevent this from happening again.
Article continues below advertisementWho Was Richard Bilkszto And How Did He Pass Away?
Richard Bilkszto, a 60-year-old Toronto school principal, died by suicide on July 13, 2023. He had been harassed and bullied after he was accused of supporting white supremacy for calling out a black instructor during anti-racism training.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementBilkszto had worked in the Toronto School District for 24 years and had been serving as fill-in principal at the Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke. In April 2021, he attended an anti-racism training led by Kike Ojo-Thompson, the founder of the KOJO Institute, a consulting firm.
During the training, Ojo-Thompson made the claim that Canada could be considered more racist than the US because it "never reckoned with its anti-black history." Bilkszto disagreed with this statement, arguing that Canada was a more just society than the US.
Ojo-Thompson became angry and accused Bilkszto of supporting white supremacy. She said that he was trying to undermine her, a black woman, and that he was not an expert on racism.
Article continues below advertisementBilkszto tried to de-escalate the situation, but Ojo-Thompson continued to berate him. He was left feeling humiliated and shaken.
In the weeks that followed, Bilkszto was subjected to further bullying and harassment from Ojo-Thompson and other attendees of the training. He was labeled a white supremacist and was ostracized by his colleagues.
The stress of the situation became too much for Bilkszto and he took a stress leave from his job. He also filed a lawsuit against the Toronto District School Board, alleging that they had failed to protect him from Ojo-Thompson's harassment.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementThe lawsuit was settled in May 2023, but the damage had already been done. Bilkszto was never able to return to his job and he continued to suffer from anxiety and depression. On July 13, 2023, Bilkszto took his own life. His death is a tragedy and a reminder of the dangers of workplace bullying.
Article continues below advertisementBilkszto's death has sparked a debate about the role of anti-racism training in schools. Some people believe that anti-racism training is necessary to address the issue of racism in schools, while others believe that it can be harmful if it is not done properly.
The case of Richard Bilkszto is a reminder that anti-racism training must be done in a way that is respectful of all participants and that does not create an environment of hostility or discrimination.
We must do more to protect workers from workplace bullying. We need to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or any other characteristic. We also need to hold employers accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying. Bilkszto's death is a wake-up call. We need to take action to prevent this from happening again.
Article continues below advertisementWho Was The Former Canadian Principal And What Was The Cause Of Their Death?
Bilkszto was a former principal who spent 24 years at the Toronto District School Board before retiring in 2019. He continued to work with the board as a fill-in principal. Bilkszto became embroiled in a lawsuit against the board earlier this year. It stemmed from his allegations of being harassed and bullied after challenging an anti-racism instructor's opinions.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementThe instructor in question was Kike Ojo-Thompson, the founder of the KOJO Institute, which provided anti-racist training programs to institutions. According to Bilkszto, he had called out Ojo-Thompson twice during anti-racism training sessions in 2021, pointing out that he disagreed with her claims that Canada was more racist than the United States.
Bilkszto's confrontation with Ojo-Thompson proved to be explosive, leading to a chain of events that ultimately contributed to his death. The instructor accused him of supporting white supremacy, which allegedly resulted in Bilkszto facing further harassment and bullying from Ojo-Thompson, as well as other attendees of the training sessions.
Bilkszto was reportedly ostracized and labeled a white supremacist by colleagues in the aftermath. The ensuing stress took a significant toll on Bilkszto's mental health, and he was forced to take stress leave from his job.
Article continues below advertisementAlthough Bilkszto reached a settlement in his subsequent lawsuit against the board in May 2023, it was too little, too late. He was crippled by anxiety and depression and was never able to return to his work as he felt traumatized by the bullying he had suffered.
The death of Bilkszto serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of workplace bullying. Bilkszto's death has sparked a debate about the role of anti-racism training in schools. Some people believe that anti-racism training is necessary to address the issue of racism in schools, while others believe that it can be harmful if it is not done properly.
Article continues below advertisementArticle continues below advertisementIt's crucial to emphasize that the case of Bilkszto highlights the need to conduct anti-racism training in a way that fosters mutual respect and avoids creating a hostile environment. It is important to create a culture where everyone feels secure and respected, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, or other traits. Employers should be held accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying.
Article continues below advertisementWhat Happened To Richard Bilkszto - FAQs
1. What happened to Richard Bilkszto?Richard Bilkszto tragically died by suicide after facing harassment for opposing anti-racism training.
2. Who was Richard Bilkszto?Richard Bilkszto was a former Canadian principal who took a stand against anti-racism training.
3. What was the reason for the harassment against Richard Bilkszto?Richard Bilkszto faced harassment for pushing back against anti-racism training initiatives.
4. How did Richard Bilkszto's death occur?Richard Bilkszto died by suicide, which has been attributed to the distress caused by the harassment he faced.
5. What has been the response to Richard Bilkszto's death?A petition demanding an inquiry into his death has garnered more than 1000 signatures.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p77ErJ%2BeqqOhtrexjZympmeclsGmv9NomKusmZi5pr%2BOsJ%2BarF2drrG8xKecnWWkpHqztcKhmKucXZe2rbfSs6uoZaedvG7DwKxkq6GTna6zsIyboKWjo6%2FBsHnAp5tmoJ%2BseqW1w2afnmWglsC0ecCwmLJlYWqCdn2Ua21sag%3D%3D