The BlackNorth Initiative, led by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism, recently announced a partnership with the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University to support their anti-Black systemic racism efforts.

Through this partnership, the BlackNorth Initiative is contributing $65,000 to the Cecil Allan Fraser Bursary. Additionally, Walied Soliman, Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP and a member of BlackNorth’s Legal Committee, and another alumnus have each agreed to personally contribute $10,000 for a total donation of $85,000.

The Faculty of Law is contributing $100,000 to the Fraser Bursary.

Inspired by the desire to improve representation of Black law students at Queen’s, the bursary provides financial support to Black Canadian or visible minority/racialized students enrolled in the JD program.

The Cecil Allan Fraser Bursary commemorates the laudable efforts of Cecil Allan Fraser, QC (Arts'58, Law’61), the first Black student and graduate of Queen’s Law. To many, Fraser is a pioneer in the Canadian legal profession and embodies the Faculty of Law’s motto, “Soit droit fait” (Let law be made/Let right be done). The bursary was established as a joint initiative between the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) Queen's Chapter and the Queen's Pre-Law Society.

“The Faculty of Law at Queen’s University is honored to be working with the BlackNorth Initiative to end anti-Black systemic racism in our institutions,” says Mark Walters, Dean of the Queen’s Faculty of Law. “This is only the beginning. The Faculty of Law is committed to learning and leading by example, which includes further diversifying our student body. We must ensure our law school truly reflects the diversity of Canadian society.”

Learn more about the Cecil Allan Fraser Bursary.