Former Canadian headmaster Richard Bilkszto tragically died by suicide after being bullied for opposing anti-racism training, and a petition calling for an investigation into his death has garnered over 1,000 signatures.
What happened to Richard Bilkszt?
Richard Bilkszto, former director of Toronto, died by suicide on July 13, 2023. He was 60 years old. Bilkszto was harassed and harassed after he disagreed with an anti-racism instructor during a seminar in 2021. The instructor, Kike Ojo-Thompson, said Canada was more racist than the United States. Bilkszto disagreed, and Ojo-Thompson labeled him a supporter of white supremacy.
Bilkszto has filed a lawsuit against the Toronto District School Board, alleging the board failed to protect him from Ojo-Thompson’s harassment. The board dismissed the charges, but an investigation by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) found that Bilkszto was the victim of workplace bullying.
Despite the WSIB’s findings, Bilkszto said the damage had been done. He was tormented by anxiety and insomnia and felt that his reputation had been damaged. On July 13, 2023, she took her own life. Bilkszt’s death sparked a petition demanding an investigation into his death. The petition has already received more than 1,000 signatures.
Organizers of the petition say they want to know why Bilkszto was harassed and bullied and why the Toronto District School Board did not protect him. They also want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Bilkszt’s death is a tragedy. He was a dedicated educator who cared deeply for his students. He should not have been subjected to the bullying and harassment he experienced. His death is a reminder that workplace bullying is a serious problem and can have devastating consequences.
We must do more to protect workers from workplace violence. We need to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of race, ethnicity or any other characteristic. We must also hold employers accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying. Bilkszt’s death is a wake-up call. We must take action to prevent this from happening again.
Who was Richard Bilkszto and how did he die?
Richard Bilkszto, a 60-year-old Toronto school principal, died by suicide on July 13, 2023. He was bullied and harassed after being accused of supporting white supremacy for calling out a black instructor during anti-racism training.
Bilkszto worked in the Toronto school district for 24 years and served as assistant principal at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke. In April 2021, he attended an anti-racist training conducted by Kike Ojo-Thompson, founder of the consulting company KOJO Institute.
During the training session, Ojo-Thompson made the claim that Canada could be seen as more racist than the US because it “never reckoned with its anti-black history”. Bilkszto disagreed with this statement, arguing that Canada is a fairer society than the US.
Ojo-Thompson became angry and accused Bilksz of supporting white supremacy. She said he was trying to undermine her, a black woman, and that he was not an expert on racism.
Bilkszto tried to de-escalate the situation, but Ojo-Thompson continued to berate him. He was left humiliated and shaken.
In the weeks that followed, Bilkszto was subjected to further bullying and harassment by Ojo-Thompson and other trainees. He was labeled a white supremacist, and his colleagues ostracized him.
The stress of the situation became too much for Bilkszt and he took a leave of absence from work due to the stress. He also filed a lawsuit against the Toronto District School Board, alleging they failed to protect him from Ojo-Thompson’s harassment.
The lawsuit was settled in May 2023, but the damage had already been done. Bilkszto was never able to return to work and 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 bullying in the workplace.
Bilkszt’s death sparked a debate about the role of anti-racism training in schools. Some people believe that anti-racism training is necessary to address racism in schools, while others believe that it can be harmful if not implemented properly.
Richard Bilkszt’s case is a reminder that anti-racism training must be conducted in a way that respects all participants and does not create an environment of hostility or discrimination.
We must do more to protect workers from workplace violence. We need to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of race, ethnicity or any other characteristic. We must also hold employers accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying. Bilkszt’s death is a wake-up call. We need to do something to prevent this from happening again.
Who was the former Canadian director and what was the cause of their death?
Bilkszto was a former principal who spent 24 years with the Toronto District School Board before retiring in 2019. He continued to work with the board as deputy principal. Bilkszto became embroiled in a lawsuit against the board earlier this year. It stems from his allegations that he was harassed and bullied after challenging the views of an anti-racism instructor.
We are talking about instructor Kike Ojo-Thompson, the founder of the KOJO Institute, which provided anti-racist training programs to institutions. According to Bilkszt, he called out Ojo-Thompson twice during anti-racism practices in 2021, noting that he disagreed with her claims that Canada is more racist than the United States.
Bilkszt’s conflict with Ojo-Thompson proved explosive, leading to a series 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 trainees.
Bilkszto was allegedly ostracized by his colleagues and labeled as a white racist. The ensuing stress significantly affected Bilkszt’s mental health and he was forced to take a leave of absence from work due to the stress.
Although Bilkszto reached a settlement in a 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 work because he felt traumatized by the abuse he suffered.
Bilkszt’s death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of workplace bullying. Bilkszt’s death sparked a debate about the role of anti-racism training in schools. Some people believe that anti-racism training is necessary to address racism in schools, while others believe that it can be harmful if not implemented correctly.
It is crucial to emphasize that the Bilkszto case highlights the need to conduct anti-racism training in a way that promotes mutual respect and avoids creating a hostile environment. It is important to create a culture where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of race, ethnicity or other characteristics. Employers should be held accountable when they fail to protect their employees from harassment and bullying.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education