Michael Tulloch has been chosen to serve as the new Chief Justice of Ontario. Announced on Dec. 20, he is the first Black justice to have a seat in Canada’s provincial appeal court.

Heralded for his ability to “connect with such a wide array of stakeholders”, according to the Toronto Star, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described him as a highly respected member of the legal community.

Understanding and dealing with anti-Black racism is “one of the biggest challenges” facing the justice system, and Tulloch, through his work, “has begun us on a path of understanding and change,” said University of Windsor law professor David Tanovich in an emailed statement to the Star.

In 2018, he recommended that random street checks, in which police would stop people and collect personal information, be outlawed because they were ineffective at decreasing crime and disproportionately affected BIPOC groups, namely Black individuals.

Tulloch was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario in 2003. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2012, becoming the first Black Canadian to sit on a provincial appellate court in Canada.

The Jamaican-born judge holds a B.A. from York University and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School. He has also overseen independent examinations of Ontario’s street check laws and police oversight system.

Tulloch succeeds George R. Strathy, who announced his retirement at the end of August and took over as president of the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Rustum Southwell announced to the Order of Nova Scotia

Business leader and Black Business Initiative executive director Dr. Rustum Southwell has been recognized for creating mentorship and professional opportunities for African Nova Scotians.

Home since 1972, Southwell has been a part of the Nova Scotian community, making his mark as one of the first Black franchisees in the province.

Through his work with the Black Cultural Centre, his role as co-chair of the committee for African Heritage Month, and his position as the founding president of Hope Blooms Youth Ventures Inc., Dr. Southwell has contributed to the development of communities and has been previously awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

He is currently a member of the following:

• the board of governors of Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)

• the Black Loyalist Heritage Society

• the Community Consultative Committee of the Halifax Stanfield International Airport Authority

He has previously served on numerous boards, including the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Waterfront Development Corporation and the United Way Halifax (HSIAA).