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In the words of Chief Justice Wagner, "All Canadians should be able to see themselves reflected in their justice system. Justice should not make a person feel like an outsider or an 'other' when they confront it." This is currently not the case. For example, 28.8% of BC’s population are a visible minority, but only 16.15% of lawyers in the BC Bar are a visible minority. Canadian courts will never be true courts of justice until we have diversity in the legal profession. In other words, without equal representation, not all British Columbians’ voices will be heard. This is why it is imperative that we increase diversity in the legal profession. Now, people could say that “you can't control what demographics of people become lawyers,” but that is just an excuse not to try. To start, the whole process of becoming a lawyer presents a lot of difficulties for people of marginalized groups. There are long-standing systemic, physical, and attitudinal barriers. Law school is expensive and exclusive. For first generation learners it can be very hard to attend, even if they are more than qualified. Universities are also not always accessible for disabled students. The University in my city is known for its abundance of stairs, meaning it is not very accessible. There are two reasons why this profession lacks diversity. The first reason is the abundance of barriers appearing early on in the process of becoming a lawyer. The second reason is what happens after becoming a lawyer. Let's say that a person of a minority group has made it into the Bar - the barriers don’t stop there. Instead, people of a minority group now face an even bigger challenge: constant discrimination. I have read many stories of Indigenous women lawyers going into the Barristers lounge and being asked to leave. There are also many stories of female Indigenous lawyers being told by guards that they need to step back from the Bar because it is “only for lawyers''. Some of these people confronting the lawyers think they are confused and are trying to be friendly. Other times, they are very hostile, but all of these instances stem from the same root issue: racism and prejudice. Racism and prejudice can also be seen in counsel-client interactions. An Indigenous female lawyer was assigned to represent a client at a bail hearing. This client was Caucasian. The client got so mad about her being indigenous that the Sheriff ended up coming into the room to make sure she was alright and not in danger. All of these instances of macro- and microaggressions add up to a massive obstacle that this profession, and our country, will have to fully commit to overcoming. Bringing it back to the question at hand: “How do considerations of diversity and inclusion impact what is “fair” within the Canadian legal system?” Diversity and inclusion will make the legal system more fair by dismantling negative stereotypes and breaking down personal and institutional biases. Diversity in the legal system opens the door for innovation and equality in the administration of justice to make our system even stronger. Creating a diverse and inclusive legal system won’t be easy, but the end product will be well worth the time and effort. As Canada’s population becomes more diverse, so too must the legal sector. Everyone involved will have to set aside their biases and open their minds to new viewpoints and new experiences. Fostering diversity within this profession will teach people the skills necessary to communicate and interact with communities and cultures that have been unfamiliar to them in the past. This deeper understanding will encourage everyone involved in the legal process to be more respectful, unbiased, and impartial towards people of other cultures and races. Diversity means more than just surface level diversity, it means moving past easily measurable differences and creating deep level diversity. Deep level diversity can only be accomplished by having meaningful interactions with colleagues. It focuses on personal beliefs, values, and attitudes, more than what meets the eye. Shifting from surface to deep level diversity reduces prejudice and conflict; it also improves social integration. When all people feel included and valued, the best work is always done. It is up to us to start, and continue, to make positive changes in the profession. Then, and only then, can we truly have justice in our legal system. Author: Alissa Morris Biography: Alissa Morris is currently a Grade 12 student at Dover Bay Secondary School in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She is a competitive dancer and sailor. She is also a sailing instructor at the Nanaimo Yacht Club during the summer. Some of Alissa’s hobbies include reading, doing embroidery, baking, and watching movies. Alissa is the co-Vice President of her school's Model United Nations Club and a part of her dance team’s leadership program, the Prism Mentorship Program. Works Cited “But I Was Wearing A Suit (Part I and II).” The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia But I Was Wearing A Suit Part I and II Comments, https://www.cle.bc.ca/butiwaswearingasuit. “Demographics of the Legal Profession.” Demographics of the Legal Profession | The Law Society of British Columbia, https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/our-initiatives/equity-and- diversity-centre/demographics-of-the-legal-profession/. “Equity and Diversity Centre.” Equity and Diversity Centre | The Law Society of British Columbia, https://www.lawsociety.bc.ca/our-initiatives/equity-and-diversity/. “Indigenous Lawyers Speak out about Bias, Racism at Work | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 5 Dec. 2017, https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous- lawyers-bias-racism-court-1.4433772. #politics #WixBlog #studentjournal

Every year, on September 18th, here in Chile we commemorate the “First Junta of Chile”, or in other words, the Chilean National Day. To celebrate, we usually hold big barbeques with our families and listen to Chilean folkloric music, which can include “Cuecas” or other types of music. Back in 2019, I participated in an international student exchange program and lived in Nanaimo, British Columbia for a year. Celebrating the Chilean National Day over there was “special," but nonetheless a bit weird. The main reason is because the festive atmosphere that I was used to during September was not present: no more Chilean music, typical foods like “empanadas,” or that barbeque smell in the air. But when you are an international student, you have to be prepared for these kinds of situations. However, the above does not mean that I didn't celebrate the holiday. It only meant that I had to be more creative. I remember kneeling on my bed singing the national anthem with the Chilean flag in one hand and the national song playing on my computer. Now it may seem like something strange and funny, but at the time it was something very emotional and meaningful to me. Although I was abroad, distant from my family and friends in Chile, I still kept a piece of my home country inside me. Sometimes in our lives there will be moments when we miss the things that we are used to and that are the norm for us. And it is not unusual to feel sadness or nostalgia during these times. But these feelings don't have to last forever. We have to find it within ourselves to replicate those happy moments in a new place or in a new context. It is up to us to decide whether we spend those special days celebrating as usual (but now in a foreign environment) or lamenting because it is not the same as before. Author: Rodrigo Bertelsen Biography: Rodrigo is a first-year student at Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Chile. A Chilean, he is 18 years-old and during his free time, he enjoys playing video games, watching soccer, reading or taking photos. He attended school as an exchange student in Nanaimo for 6 months in 2019. This is his first time as part of a NPO, and he is excited to learn and contribute to the community by helping out in whatever way he can. #holidays #WixBlog #studentjournal

During a period when our human world has ceased working, the natural world continues on. Over the past year, COVID-19 has led to a massive halt in countless transportation systems and industries across the world. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions have been decreasing at an unprecedented rate - in the spring of 2020, China, the world’s largest emitter, reduced its carbon emissions by approximately 18% in one month’s time. This has prevented around 250 million metric tons of carbon from polluting the environment. In fact, citizens residing in smog-filled cities, such as Beijing, have reported rare glimpses of clear, blue skies. Unexpectedly, this deadly virus has helped us mitigate one of the most pressing crises of our time: climate change. However, this benefit has come at the expense of millions of human lives, and it reflects an unfortunate aspect of our modern society. Deep down, we know this sudden improvement in conditions is not the reward of our voluntary action but a byproduct of stringent regulations. We also know that even as this editorial is being written, these idealistic circumstances are waning. Our economy cannot permanently survive under current circumstances; neither can the people who need to make a living. Governments are already clamoring to open up as many areas in the workforce as safety protocols allow and as our world returns to normal, any positive impact that the pandemic had on climate change will be wiped away. But it does not have to be this way. As Yale professor Daniel C. Esty says, if there is one important lesson that COVID-19 has taught us, it is that we can not constantly be asking ourselves, “What’s the cost of taking action?” because “[t]he cost of inaction is high, too.” This pandemic has woken people up. Many measures taken to combat the virus have resulted in substantial damage to the economy, but they have proved necessary to save lives in the long run. The same goes for climate change; our actions need to be firm and definitive. We can no longer allow outside factors to distract us from the central issue, which is protecting a world that is being swallowed by irreversible environmental destruction. No other time has been so conducive to a momentous change for the better. As economies are reviving, significant sums of money are being invested in recovery programs. These programs can either serve to maintain our long, deleterious history of fossil fuel dependence or carve a new path towards a more eco-friendly direction that will preserve our beautiful planet for generations to come. COVID-19 has provided us with a fresh start, a new beginning. And we get to decide what we want to do with it. Author: Yichen Li Biography: Yichen Li is a Grade 11 student from Dover Bay Secondary School in Nanaimo, BC. She is an executive member of her school's Student Council and President of the Dover Model United Nations Club. Outside of school, Yichen engages in public speaking, writing, and organizing activities around the neighborhood. Passionate about the environment, Yichen hopes that through Adopt Our Community Club, students are presented with opportunities to give back to their community and brighten the lives of those around them. Works Cited Horne, Felix, and Hancock, Stephanie. “Can Covid-19 Help Ease the Climate Crisis?” Human Rights Watch, 22 May 2020. Schlossberg, Tatiana. “Don’t Thank the Virus for Saving the Climate Yet.” The New York Times, 4 June 2020. Sommer, Lauren. “Why China's Air Has Been Cleaner During The Coronavirus Outbreak” National Public Radio, 4 March 2020. Stone, Madeleine. “Carbon emissions are falling sharply due to coronavirus. But not forlong.” National Geographic, 3 April 2020. #medicine #WixBlog #studentjournal

Seeking connection between friend groups Have you ever felt that you’re forced to fit in, make many friends, and hang out with “cool people” to acquire happiness? Have you ever felt uncomfortable being with people who you call “friends?” How can you seek that balance between you and others to avoid being overcome by peer pressure? Does what you think will make you happy really make you happy? These are some common concerns teenagers face during their stage of identity confusion, and I will answer the above based on my knowledge of socializing, and the things that I’ve learned as an adolescent. I have always been a very confident person, often receiving compliments and positivity. But what I’ve learned in the past year or so is that I can easily be affected by others' impressions of me, which often leads me through a long struggle of self-doubt. I’ve never realized how sensitive I was until I was 16. People are often fooled by my outgoing, vibrant surface, neglecting my frail inside. After falling into a low ebb, I’ve discovered that many people are just like me; in fact, many are far worse. Mental health issues affect around 30% of people globally, and the data indicates no sign of decreasing in the near future. Ever since my first struggle with identity, I’ve had to cope with a lot of difficult feelings that I want to evade, but am afraid to do so at the same time. Sometimes I even found myself initiating condescending conversations to hurt others in order to protect my own feelings. But finally, I realized that though you can fool everyone, you can’t fool yourself. Now, let’s reconsider the questions in the first paragraph. Are the friends around you ones you truly need, or do you hang out with them just to satisfy your vanity? Are they people who you genuinely enjoy being with, or tools you use to make you look popular and nice in front of others? Why do so many teenagers wish to hang out with popular people despite knowing that they’re toxic? On the surface, these people seem to be living their best life, so influential that they are categorized as being “cool”. I’m not going to judge their lifestyle or their attitudes because everyone has the freedom to choose how they live. However, I believe that they will know whether to regret or to be grateful for in 10 years, 20 years the decisions that they have made. Time will slowly unravel everything, and making wise choices will never let you down. Do follow what you think is right, but not only because that is what others approve of. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable, or not equal in a relationship, get out of it as soon as possible. The famous psychologist Erik Erickson stated in his theories of psychosocial development that the process of seeking identity occurs between the ages of 12 to 18. If you’re an adolescent who’s dealing with concerns and mental issues, please remember that this is perfectly normal. We’re constantly changing due to new experiences and information we acquire in our daily interactions with others. And that’s why finding good friends and comfortable relationships are crucial to our growth. Instead of forcing yourself to be around toxic people, appreciate all the good people that you’re surrounded by. Although friendship does help improve your happiness and make you feel loved, it always occurs during a particular moment and stops there; having fun memories lightens up my mood temporarily, but I wouldn’t call it a solution that dissipates all the negativities. Many people are actually unable to savor the good times due to their fear that their negative emotions will come back. That’s why you need to love yourself before loving anyone else. The message sounds a bit cliché, but that doesn’t take away from its importance. The power of self-love makes all other love seem minute. The confidence that you gain from having a deep connection with your heart is what makes you a strong, unique, and independent person. Simultaneously, believing in yourself gives rise to true happiness. Don’t base everything on your friends, achievements, or the impression that you provide others. Instead, rely on your own self-confidence, believe that you will conquer all the obstacles that life throws in your way, and compare with no one but yourself. Because truly, the greatest enemy that you face is yourself. How you think about yourself will impact the person that you become. There are no definite answers - the only answer comes from your heart. So, what’s your answer? Author: Helen Si Biography: Helen Si is a Grade 12 student currently attending Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. She is developing skills in visual art, music, sports, and psychology and is interested in making more contributions to society. Works Cited Citation: https://www.verywellmind.com/identity-versus-confusion-2795735 Photo Credit: Instagram: earthplanet_pics #medicine #WixBlog #studentjournal