Advancing racial justice in Canada’s criminal justice system.
The Viola Desmond Justice Institute strengthens access to Impact of Race and Culture Assessments, builds practitioner capacity, advances public education, and advocates for systemic change addressing anti-Black racism in the justice system.
Partnerships
The Viola Desmond Justice Institute collaborates with community organizations, legal-system actors, researchers, and funders to advance equitable access to justice and strengthen access to IRCAs for Black communities in Canada.
Explore Partnership OpportunitiesWhy Partner With Us
Together, we can build a more just and inclusive Canada. Partnerships allow us to combine expertise, amplify our collective impact, and create meaningful change for Black communities.
Greater Impact
Combine expertise and resources to create lasting change.
Shared Values
Advance equity, justice and human rights together.
Stronger Communities
Build more inclusive systems that work for Black communities.
Lasting Change
Support evidence-based solutions that expand access to justice.
Who We Work With
We partner with a wide range of organizations and institutions that share our commitment to racial justice, equitable access to justice, and the meaningful use of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs).
Community Organizations
Grassroots and community-based organizations working to advance Black communities across Canada.
Explore opportunities
Connect about community education, advocacy and opportunities to work together.
Discuss a community partnershipLegal and Justice Partners
Legal professionals, law firms, clinics, courts and legal-system institutions.
Explore opportunities
Explore VDJI’s IRCA services and connect about education and advocacy in the legal system.
Explore VDJI’s servicesAcademic and Research Partners
Researchers, post-secondary institutions and knowledge partners advancing evidence and practice.
Explore opportunities
Connect with VDJI to discuss sharing expertise, knowledge and research.
Discuss research collaborationPhilanthropic and Funding Partners
Foundations, funders and government partners investing in a more equitable and inclusive legal system.
Explore opportunities
Get in touch to discuss how your organization can support VDJI’s work and initiatives.
Discuss supporting VDJIOur Funders & Supporters
The work of the Viola Desmond Justice Institute is made possible through philanthropic and public support. We are deeply grateful to our funders and supporters who share our vision for a more just and inclusive Canada.
African Nova Scotian Justice Institute
We work alongside organizations and institutions to advance our shared goals. These collaborations bring together diverse expertise, strengthen our programs, and help create more equitable outcomes for Black communities.
VDJI collaborates with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI), a partnership that enriches our work and enhances our program’s depth and effectiveness. Through shared expertise and experience, we advance understanding and strengthen access to IRCAs in Canada.
Learn more about this collaboration
The Viola Desmond Justice Institute collaborates with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI), a partnership that significantly enhances IRCA knowledge, depth and effectiveness.
Commitment to Collective Impact
This collaborative effort between the Viola Desmond Justice Institute and the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute embodies our commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and impactful advocacy. By collaborating, we leverage collective expertise, and enhance our capacity to effect meaningful change in the criminal legal system.
Explore Training & MentorshipLet’s Build a More
Just and Inclusive Canada.
We welcome the opportunity to partner with organizations, institutions and funders who share our vision. Get in touch to explore how we can work together.
Contact Us About a Partnership-
Mandate, Mission, Vision, & Values
The Viola Desmond Justice Institute (VDJI) is a bilingual B3 service delivery organization dedicated to fostering an equitable criminal justice system in Canada through addressing institutional anti-Black racism and promoting an understanding of the impact of race and culture. VDJI supports the provision, management, and evolution of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs) through the training and mentorship of IRCA Assessors, enhancing the quality and accessibility of IRCAs, and advocating against systemic anti-Black racism.
VDJI is dedicated to justice, education and racial and cultural competence in understanding systemic anti-Black racism. At VDJI, we seek to create meaningful impact and equitable justice for Black individuals involved with the law, with the objective of honouring Viola Desmond’s legacy and the values she stood for: a social and legal landscape free from racial discrimination and systemic barriers.
Viola Desmond
In 1946, Halifax businesswoman Viola Desmond confronted the racism that African Nova Scotians routinely faced when she refused to move from her seat in the “whites-only” section of the Roseland Theatre. For this, she was arrested, jailed overnight, and fined. Her unsuccessful appeal to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia attracted national attention. It confirmed for African-Canadians that the law did not protect them and sparked their activism. Desmond’s resistance to racial discrimination was an important milestone in Canada’s human rights history and an inspiration for the civil rights movement in this country.