Former Canadian manager who sued board for bullying at anti-racism training dies by suicide

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By Ronny Reyes

July 24, 2023 | 2:21 p.m.

A former Toronto manager has died by suicide after being harassed for calling an anti-racism instructor who allegedly claimed Canada was more racist than the United States.

Richard Bilkszto, 60, had served as the Toronto District School Board’s deputy principal until his reputation was systematically demolished after he was branded a white supremacist for calling out a black instructor during anti-racism training in 2021, according to a lawsuit filed against the district earlier this year.

Bilksztos’ attorney, Lisa Bildy, said in a statement that despite a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board investigation that Bilkszto was in fact being bullied on the job, the effects led him to commit suicide on July 13.

Unfortunately, the stress and effects of these incidents continued to plague Richard. Last week he succumbed to this distress, Bildy wrote. His family and friends were shaken and wished they had the chance to convince him that he was loved, respected and needed here.

Bilksztos’ nightmare began on April 26, 2021, when Toronto District School Board educators attended anti-racism training focused on Black struggles.

The sessions were led by Kike Ojo-Thompson, founder of the KOJO Institute, a consulting firm that offers anti-racism training, reports the Toronto Star.

Richard Bilkszto, 60, a former principal of the Toronto District School Board, killed himself after taking legal action against the district after being harassed for calling out an anti-racism instructor. Twitter

During the training, Bilkszto alleged that Ojo-Thompson told educators that Canada could be considered more racist than the United States because the northern nation has never considered its anti-Black history, unlike America, according to the lawsuit, which has not been tested in court.

Bilkszto, who previously taught at a high school in Buffalo, New York, disagreed completely with the suggestion and called out Ojo-Thompson, who allegedly criticized him for appearing to undermine a black woman.

We’re here to talk about anti-black racism, but you, in your whiteness, think you can tell me what’s really going on for black people, she said, according to the Bilksztos lawsuit.

Kike Ojo-Thompson conducts anti-racism training sessions for public and private organizations. Kojo Institute / Facebook

During a follow-up session the following week, Ojo-Thompson reportedly raised the argument again, describing it to Bilkszto and his colleagues as a concrete example of someone supporting white supremacy.

Bilkszto claimed that after reporting Ojo-Thompson’s alleged misconduct, the school board did not review the matter, appearing to side with the instructor as a board member praised her for handling principals’ discomfort.

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) ultimately reviewed the case and found that Ojo-Thompson’s conduct was abusive, flagrant and vexatious, and rose to the level of workplace harassment and bullying.

Despite the victory and even as a member of the Toronto chapter of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, Bilkszto said his reputation was ruined by instructors’ characterization of him and the actions of school boards.

Ojo-Thompson was convicted of bullying Bilkszto after challenging his alleged suggestion that Canada is more racist than America, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has ruled. LinkedIn

Then, after a six-week sick leave later that year, the district refused to reinstate his contract, which Bilkszto said was either the result of his bad reputation or in retaliation for asking the WSIB to investigate the incident.

In his final months, Bilkszto remained active in the community, often advocating against districts for various programs aimed at addressing inequality, the Star reports.

The school board acknowledged Bilksztos’ death without mentioning his lawsuit, thanking him for his 24 years of service and for returning to the district as a replacement principal after his retirement in 2019.

Following the incident, the Toronto District School Board did not renew Bilkszto’s contract despite his 24 years of service and his retirement to work as a replacement principal. DVP HSR

Our thoughts are with the Richards family and loved ones, TDSB spokesman Ryan Bird said in a statement. He was a strong advocate for students, especially those in adult education and alternative education, and worked tirelessly to create an environment that fostered success for students of all ages.

In a statement earlier this month, the institute challenged Bilksztosallegations and said its lawsuit paints an inaccurate and incomplete picture of what happened during the training sessions.

The KOJO Institute is currently facing its own lawsuit from the school district for alleged negligence and breach of contract.

The KOJO Institute did not immediately respond to the Posts’ request for comment.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free, confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7 at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

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