Richard Bilkszto was a principal with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). For 24 years, he dedicated his life to working with struggling students of all backgrounds, both in Canada and at an inner city school in Buffalo, New York. As a result, he had a stellar reputation in the education community.

In April 2021, Richard attended “Equity” sessions led by Kike Ojo-Thompson (CEO of the KOJO Institute) during which he politely disagreed with the leader’s claim that Canada is a more racist country than United States. The workshop leader promptly attacked him for daring to question her. No discussion was allowed. The bullying continued at the following session, after which Richard felt humiliated by the workshop leader and unsupported by his peers. (Watch leaked video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSNRAZqbMus)

Richard went on sick leave and filed a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board complaint which later confirmed that Richard had been the subject of workplace bullying and that “the conduct of the speaker…was abusive, egregious and vexatious.” Despite this ruling, Richard was not reinstated into his prior position at the TDSB.

In April 2023, Richard filed a civil lawsuit against the TDSB. Unfortunately, the assault on his reputation was unbearable for him and he took his own life on July 13, 2023.

This tragedy exposes the heinous subterfuge of attacking the character of good people in order to silence opposition. Richard’s story highlights the importance of bystanders supporting the victim instead of remaining silent when witnessing abuses of power.