Student association wins national award

On May 8, 2021, at the annual conference for the Black Law Students Association, the Calgary chapter of BLSA was named the small chapter of the year. 

"Winning this award means our team's hard work is recognized amongst a mountain of Black students' achievements from across the country," says chapter president and second-year law student Keshia Holloman-Dawson. "This school year was unprecedented not only because of the pandemic but also because of the societal "racial reckoning" of the previous summer. This required an incredible amount of emotional labour on the part of racialized students, most of whom never signed up for the role of activist. We are all humbled to receive such an honour when so many Black students have put their hearts & souls into creating positive change this year. Further to that, our province isn't typically recognized for social justice so to be recognized by the national organization is absolutely necessary if we want to show Black students that Calgary is also a place for them. We have the resources and support here and will only continue to improve." 

"Personally, I think the world would benefit from a little more of our motto: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."

This past year, UCalgary BLSA has developed a new admissions process for future Black law students, and secured more than $60,000 in scholarships for Black law students.