richard bilkszto
Richard Bilkszto, 60, killed himself in July after suing the Toronto District School Board for emotional distress.



Comment: Original story: DEI Attack Protocols: Principal pays ultimate price for taking on woke school board


The suicide of a white school principal who was bullied after being accused of supporting white supremacy because he challenged an 'anti-racism trainer' has prompted an investigation into diversity and inclusion practices in Toronto.

Richard Bilkszto, 60, killed himself in July after suing the Toronto District School Board for emotional distress which he says began in spring 2021, when he disagreed with KOJO Institute 'anti-racism' trainer Kike Ojo-Thompson.

The KOJO Institute is a for-hire diversity and inclusion consultancy firms that had been brought in by the school board.

Now, the board and Canada's education minister are investigating Bilkszto's death and whether the obsession with woke policies may have contributed to it.
Kike Ojo-Thompson
KOJO Institute founder Kike Ojo-Thompson. Bilkszto said she accused him of supporting white supremacy because he challenged her comments.
'I offer my heartfelt condolences to Richard's family and friends, as we remember an educator that truly went above and beyond for his students.

'No staff member should ever be subject to harassment while in their place of work,' Education Minister Stephen Lecce said.

Ojo-Thompson had been brought in to Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke to teach an anti-racism session. Bilkszto, who was a teacher for 24 years before retiring, was serving as a fill-in principal.

He took issue with Ojo-Thompson's claim that Canada is 'more racist' than the US because it has 'never reckoned with its anti-black history.'

When he disagreed politely, she snapped back.

'We are here to talk about anti-black racism, but you in your whiteness think that you can tell me what's really going on for black people?' she responded.

Bilkszto tried to de-escalate the situation, according to his lawsuit, but was shouted down by another member of the KOJO Institute who told him his views weren't 'relevant'.

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A week later, at a second session, Ojo-Thompson said Bilkszto's comments were a 'real life example of resistance in support of white supremacy. '

Bilkszto claimed the disagreement led to him missing out on contract work and that inflicted emotional distress.

At the time, the KOJO Institute disagreed with his claims and said any of his interactions were brief.

When he died, the Institute issued a statement of condolence for his loved ones.

Canada's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board agreed with Bilkszto and described Ojo-Thompson's comments as 'abusive, egregious and vexatious'.

The adjudicator said the remarks rose to a level of 'workplace bullying and harassment'.

Bilkszto's attorney Lisa Bildy announced his death in July, sharing a statement from his family.

'The stress and effects of these incidents continued to plague Richard. Last week, he succumbed to this distress.

'His family and friends have been left reeling and wishing they could have had the chance to convince him that he was loved, respected and needed here. May he rest in peace,' the statement read.

Since his suicide, a number of other teachers and school workers have contacted his attorney on social media to share similar stories of abuse.