A Jewish former teacher at a private school in British Columbia has filed a human rights complaint alleging she was subjected to systemic antisemitic discrimination, retaliation, and eventual dismissal after speaking about her son's friend who was killed on October 7, The Lawfare Project announced in a press release on Thursday.
Laurie Allen, who taught at the Victoria School for Ideal Education (VSIE) in Victoria, BC, is bringing her case before the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal with legal backing from The Lawfare Project. She is represented by Erin Brandt, co-founder of the employment law firm PortaLaw.
The complaint outlines a pattern of anti-Jewish hostility int the workplace, along with by the school's alleged failure to protect Allen from discrimination and retaliatory treatment.
In one incident, Allen faced verbal hostility and an anti-Israel tirade after sharing that her son's friend had been murdered in the October 7 Hamas massacres in Israel.
'Antisemitism has no place in our schools or our society'
“No teacher should face hostility or retaliation because of their Jewish identity, including their connection to Israel,” said Benjamin Ryberg, attorney and COO at The Lawfare Project. “We are committed to using every legal tool at our disposal to seek justice and to send a clear message that antisemitism has no place in our schools or our society.”
The incident comes amid increasing reports of antisemitism within British Columbia’s education system—both public and private. Jewish educators and students have described environments where antisemitic rhetoric goes unchecked, inappropriate teaching materials are circulated, and Jewish community members are singled out for harassment.
“When Ms. Allen was subjected to antisemitism in her workplace, her employer failed to support her,” said Brandt. “She is now speaking out not just for herself, but for other Jewish teachers who feel isolated and unprotected in the workplace.”
Allen’s case follows similar legal action brought last year by BC Teachers Against Antisemitism, a grassroots coalition of educators challenging bias in the province’s school system. That complaint, filed in fall 2024, was expedited by the BC Human Rights Tribunal due to the seriousness of the allegations.
“Whether it’s in unions or schools, BC’s education system is littered with antisemitism,” said Paul Pulver, the lawyer representing the BC Teachers Against Antisemitism coalition in a separate complaint. “It’s a shame that Jewish teachers have had to take these steps, but I’m glad they are standing up.”
The Lawfare Project, an American-based nonprofit legal think tank and litigation fund that defends the civil rights of Jewish communities worldwide, has pledged ongoing support for Allen and others facing similar challenges.
“This case is not only a pursuit of justice for one teacher,” said Ryberg. “It is part of a broader effort to confront the alarming rise of antisemitism in educational institutions across Canada.”
The BC Human Rights Tribunal is expected to begin reviewing Allen’s complaint in the coming weeks.