Every year, thousands of people across BC turn to CLAS when they are facing discrimination, mental health crises, loss of housing, poverty, or other barriers that affect their rights and well-being. Our work spans many areas of law, but the thread that connects it all is simple: ensuring that people who have nowhere else to turn can access justice, dignity, and support.

As we mark Giving Tuesday, here are five ways CLAS made a meaningful difference this year.

1. Standing up for people experiencing discrimination

CLAS helped people across the province understand and assert their rights, providing more than 1,400 summary legal advice appointments and assisting 1,300 callers through the Inquiry Line. Through workshops and training sessions, we reached more than 1,100 people, offering practical guidance on identifying discrimination and navigating the BC Human Rights Tribunal process.

2. Protecting the rights of people experiencing involuntary mental health detention

Demand for mental health law representation continues to grow, and CLAS responded to nearly 2,000 requests for assistance at Mental Health Review Board hearings this year. In one case, a client was hospitalized after their religious observance was mistaken for “delusions.” With support from a CLAS advocate, the client testified about the importance of their faith, and the Mental Health Review Board ordered their release. Stories like this underscore the importance of culturally informed, rights-based advocacy.

3. Helping people stay housed, access income supports, and navigate poverty-related legal issues

CLAS helped over 1,000 clients facing challenges related to housing, workplace rights, disability assistance, income security, and mental health. We assisted migrant farm workers in a case at the BC Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal ruled this was unfair, which is an important precedent that strengthens workers’ rights across the province.

4. Providing trauma-informed legal support to survivors of gender-based violence

CLAS continues to offer compassionate, trauma-informed legal advice to survivors of gender-based violence. We also trained frontline advocates and lawyers across BC, helping communities respond safely and effectively to people experiencing harm.

5. Bringing survivor voices to the forefront and informing policy change

Through a research project, survivors shared their experiences with non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and other barriers to safety. The project engaged more than 240 participants through workshops, surveys, and information sessions, and connected with 177 individuals and organizations across BC. These insights will shape survivor-centered legal and policy recommendations that challenge harmful practices and promote safer community responses.

This is the work your support makes possible

At CLAS one principle guides us: legal systems should uphold dignity, not reinforce inequality. Your support on Giving Tuesday helps ensure that CLAS can continue to stand with people across British Columbia by providing free legal services, public legal education, and advocacy for systemic change.

If you would like to help strengthen access to justice across BC, you can make a contribution through our: Donation Page