Accusations made of systemic racism in Pointe-Claire

APointe-Claireblue-collar workerclaims to have endured constant racism while working for the city and will testify about it before a provincialtribunaltoday.

AlrickBowen says he was shocked when, within a month of getting his job in the parks department of the City ofPointe-Claire,he began hearing racist remarks.

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Bowen alleges he endured yearsof being the target of racial slurs, as well as physical aggression.

"Racism is not something you become numb to," Bowen told CBC News.

"It affects your quality of life, your family, your ability to be happy outside of your job and how you function as a human being."

His case will be heardtodayat the Quebec government'sTribunaladministratifdu travail, which hears appeals to decisions made by labour relations boards in the province.

Bowenis challenging the decision of theCommission desnormes, de l'quit, de lasantet de lascuritdu travail not to consider his health problems a work-related injury.

Some 25 people are expected to testify before the tribunal.

A constant burden

Bowen wasa temporary worker andwas advised by colleagues thatif he complained, he would not only be ignored, but it would cost him his chance of becoming a permanent employee, he alleges.

He says he kept the job because he needed to support his family.

"I have a son who is sixyearsold and a daughter who istwo years old. So obviously being a father, this was a constant burden, having a job to support them," he said.

He repeatedly contacted his union but wasn't given answers, he said.

In 2014, he got a lawyer, thenlast year he enlisted the help of theCenter for Research-Action on Race Relations(CRARR).

FoNiemi,the executive director ofCRARR,said it's the first time he's heard of this kind of racism inPointe-Claire.

The West Island is viewed as "upper middle class, anglophone, multi-racial it's an area where racism of this nature is not supposed to exist,"Niemisaid.

"The use of the 'N-word', the physical intimidation this isn't1950sAlabama,"headded.

WhenCRARRwrote to the city on Bowen's behalf, he said they issued a polite denial.

He expects to hear from more people like Bowen during this week's tribunal.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

City intervened to help

In a statement,Pointe-ClairespokeswomanMarie-PierPaquette-Sguinsaid the city intervenedonBowen's behalf more than once.

"The first was with a grievance settlement in 2008 with the approval of his union, and the second with an investigation to verify his harassment allegations in 2013," she said.

"His duties were even changed to help him."

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