The BC Civil Liberties Association is pleased to announce the new President of our Board of Directors, Hasan Alam. Hasan first joined the BCCLA as a summer law student and went on to serve on the board of directors for six years before becoming Vice President in 2023. 

Hasan is a labour and human rights lawyer at the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), with a rich background in social justice advocacy. He is also the Supervising Lawyer for the Archway Migrant Worker and Poverty Law Clinics. As a settler of South Asian descent, he was raised on the unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. 

“What first drew me to volunteer as a summer law student for the BCCLA was its unwavering advocacy for those being racially profiled, surveilled, and unlawfully detained by the state. Coming from a community greatly impacted by these violations of freedom, I felt a strong connection to the organization’s work. Many years later, as a board member and now President, the BCCLA’s steadfast dedication to these issues and its far-reaching work to protect and advance civil liberties continue to drive my commitment to the organization.  

As the first board President from a racialized background, I want to recognize the ongoing internal work the BCCLA is undertaking to better reflect at a governance level the communities it serves. I look forward to the year ahead as we work together to develop a new strategic plan, continue to take on challenging and complex issues that others might shy away from, and build on our legacy of bold and principled advocacy.”

Hasan Alam, BCCLA President 

In addition to his work on the BCCLA board, Hasan is the Community Liaison for the Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline – a service he co-founded to offer free, confidential legal advice to individuals experiencing discrimination due to their Muslim faith or perceived faith. He is also the past President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers – a diverse coalition of legal professionals committed to promoting greater equity, justice, and opportunity for the Asian community. 

“I’m delighted to welcome Hasan as President of the BCCLA. Hasan demonstrated great integrity, commitment, and passion in his role as Vice President, and has embodied the values of the Association both personally and professionally. I would also like to offer Karen Mirsky our heartfelt gratitude for her stewardship of the organization as President and appreciate her ongoing commitment as she moves into the Vice President position. I’m thrilled to continue working alongside them both.”

Liza Hughes, BCCLA Executive Director