Humans right lawsuit against Backcountry Brewing

Hi, my name is Fadwa Bouziane, and I need support for a significant issue in my life. As a Black woman, I am no stranger to racism. My experiences have included social environments, personal relationships, workspaces and academic settings. I’m learning that justice is for people with privilege. We live in a system where if you don’t have assets you don’t have the right to justice. I can’t go through life knowing that due to lack of privilege I may might never experience justice. Being marginalized should not mean limited access to the court system. Despite the anticipated costs, I am fighting so that the next person won’t have such a similar experience with justice.

My period of employment at Backcountry Brewing in Squamish BC (on the way to Whistler ski resort), lasted from May 2019 to June 22, 2020. At Backcountry Brewing, one of the managers repeatedly used racist language and resented it when I oppose this practice. He made several crude racist jokes about black peoples’ hair and used the N word on multiple occasions. I was not the only witness, another employee was reduced to tears and left Backcountry Brewing because of the blatant racism. This was almost one year before I left for the same reasons. I have reached out for help many times concerning racist comments and unprofessional communications from peers in higher positions and have been dismissed multiple times. At the beginning of February 2020, I raised concerns regarding these inappropriate comments and poor levels of communication from management that made it difficult to work at Backcountry Brewing.

I began to experience stress and a sense of dread whenever I had to go to work. Another supervisor of mine often talked down to me in front clients. Several clients noticed this and commented on how it was ‘intense’. I found our interaction were often awkward and inappropriate. She doubled down and began a campaign of systematic and sustain bulling. She deliberately targeted me by always critiquing my performance. She was far more severe on me then other employees. She was the only one at Backcountry Brewing who complained about my work. As she was the general manager, there was a definite power imbalance. I began to be on guard all the time, stressed and anxious to go to work. I had expected Backcountry Brewing to be a practical source of income. Instead, I had to deal with ongoing discrimination and bullying. When I took proactive steps at Backcountry Brewing, I was met with resistance. I began to experience tiredness, low energy and then ongoing fatigue. Even though, I was also working as an art professor at two local Universities, I began to doubt my own abilities. I lost the ability to relax and I am often restless and always on edge. The self-doubt became debilitating until I left that work environment behind.

After an unsuccessful Mediation in April 2022, my case was scheduled for a hearing. However, Backcountry Brewing are attempting to dismiss this case. Speaking up against a more powerful establishment has proven difficult. There are 5 men, the owners of Backcountry brewing, on the opposing side. They are denying accountability and prefer not to face the issues I raised.

My choices are to discontinue the fight for justice or to launch this GoFundMe page. I have already depleting my own saving and I do not come to a privileged background. I’m reaching out to all of you for your kind assistance for my legal costs. From what I understood through speaking to my lawyer, these costs will amount to between 10 000 to 20 000 dollars depending on how long this lawsuit continues.

Thank you for your generosity and support.