He/Him
Amarkai Laryea maintains a dynamic, fully bilingual practice working to advance the rights of unions, workers, and individuals. He has extensive experience and expertise in all areas of labour, human rights, and administrative law. He provides strategic advice to unions on both internal matters and external campaigns. He also represents athletes in processes including Safe Sport/UCCMS complaints, doping-related disputes, discrimination, and discipline.
He is a co-founder of the Workers’ Education and Rights Collective (WERC-CÉDT) and has dedicated his career to working within Canada’s labour movement. Amarkai was previously a senior leader in the legal services department of one of Canada’s largest unions. He has been an executive union member and staff representative for both private and public sector unions and has experience developing comprehensive organizing campaigns with the Strategic Affairs section of an international union. He also led a new initiative focused on increasing access to justice at a federal tribunal.
Amarkai’s lived experience as a Black person continuously impacts his work and community activities. He sits on the Board of the African Canadian Association of Ottawa; he has been pro bono counsel for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Canada; he is a mentor with the McGill Black Alumni Association; and a member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and the Black Legal Action Centre.