One Year Later: Regaining Trust in Action
One year ago, Regaining Trust: The Ruck Report called on the legal community — and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society — to confront and eliminate systemic discrimination within the profession.
Today, the work continues. The launch of RegainingTrust.ca marks a new phase in this effort: a public, transparent space where progress can be shared, measured, and discussed.
Reflecting on the first year since the report’s release, Douglas Ruck, KC, author of Regaining Trust, said he is encouraged by the momentum that has taken hold.
“When I wrote this report, my hope was that it would never sit on a shelf,” said Mr. Ruck. “It was always intended to be a living, breathing, dynamic document — one that challenges us to listen, to act, and to hold ourselves accountable. I’m pleased to see the continued commitment from so many across the profession and the community to make real, measurable change.” - Douglas Ruck, KC
The creation of this website represents an important step in that direction — providing updates on the 21 recommendations, highlighting independent oversight, and offering opportunities for continued learning and engagement. Regaining Trust remains both a blueprint and a promise: that the work of building equity, inclusion, and trust in the legal profession must be ongoing, collaborative, and visible.
A message from Marla Brown — Director of Equity & Access, NSBS
On October 29, 2024, the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society released Regaining Trust: The Ruck Report on Systemic Discrimination in Nova Scotia’s Legal Community. One year later, the report continues to guide our profession’s path toward accountability, equity, and systemic change.
Read the Full Report
At the Society, our Equity & Access Office is committed to:
- Promoting diversity, inclusion, and substantive equality in the legal profession
- Eliminating racism, sexism, and discrimination in the delivery of legal services
- Collaborating with partners to make justice more fair, accessible, and affordable
Over the past year, we have worked closely with the Ruck Implementation Taskforce, our equity committees, and Independent Implementation Lead Janna Hines, to ensure all 21 recommendations are being implemented. This work builds on the legacy of the Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall Jr. Prosecution and reflects our continuing obligation to learn from community voices.
The Ruck Report is more than a set of recommendations. It is a call to action. Our goal is to be a culturally competent, inclusive, and representative Bar — one that truly reflects and serves the people of Nova Scotia. This is the work of Regaining Trust, and it is work we are committed to carrying forward together.
Watch the Video Presentation
Mi’kmaq Land Acknowledgement:
We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) People first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.
African Nova Scotian Acknowledgement:
We recognize that African Nova Scotians are a distinct people who form part of over 52 historical land- based communities, whose histories, legacies, and contributions have enriched that part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia for over 400 years.