Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity at PCK
At PCK, we are dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone’s individuality is valued. Our Diversity & Inclusion Council is led by our Human Resources team to maximize efforts to integrate diversity into all areas of our practice, from how we serve clients to how we recruit and collaborate as a team.
Our strategy focuses on three core goals: being inclusive, celebrating differences, and fostering inclusive leadership. We believe diverse teams bring a wider range of perspectives, helping us deliver better IP solutions for our clients.
Our Commitment
PCK is committed to promoting equity and inclusion both within our firm and in the communities we serve. We are proud to provide ongoing support through initiatives like our Diversity Scholarship Program, which offers financial assistance and professional opportunities to underrepresented students allowing them to thrive and contribute to the future of IP.
Apply for Our Diversity Scholarship Program – Learn More Below
Scholarship Program
Through our annual Diversity Scholarship, PCK supports students from Black, African, Caribbean, and Indigenous communities by offering financial aid and mentorship opportunities. This program reflects our commitment to fostering equal opportunities and empowering future leaders in the IP industry.
“The PCK team firmly believes, and the evidence shows, that long overdue and seriously needed reform will never take hold unless each of us takes concrete action”, said Andrew Currier, CEO.
PCK is launching three Ontario diversity initiatives that have been developed in collaboration with Roots Community Services. They all share the goals of relieving hardship or economic disadvantage to attempt to achieve equal opportunity. One of the initiatives is an annual scholarship for university students. We may also offer a regular “open-house” program, where professionals in the firm will provide educational sessions on intellectual property to disadvantaged youth, based on the IPO IP Patch program. Also, there may be an opportunity for a paid summer internship for a University student. These initiatives are specifically designed to support disadvantaged groups including Black and Indigenous youth.
As stated in the final LSO report, Strategies to Address Issues of Systemic Racism in the Legal Professions, “The Law Society works to ensure that the law and the practice of law are reflective of all the people of Ontario, including Indigenous peoples, Francophones and equality-seeking communities.”
We raise a challenge to all of our peers in the legal industry to implement their own programs. If we all work together in this way, we can make a difference.
For more information, please contact Andrew Currier, info@pckip.com.
Scholarship Details
Eligibility Requirements
- Part-time or full-time enrollment at or acceptance by an Ontario university or college, accredited in science or engineering program, any year
- Black, African, Caribbean or Indigenous youth up to age 30, from low income families
- Should otherwise qualify for financial aid or be able to clearly demonstrate financial need
- Residency in the Greater Toronto Area
Application Requirements
- Copies of high school and/or college/university transcripts
- 300-400 word essay on any of the following topics:
- Brief history on an inventor who is Black, African, Caribbean or Indigenous. If the inventor has patents, please cite them and refer to them; or
- An overview of the intellectual property system and how it helps, or harms, racialized groups, and how the system could be adjusted to support racialized groups.
- The essay of the scholarship recipient may be published and promoted through the firm’s social media channels
- With consent, the other essays may be published and promoted through the firm’s social media channels
- Interviews will be conducted at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. Interviewees will be selected by the Committee based on desire, need, and likelihood of putting education into practice in intellectual property.
- A list of academic and/or non-academic awards and/or achievements or a description of extracurricular or community involvement
- A cover letter with explanation of financial need
- Letters of recommendation from teachers, advisors, employers, etc.
- Work history (if any)
Award
- $2,000 CAD per year. Subject to change.
Application and Selection Process
- Applications will be due by March 31 of the academic year in which the funds will be applied
- Final selection will be made by May 1st and the recipient will be notified by email
- Applications should be sent to scholarships@rootscs.org.
Notification
- The Scholarship Administrator will notify the selected recipient in writing, likely through email
Award Presentation
- The funds will be released to the student with the expectation that it be applied towards tuition or books
- The award will be announced on PCK’s website and through PCK’s social media channels
Diversity Initiatives
PCK IP unconditionally supports the Black Lives Matter movement and all peaceful protesters who have been expressing the sorrow, grief and outrage at the violent deaths of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor and, closer to home in Greater Toronto, D’Andre Campbell and Regis Korchinski-Paquet.
These deaths raise troubling questions about whether our legal system functions more as a tool of suppression than as an institution that supports the rule of law and equal treatment for all its citizens.
Paraphrasing the remarkable James Baldwin, our future depends on confronting and answering these questions.