The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) decided it will modify its policies to allow Jewish officers to wear traditional head coverings after B’nai Brith Canada made a recommendation to do so. .“The VPD has been a leader in Canada in promoting a diverse work force,” said B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn in a Wednesday press release. .“However, B’nai Brith’s inquiry revealed there was a gap in the VPD’s policy with no specific mention that wearing a kippah (also known as a yarmulke) was allowed.”.VPD planning, research, and audit director Drazen Manojlovic said the force will modify its equity, diversity, and inclusion policies to include kippahs. .“To my knowledge, a Jewish member has not brought this to our attention, but we are aware of it now,” said Manojlovic. .“Coincidentally, we are doing a review of our policies (on) equity, diversity, and inclusion and we will make the inclusion of the kippah in our policy.”.Mostyn said he was delighted with this decision. .“This is commendable recognition on the VPD’s part,” he said. .The RCMP allows Jewish officers to wear black, plain-patterened yarmulkes with their uniforms. .B’nai Brith Canada called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019 to take action against Bill 21 in Quebec, which would ban Jews who wear kippahs from working as public servants. .A judge ruled banning people who wear religious symbols from working as public servants was not causing irreparable harm that would justify freezing the law until a judicial review is done. .“B’nai Brith is deeply disappointed by the court’s decision,” said B’nai Brith Canada national legal counsel Steven Slimovitch. “Now that an immediate judicial solution is unavailable, we call on the prime minister to speak out in defence of all Quebecers’ religious liberties.”.Another judge upheld most of Quebec’s law, but he carved out an exemption for the anglophone education system.
