9.17°C Vancouver

May 5, 2022 7:18 PM - The Canadian Press

Indigenous B.C. man, granddaughter settle with BMO over arrest while opening account

Share On

A British Columbia Indigenous man and his granddaughter who were arrested as they tried to open an account at the Bank of Montreal have settled a human rights complaint.

A statement says the settlement agreement includes a monetary payment from BMO to Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter, a private apology, and a pledge from the bank to update its policies on how Indigenous status cards are handled.

Johnson and his granddaughter, who are from the Heiltsuk First Nation, were trying to open an account when police were called over suspicion they were using a fake status card.

A retired judge who led a disciplinary hearing against the two arresting officers said in a decision released last month that they "recklessly" arrested Johnson and the girl, who were held and handcuffed on a busy street in front of the bank.

Johnson announced the settlement today in the same location he was arrested, adding that he would also be closing his account.

He says it's been a difficult journey getting to this point, advocating for himself and his family, and he hopes institutions and the public educate themselves about Indigenous culture.

The man and his granddaughter still have a complaint pending against the Vancouver Police Department in the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

Latest news

BCOct 28, 2025

Man arrested in connection with Lynn Valley tire slashing spree, say North Vancouver RCMP

North Vancouver RCMP say a suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of tire slashings that damaged several vehicles in the Lynn Valley area last week. Police received at least 16 reports between October 25 and 26 of tires being punctured or slashed on vehicles parked along Kirkstone Road, Viewlynn Drive, Lynn Valley Road, and Mountain Highway. Investigators believe more victims may not yet have come forward. After reviewing neighbourhood security video, officers identified a suspect and made an arrest around 5 p.m. on Monday, October 27. The man remains in custody as the investiga
metro-vancouver-crime-stoppers-highlights-top-five-most-wanted-suspects-this-halloween
CanadaOct 28, 2025

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers highlights top five most wanted suspects this Halloween

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers has released its annual list of British Columbia’s five most wanted criminals, calling on the public to help locate them as Halloween approaches. The announcement was made Tuesday at Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors in Surrey, where officials urged residents to share any information that could lead to arrests. The list includes Omid Mashinchi, 43, and Gurkirat Singh, 26, who also appear on BOLO Canada’s national 25 Most Wanted list. Other fugitives include Amir Navarchi, 40, John Norman MacKenzie, 64, and Jean-Sébastien Philippe Eric Ferland, 43. Mashinchi
canada-post-and-postal-workers-union-to-resume-talks-amid-ongoing-rotating-strikes
CanadaOct 28, 2025

Canada Post and postal workers’ union to resume talks amid ongoing rotating strikes

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are preparing to return to the bargaining table later this week as rotating strikes continue to disrupt mail delivery across the country. Both sides have confirmed they will meet with a federal mediator, though no specific date has been set. The renewed discussions mark the latest attempt to resolve nearly two years of tense negotiations over a new collective agreement covering about 55,000 postal employees. Union members launched rotating strikes more than a month ago, shortly after the federal government announced a series of policy
avian-flu-resurges-in-fraser-valley-with-nine-new-poultry-outbreaks-this-month
BCOct 28, 2025

Avian flu resurges in Fraser Valley with nine new poultry outbreaks this month

Health officials have confirmed a new wave of avian influenza outbreaks across British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, marking the province’s first cases in nearly a year. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says nine commercial poultry flocks in Abbotsford and Chilliwack have tested positive for the virus since mid-October. The latest surge began on October 14, when the first outbreak of the season was detected in Abbotsford. Eight additional cases were reported in the following days, six of them in Chilliwack-area farms. The return of infections coincides with the annual fall migration
BCOct 28, 2025

Two youth arrested after reported robbery at New Westminster’s Moody Park

New Westminster Police say two youth have been arrested following a reported robbery involving a child at Moody Park on Saturday evening. Officers were called around 5:30 p.m. on October 26 after a parent reported that their child, under the age of 16, had been grabbed from behind by two other youth who demanded money. Police determined that one of the suspects was known to the victim. Both suspects were located nearby, arrested for robbery, and later released to their guardians while the investigation continues. “This is a concerning incident for both the young victim and their family,” s

Related News