Althea Francis has been promoted to deputy chief federal prosecutor at the Ontario Regional Office of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada | Service des poursuites pénales du Canada (PPSC).
She has spent over two decades at the independent government authority and was the first Black woman to become a general counsel there.
The move was praised by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers in a LinkedIn post, were they described Francis as “passionate advocate for equity and fairness.”
“Althea has worked tirelessly to address systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system. Through her leadership in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, she has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that promote fairness and accountability,” the association wrote in the post.
Francis was named chair of the PPSC’s DEIA committee when it was established in 2021. In this role, she collaborated with senior leaders in the organization and conducted training on unconscious bias, systemic racism, Indigenous relations, and LGBTQ+ pronouns. She also put together a strategic DEIA plan for the PPDC Ontario regional office that served as a blueprint for EDI-centered governance documents. Moreover, she joined the organization’s National Prosecution Policy Committee.
She has advised on national security and cross-border prosecutions. In her tenure with the PPSC, she worked with the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. She also served as special advisor to the assistant deputy attorney general.
Francis was senior counsel on the Integrated Road team, a major case team. She became general counsel on August 1, 2023.
“[Francis] has broken barriers and paved the way for greater diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. As she takes on this new leadership role, we celebrate her trailblazing journey, her impact, and the inspiration she provides to aspiring legal professionals,” the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers wrote.