Lorne Foster

Lorne Foster is Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration at York University, where he holds the York Research Chair in Black Canadian Studies & Human Rights (Tier 1) and directs the Institute for Social Research (ISR).

Research focuses on:

• Racial discrimination and human rights policy
• Race-based data collection in policing and public services
• Multiculturalism and anti-racism initiatives
• Policy formation and evaluation

He leads major research partnerships with police services across Canada, including projects with York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, Ottawa Police Service, and Toronto Police Service examining racial profiling and developing human rights-based data collection frameworks. His SSHRC-funded 'Blackness in Canada' project examines Black Canadian identity and equity policy development.

Teaching includes courses on Social Justice, Race and Social Policy, and Equity, Policy, Law and Planning. He established the Diversity & Human Rights Certificate in partnership with the Human Resources Professional Association.