The damages decision in Volpi v Lifemark Health Corp, 2026 AHRC 71 (Christianson) is the highest discrimination damages award in Alberta human rights history, as far as I am aware.
The damages decision is dated June 17, 2026, several months after the liability decision (2026 AHRC 26), where it was first determined that discrimination had occurred. BRL human rights lawyer Shane Varjassy summarized the liability decision 2 months ago.
In the damages decision I summarize here, Alberta Human Rights Tribunal (“AHRT”) awarded lost wages totaling $965,338.14 plus general damages for injury to dignity of $40,000, for a total damages award exceeding $1,000,000 plus interest.
The damages decision is important because it illustrates that human rights damages for lost wages can span several years. It is still very rare for this to happen, but it appears it remains technically possible in the right circumstances.
