TD Bank has reached a settlement with Sharif Mohammed Bhamji, a Muslim-Indigenous man from the Heiltsuk Nation who filed a human rights complaint after he said he was racially profiled while trying to open a bank account at a Surrey branch. The agreement marks the end of a case that has sparked national conversation about systemic racism and corporate accountability.
Bhamji, who completed the online portion of his application before visiting the branch in May 2021, said the teller dismissed his government-issued Indian status card as fake because of his Muslim last name. He described the experience as humiliating and deeply unsettling.
Now, with the case resolved, Bhamji says he hopes his story encourages others who have faced similar treatment to come forward. “It’s not the solution, but it’s definitely part of it,” he said. “I’m glad to be part of a solution.”
As part of the healing process, Bhamji and TD executives travelled to Bella Bella on Sunday to participate in a traditional Heiltsuk washing ceremony — a powerful cultural ritual centred on cleansing, reconciliation and restorative justice. The Heiltsuk Nation’s elected chief called the ceremony a new benchmark for how corporations can take responsibility when harm is caused.
While financial details of the settlement have not been made public, the Heiltsuk Nation confirmed it includes general damages, funding for the Urban Heiltsuk Support Team in Vancouver, and coverage for the washing ceremony itself. TD has also implemented improvements to its staff training and identity verification processes — specifically regarding the proper handling of status cards — changes the Nation says meet the expectations of all parties involved.
The agreement closes the chapter on a complaint first brought to the Canadian Human Rights Commission in 2022 and shines a light on the lived reality of racial bias in everyday interactions. For Bhamji and his community, the hope is that this outcome inspires broader change within Canada’s financial institutions and strengthens protections for Indigenous and racialized customers across the country.