Press Conference: THE FAMILY DEMAND INVESTIGATION OVER DEATH OF SON NICOUS - Red Coalition

A coalition of community advocates and academics convened a press conference today to demand justice and systemic accountability following the death of Nicos Spring, a 22-year-old Black man who died while in custody at the Bordeaux Detention Centre over the Christmas holidays. The Red Coalition, joined by David Austin—a professor of Humanities at John Abbott College and Canadian Studies at McGill University—called for immediate action from provincial authorities, citing evidence of illegal detention, inadequate oversight, and entrenched systemic racism within Quebec’s correctional system.

Spring, described by loved ones as a son, brother, mentor, and aspiring artist, was reportedly held illegally at the Bordeaux facility despite a bail hearing on December 23 that should have resulted in his release. Provincial authorities have since confirmed that two other individuals who appeared before the court on the same day were also unlawfully detained and not released until December 24. Spring never walked free.

“Nicos was an innocent man,” said a spokesperson for the Red Coalition. “He was awaiting trial, entitled to the presumption of innocence, and yet he died in state custody under circumstances that remain shrouded in secrecy.”

The Coalition emphasized that while the precise cause of death is still under investigation by the coroner’s office—and a separate criminal probe is being conducted by Quebec’s provincial police (SQ)—the broader context cannot be ignored. They pointed to a November 2022 report by Canada’s Correctional Investigator, which found that Black individuals represent 9.2% of the federal prison population despite comprising only 3.5% of Canada’s total population—a disparity on par with racial imbalances in the U.S. prison system. The report further documented that Black inmates are disproportionately placed in maximum-security institutions, subjected to use-of-force incidents, and routinely exposed to racial slurs and discriminatory treatment by staff.

In Quebec, conditions appear even more troubling. A 2021 study revealed that the province’s correctional services classify inmates by skin tone—categorizing them as “light,” “pale,” “medium,” or “dark”—a practice not found elsewhere in Canada. Additionally, a 2022 ruling by the Quebec Human Rights Commission found a prison guard liable for using the N-word and making racist remarks toward a Black inmate—a case that took six years to resolve.

“The death of Nicos Spring did not occur in a vacuum,” said David Austin. “It is the tragic culmination of over-policing in marginalized communities, racial profiling, discriminatory bail practices, and a corrections system that treats Black bodies as disposable.”

The Coalition outlined four key demands:

A systemic discrimination complaint be filed with the Quebec Ombudsman, focusing not only on Spring’s case but on the broader operations of the provincial correctional system.

A public coroner’s inquest be convened by the Minister of Public Safety to fully examine the circumstances surrounding Spring’s death.

Immediate public release of all available video footage from the detention centre during the incident.

An independent autopsy be conducted to ensure transparency and accuracy in determining cause of death.

The family of Nicos Spring, acting on legal counsel, chose not to speak publicly at the event—a decision the Coalition said must be respected amid their profound grief. However, they affirmed their commitment to facilitating media access to the family “in due time.”

Critically, the Coalition challenged the adequacy of current investigative mechanisms. Both the SQ’s criminal investigation and the administrative review by the Ministry of Public Safety are non-public, and coroner’s reports in Quebec are typically brief and lack accountability measures. “We need more than procedural reviews,” the spokesperson said. “We need a systemic lens that confronts anti-Black racism as a root cause—not an afterthought.”

The group also called for the creation of a civilian oversight board for Quebec’s correctional services, citing models in Ontario that include independent police watchdogs and community-led review bodies. “Institutions meant to protect must be accountable to the communities they serve,” Austin stressed.

When asked about the provincial government’s response, Coalition members expressed skepticism. While Public Safety Minister François Bonnardel has acknowledged Spring’s illegal detention, advocates argue his actions fall short. “Acknowledgment is not justice,” said one organizer. “If you know someone died because of clerical errors and mismanagement, then launch a public inquiry—don’t wait for communities to beg for transparency.”

As vigils and calls for reform grow, the Red Coalition vowed to pursue every legal and advocacy avenue available. “Nicos was more than a headline,” Austin said. “He was a young man with dreams, relationships, and a future stolen. We will not let his death be forgotten—or repeated.”

The Coalition concluded with a stark warning: without structural change, more lives will be lost. “This will happen again,” Austin said. “Unless we dismantle the systems that allow it.”