Alex Ikejiani’s journey home – never lose sight of where you came from

Roots in Glace Bay – Learning fairness and ambition

Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, located on the east coast of Cape Breton Island, was once known as the biggest town in Canada. This historic former mining community shaped Alex in ways he is still discovering.

The community reinforced those lessons. Glace Bay is a place where people face real challenges yet continue to invest in one another, whether it’s checking in on a neighbour, organizing support when a family is struggling, or simply making sure no one is left behind. That gave Alex a concrete sense of what fairness looks like in practice, long before he had the words to describe it. The “East Coast piece,” as he calls it, the mix of candour, humour and deep loyalty, runs through everything he does. He carried Glace Bay with him into every posting and every role, shaping his understanding of equity, responsibility and the kind of public servant he wanted to become.

Early experiences – sports, identity, and a multi-layered Canada

As a Canadian of Nigerian descent who grew up in the Maritimes, spent time in the Prairies, lived in Ontario for over two decades, and came back home to Nova Scotia, Alex is grateful for the influence these layers have had on his identity. Each one gives him a different way of experiencing this country, and together they shape how he moves through institutions, how he reads rooms, and how he understands what inclusion really means. Being at home in different regions and communities taught him that Canada is not a single story, but a collection of overlapping realities that people navigate differently depending on who they are and where they come from.

At home, his parents were deliberate in nurturing their children’s paths. They paid close attention to each child’s strengths and interests, guiding one son toward medicine, a daughter toward human resources leadership, another son toward architecture, and Alex toward law.

Law was on his radar from an early age. His parents encouraged him on the path, which was further normalized by family members and friends connected to the profession, including two uncles who practiced law. Having people around him who could answer questions made the profession feel attainable rather than unachievable.

The combination of high-level sport, a layered identity and intentional career guidance instilled a core belief that has stayed with him throughout his career: “you have to drive your own success”, and “ambition and boldness are not things to apologize for, they are requirements.”

Discovering environmental justice and teaching

Alex earned his degree in political science in the early 1990s, when democracy was spreading globally. This period profoundly shaped his direction, drawing him to constitutional law and a fundamental question: how do nations govern themselves?

Environmental and regulatory law later became a natural fit. Having grown up in an industrial community, he developed an early appreciation for the relationship between people, industry, and the environment. These connections would shape much of his legal career.

After articling with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice and the Public Prosecution Service, he began his career in civil litigation before joining the Department of Justice Canada. The timing was significant. This was during the Marshall dispute, where work related to Mi’kmaq treaty fishing rights helped shape his approach to complex, high-profile legal issues.

He later moved to Ottawa, advising on oceans law, fisheries, and environmental matters while also prosecuting constitutional cases across Ontario and Northern Canada. Alex carried that dual role over the next decade. It was demanding, but he knew it gave him the depth of experience a single practice could not.

He continued to grow within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Legal Services Unit and took on increasingly senior roles, building a distinguished career marked by extensive experience in legislation, regulatory frameworks and legal advice.

Teaching at multiple faculties at the University of Ottawa since 2003 has become a defining parallel to his legal career. More than two decades in the classroom changed his mindset in ways he did not fully anticipate. Distilling complex legal concepts into lessons that resonated with graduate students forced him to frequently go back to the basics. His sustained engagement led to his appointment as Program Lead and Senior Fellow. In this role, Alex designed and delivered the Board of Directors Certification Program (CD.G), a corporate governance curriculum that became a standard offering for corporate and non-profit directors.

Teaching was never simply a side interest. It sharpened his thinking, connected him to the next generation of leaders, and reinforced a leadership philosophy built on listening carefully, meeting people where they are, and continually challenging one’s own assumptions. Over the years, he was lucky enough to watch many students grow into skilled lawyers, public servants, policymakers, and business leaders. Knowing he played a small part in their development grounded him.

Alex’s tips:

• Be bold and be willing to be a little unorthodox. That combination tends to pay dividends.
• Develop your judgment early. Skills are teachable. Judgment, knowing when to push, when to pause, how to give advice that is honest rather than comfortable, takes longer and nobody can shortcut it for you. Find mentors who tell you the truth. Take on the hard files, not just the clean ones.
• Drive your own career and make decisions intentionally. Not everyone will follow the same path, and that is perfectly fine. What matters is that the choices you make are yours and that you understand why you are making them.
• Now more than ever, balance and fluency are important. One area of fluency is artificial intelligence. Young lawyers and public servants must develop a genuine understanding of AI and strive for mastery at every level. Ignoring it will hold you back more than anything else. These tools are shaping the future of our workforce, and the pace of change is accelerating.

Beyond law and teaching, Alex sought opportunities to broaden his experience through board governance and community leadership. His service on Sport Integrity Canada and Learning for a Sustainable Future placed him at the table with dynamic and talented government professionals. Those experiences taught him how governance works in practice: how diverse perspectives strengthen decision-making, how constructive challenge sharpens judgment, and how leaders balance strategy, risk, oversight, and accountability.

His involvement with the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers has been equally important. It connected him to a community of professionals who understand both the privilege and the responsibility that comes with being a Black lawyer in this country. That connection reinforced a sense of obligation to use whatever platform he has with purpose and integrity.

Alex sees his path as unorthodox by the standards of a typical Department of Justice lawyer. But every part of it was intentional, and together those experiences gave him exactly the preparation he needed.

What keeps him going on difficult days

In a role where the stakes are high and the decisions have real impacts on people’s lives, maintaining balance is important. For Alex, that balance starts with family. Time spent with his two daughters puts everything into perspective. Seeing the world through their eyes reminds him of what matters most, even after the most challenging days.

He also makes a point of investing in the relationships that keep him grounded. Whether based in Ottawa or Halifax, he nurtures and prioritizes his friendships. Staying physically active is another non-negotiable. Regular trips to the gym help to clear his mind, and mountain biking trips, particularly at Mont-Sainte-Marie in Quebec, offer a chance to be fully present and focused, leaving the pressure of work behind for a few hours.

Balance is not something that is achieved once and then maintained effortlessly. Alex believes it is an ongoing practice centred on family, friends and physical activity. Together, these pillars help him to stay resilient and bring his best self to work each day.

These rituals are strengthened by the realities of work itself. Throughout his career, he has witnessed firsthand the profound importance of a justice system that works for everyone, especially for those whose voice often goes unheard.

“At every level of this work, someone is counting on the system to be fair, responsive, and accessible.”

The people affected by these decisions motivate him and reinforce his sense of responsibility, encouraging him to approach every day with focus, empathy and commitment.

Returning home in a new role

His appointment as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Nova Scotia in January 2026 marked a meaningful return to both the department and the province that helped shape his professional and personal identity.

“I began my career here, articling with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice and the Public Prosecution Service, and to return in this capacity, to lead the very department where that journey started, carried a significance that is difficult to put into words.”

While he struggled to capture the magnitude of the moment, he described it as both humbling and a true full-circle moment. The scale of this role is different. The accountability is different. But the core of it, sound judgment, clear advice, and institutional integrity, is the same.

Today, Alex is focused on the future of justice in Nova Scotia. He firmly believes the province’s best days are still to come, and he is determined to play a part in making that happen.

He is particularly interested in access to justice, court modernization, and public safety. He believes that, at the heart, these efforts are about people, making sure the justice system is accessible, effective and able to meet the needs of those it serves.

As he continues his work, he hopes that others will see their own paths reflected in his journey. Thanks to a wise friend and colleague who shaped his perspective, he came to understand that lived experience is a professional asset. One that deepens judgment, strengthens decisions, and gives meaning to every step forward, no matter how small.

For Alex, this is only the beginning. He believes that institutions built on integrity and led by people with sound judgment are essential to sustaining democracy and the rule of law. His work continues.