Soyez le Changement - Black Law Students

2012-2013 | 9th Issue

Be The Change Black Law Students’ Association of Canada 22nd Annual National Conference

Soyez le Changement

22e Conférence Annuelle de l’Association des Étudiants Noirs en Droit du Canada

Table Of Contents 4

Special Thanks

16

“Race”, Literacy, And The Legal Profession By Sandra Aigbinode

5

President’s Welcome By Lavinia Latham

7

17

Scarborough Shooting Aftermath

Utilizing Interdisciplinary Collaboration In The Representation Of Mentally Ill Clients By Rochelle Palmer

By Gary Pieters

9

18 Be The Change... Be Justice

Lessons From Los Angeles By Saron Gebresellassi

By Ida Ngueng Feze, Esq, LLM

10 11

19

BLSAC Lifetime Achievement Award

By Julie Sobowale

20

BLSAC 2012-2013 Executive

Visible Minority

21

Conference Program

Music To My Ears

By Nancy Zagbayou

13

Conversation Avec Une Amie

In English and French

25

Conference Speakers

33

Performers

By Shane Martínez

34

Thank-Yous

BLSAC Public Statement RE: Trayvon Martin

37

Sponsors

Par Sandra Awovi A.Komassi et Affoh Guenneguez

14 15

Going To The Root By Planting Seeds For Change

Special Thanks

The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada would like to extend their appreciation to the Law Foundation of Ontario for their generous support over the years. We also thank all participating speakers, sponsors, Lord Elgin Hotel and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Contact This annual magazine is published by the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada. Information about the Association is available at www.blsacanada.com. Please direct all editorial, advertisement and membership questions to the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada at [email protected] An online version of this magazine can be found at www.blsacanada.com.

4

BLSAC | February 2013

President’s Welcome By Lavinia Latham

This statement by President Barack Obama truly speaks volumes. It effectively displaces our instinctual response to delegate responsibility while simultaneously demanding swift action. Formed in 1991, the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSAC) has made great strides towards equality, growth, and strength. The organization has successfully served as a safe haven for black legal professionals to discuss contentious issues of concern, while also providing a unique opportunity to network and liaison with each other. These advancements are certainly commendable; however the time has come to mobilize ourselves in a different direction. We must recognize our strength in numbers and our potential to increase Black representation within the legal profession. As a membership, we must continue the hard work of our predecessors by unifying ourselves to work with, rather than against, each other. To this end, I am proud to say that this 2012-2013 executive has acted in a particularly stellar fashion. Due to this executive’s hard work, determination and persistence, we were able to establish a National Mentorship program. This new program is designed to bring cohesion to our chapters, guidance to our youth, and growth for the Black legal community. It has been our mission to progress last year’s mandate of “Stronger Together” one step further. Accordingly, this year’s conference is appropriately titled, “Be the Change”. As you are reading this, you may be asking yourself, “What does this mean? What can I do to make a difference”? To that, I ask, “how can you not make a difference? How can you not be the change”? In my view, change starts with a shift from theory to implementation. In other words, don’t just say, actually do! To “be the change” means realizing your strength and power as an upstanding member of the Black

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”1

community. It means taking part in social justice initiatives that will have a direct impact on the rates of young black people blossoming into positive members of society. These initiatives need not be grandiose in nature. Being the change could simply mean taking the time to discuss the profession of law with Black youths from at-risk communities. It could even mean acting as a Big Brother/Big Sister for a troubled youth who may feel completely alone and isolated from society. Small gestures such as these tend to have wide-sweeping benefits; especially when combined with other social justice initiatives. I would like to take this opportunity to extend many thanks to Andrew Alleyne and the executive of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers for their continued mentorship and guidance. I would also like to extend a special thanks to the Law Foundation of Ontario, Blakes Cassels & Graydon LLP, and Koskie Minsky LLP for their unwavering support of the BLSAC National Conference. A very special thank you goes out to Professor Joanne St. Lewis and Jacqueline Beckles for continuing to lend their wise words of advice, assistance, and guidance during all stages of conference preparation. Finally, I would like to thank the 2012/2013 BLSAC National Executive who worked tirelessly to ensure the presentation of an amazing conference. It truly was my pleasure to work with, and get to know, each and every one of you. Sincerely,

Lavinia Latham National President BLSAC 2012-2013

1 Remarks of then Senator Barack Obama: Super Tuesday Chicago, IL. February 05, 2008 www.barackobama.com

5


6


Scarborough Shooting Aftermath It’s time to get serious about stopping gun violence

By Gary Pieters When I read of the neighbourhood “blocko” (block party) at Danzig St. that ended with gun violence, I reacted with sadness and distress. Imagine: a community barbecue that should have helped to build a stronger sense of social cohesion was shattered by reckless individuals who did not care who was around as they engaged in a gunfight. Tragically, two young people perished and 23 other young people were wounded. My condolences are extended to the families and friends of 14-year-old Shyanne Charles and 23-year-old Joshua Yasay. The violence that caused these deaths and injuries was unacceptable — I only hope that the community can remain strong and united in its moment of grief and loss. Shooting incidents in the city are up this year and have reached the point where there are comparisons being made to 2005 — the so-called “year of the gun.” Like then, innocent bystanders are being injured or killed by misguided young people. The Scarborough shooting spree occurred just weeks after violent gun crimes in the food court of the Toronto Eaton Centre and at a restaurant in Toronto’s Little Italy. And the day after the Danzig St. gunfire, another shooting occurred at a soccer field in the Jane and Eglinton area that resulted in another

7


fatality. Why does the crisis of gun violence continue to intensify in Toronto? How could the perpetrators have behaved in a manner that was so destructive to the lives of innocent bystanders? Are they so devoid of hope for both themselves and their community? It is said that for some young people, “it is easier to get a gun than it is to get a job.” But where are the guns coming from? And what steps are being taken by the three levels of government to stop the proliferation and illegal trafficking of guns and ammunition into the Greater Toronto Area? In order to restore public confidence in Toronto as a safe city, we can’t respond to gun violence only when these incidents occur and the issue dominates the news cycle — then go back to ignoring the problem once the media spotlight turns away. It’s time for us to get serious about stopping the violence. Here are some of the things we should do:

Youth employment: Address the increasingly high youth unemployment rate by accelerating job creation, including paid seasonal/summer employment opportunities that keep young people employed, engaged and productive. That would make joining the local gang a less attractive option. Engage private and public, profit and non-profit sectors in this effort. Youth programming: Provide long-term resources, programs and projects that introduce positive alternatives to our young people through institutional support in the

form of education, training and recreation that turn young people away from gangs. Community accountability: Maintain funding levels and draw in new funding to build neighbourhood capacity so communities can implement their own solutions. Community use of public and private facilities (libraries, community centres and athletic venues) where young people can meet and engage in skills development and recreation would help to restore hope in marginalized districts that lack resources. A recent Star article headlined “Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods: Money to stem poverty, violent crime about to dry up” sounded the alarm bell on this issue. As an educator, I have seen the benefits of community-based initiatives, including breakfast clubs, community centre programs, youth-toyouth peer facilitation groups, drop-in counsellors and other community engagement programs that positively influence young people. As for the perpetrators of gun crimes, they have to be addressed through a combination of proactive measures — counselling, community service, restorative justice, anti-violence education and access to skills and job training — in order to restore their place in the community. It is said that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Toronto is our village, tasked with the responsibility for maintaining the safety and wellbeing of its communities and citizens. We should expect nothing less. Gary Pieters is a past member of the Toronto Star community editorial board, current president of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations and a school administrator in Toronto.

Committed to diversity McCarthy Tétrault LLP salutes the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSAC) for over 20 years of passion, dedication and hard work. We commend and support your commitment to enhancing academic, professional and networking opportunities for Black law students and the community.

Torys is proud to be a sponsor of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada’s 22nd Annual National Conference

www.torys.com

Be The Change… Be Justice By Ida Ngueng Feze, Esq, LLM Acknowledging the continued social, political and economical struggle of people of African descent in Africa and the rest of the world, the United Nations have dedicated an entire decade starting in 2013 to focus on fighting against racial discrimination and its systemic and pervasive effects in most societies. The intervention of the United Nations in highlighting the fact that racism and all forms of racial discrimination have yet to be addressed efficiently must struck us all to reflect and concern ourselves, no matter our origins, about what we, as individuals, can do to make this decade of change successful. Such a call from this important international organization sadly reminds us that we have not come far enough in eradicating one of the most gangrenous poisons our societies have known. At a time where social apartheid continues to be justified by pure economical considerations ignoring the socialization of discriminatory practices, when racial minorities have called for an Inter-American convention against discrimination, where a segment of society is labeled with a presumption of incompetence that has to be rebutted, any judge, lawyer, legal scholar and individual should rightfully ponder on the role and efficiency of our Justice system in tackling the new form that racism has morphed into.

9


In 1999 the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) provided a Report on racial equality in the Canadian legal profession, identifying the impacts of racism from law schools admission, research of articling and employment hiring and mobility. The report provided specific recommendations that were not effectively implemented, if at all. This leaves us wondering why the CBA failed in this great undertaking. In fact, more than a decade later, more reports are attesting to the continued socialized racist practices still pervasive in society, and the legal profession once more fails the test. In Ontario, just this past fall, the Law Society of Upper Canada released a report attesting that racialized minorities are having more difficulties in finding articling positions. The failure of the Law Society to clearly state the causes that were identified, rather than referring to reasons not related to the students’ competence, fails short of the long way the CBA had brought the entire nation by creating a dialogue about racial discrimination. In his study, Paul Eid was able to demonstrate that people of African descent were much more likely than any other minority group to be discriminated against when looking for employment in the greater area of Montreal, the most diverse city in the province of Québec. Similar reports attesting of the higher rate of unemployment among more qualified minority groups in Québec underline these issues further. In 2008, the Québec bar counselor on equality, Fanie Pelletier wrote an article on visible

minorities in the legal profession in Québec and attested of the racial disparities for lawyers and students alike. More recently, Fanie Pelletier and Tamara Thermitus have established a working group for a more inclusive legal profession in Québec. The project aims to identify, assess and prioritize the issues through the conduct of a series of workshop and surveys in order to design and implement anti-discriminatory measures. As early as spring 2013, the group will solicit the participation of minority lawyers and students to attend its first workshop. This is only one initiative among the many, undertaken around the country to make Canada and the rest of the world a safer place for us all, as when even one person is subjected to racial discrimination it is our entire humanity that is being put to the test. So for this next decade think of how much better society could be and construct your vision of the world. Wherever you may be in the world, be an instrument of change. Be the change. Be Justice. Ms. Ida Ngueng Feze is a member of the New York Bar. She earned a B.A. in Law and Society from Ramapo College of New Jersey (2002), a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law (2006) and an LLM from the Université de Montréal (2013). She has worked for a law firm in the US, for the United Nations and various research institutes. She is the Founder of the BLSA chapter of the Université de Montréal and an active participant in various initiatives for equality and equity for minorities. She is currently affiliated with McGill University at the Center for Genomics and Policy. [email protected]

Music To My Ears By Julie Sobowale I was nervous at the audition. I hadn’t auditioned for anything in a long time. Luckily, I made it.

difficult it is to get 100 people to focus and sing at the right pitch, strength and tone. The choir had many challenges to tackle.

As a first soprano, those pesky high ‘A’s in “Laud to the Nativity” kept bothering me. The problem I joined the Coro was my breath. You need a strong diaphragm to Collegium choir for push the air through your lungs to hit the high one reason – to relax. I needed something notes. I struggled with those ‘A’s. Eventually, non-legal, non-writing, non-serious, non- I recognized my own limitations and moved constant pressure to help me relieve my stress. down to second soprano. Singing is magical to me. I don’t have to be perfect or the best. That isn’t the purpose of I went through the performance day jitters in the choir. We, the community members and late November at our first performance of the the university students, are there to make year. The Chamber Choir, a more experienced a beautiful sound. and technically diverse group, went first. I sat nervously in the pews with my friend, who was Articling can be a stressful year. Everything is six months pregnant at the time and fidgeting new. It takes time to learn about the office, the beside me. We eventually walked up to church business of the firm and how to deal with clients. stage by the organ, high above the crowd where Switching from law school to work takes time. we could easily see everyone. Plus, there’s the added pressure of waiting to hear whether you’ve been hired back. I needed And then we sang. a way to relieve the pressure. I didn’t think about my breathing I’ve always loved singing. Choir was my troubles or those pesky ‘A’s. Mary was my favourite activity in Grade 4. It was the best part guide and she led me through the concert. of Sundays and my high school years. I stopped thinking. Do you know how hard it is for a lawyer to stop thinking? I never realized how difficult singing could be until I joined the choir. We tackled the classics We need something to take us away from the like Ottorino Respighi’s “Laud to the Nativity” law, even for a little while. We as future lawyers and Franz Biebl’s “Ava Maria”. I learned how are always thinking, analyzing, discussing, and

10


pondering the law. We need to slow down. Develop your work/life balance in law school. That way you can carry your practices into your legal career. By taking charge of our mental health, we can be healthy, successful lawyers. As of this printing, I’m six months into the choir. We are preparing for our last performance in April with the Nova Scotia Symphony Orchestra. This will be our major performance of the year. I’m not worried about performing anymore. I just want to sing.

Julie Sobowale is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She received her Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Windsor (2007), Masters in Business Administration (2009) and Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University. While studying at the Schulich School of Law, she received Best Oralist prize at the Third Annual Koskie Minsky Diversity Moot and competed in the Mathews Dinsdale and Clark Labour Arbitration Moot. She was the recipient of the Faculty of Law Leadership Award. Julie was the Co-Chair of the Law Student Section for the Canadian Bar Association – Nova Scotia. She currently serves on the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada Board of Directors as National Articling Representative.

Visible Minority

A necessary legal fiction?

By Nancy Zagbayou Despite the colorblind ethos prevalent in Canadian society, the often unspoken legacy of discrimination continues to adversely impact ‘visible minorities’ today. In 2007, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination criticized Canada for it’s use of the term ‘visible minority’ and issued a non-binding recommendation calling for the term to be removed from usage as it allegedly contradicted with the aims and objectives of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ratified by Canada in 1970. 2 The committee argued that the term ‘visible minority’ seemed to suggest that whiteness was the normative standard and races differing from this norm were visible, thereby promoting discrimination. The Canadian government responded that it had no plans of changing the standard usage of the term as “’visible minority’ […] is a key component of Canada’s anti-discrimination policy”.3 The term ‘visible minority’ is a legal concept found in Canadian legislation and it has no comparable meaning outside of the Canadian context. According to Statistics Canada, the term ‘visible minority’ is specific to the administration of the Employment Equity Act (Act) and refers to “persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who

are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color”.4 discounted in favor of legal abstractions that The Act, which came into force in 1996, aims often reflect racial hierarchy. Patricia Williams to “achieve equality in the workplace so that no expressed the same sentiment when she stated person shall be denied employment opportunities in a footnote, “I don’t like the word “minority” or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability and [...] because it implies a certain delegitimacy in [...] to correct the conditions of disadvantage in a majoritarian system.”7 employment experienced by women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members Even if the concept of ‘visible minority’ is a of visible minorities.”5 The Act, which creates pure legal fiction, something assumed in law statutory rights outside of the constitutional to be fact irrespective of the accuracy of that equality framework, establishes both negative assumption, it is important to remember that rights protecting members of the fours specific the law is speaking to the experience of a groups against employment discrimination, and particular group to avoid being blind to the positive rights giving members of identified negative unintended consequences on the groups preferential treatment in order to improve object of the legislation. Canadian critical race their employment opportunities and remedy theorists have encouraged the use of the term their historical employment disadvantages. Is the “racialized communities” instead of “visible concept of ‘visible minority’ ill suited to refer minorities” in contexts where it considers the term to the group the legislations aims to protect or to reflect an erroneous social construct involved in is it simply a legal fiction that should instead perceptions that persons or groups who share be evaluated based on how well it achieves its a given ancestry are different and unequal. The objectives? deliberate decision of the Canadian government to continue using the term ‘visible minority’ may The UN criticism of the term seems to echo the be seen as a refusal to acknowledge the validity of critical race theory idea that the law is not neutral, the critical race theory criticism or an assertion as it perpetuates the marginalization of people of of national sovereignty by rejecting the scrutiny color with its rhetoric of white dominance. The of an international entity in its internal affairs. discomfort with the use of a lexicon that seems to promote the racial power imbalances it claims Although the textual argument against using a to remedy highlights a larger problem articulated term that semantically seems to promote a certain by Jennifer Nedelsky when she explains that “the racial hierarchy has some merit, it is important ongoing problem of defining the term remains”.6 to remember that the ‘visible minority’ concept When it comes to questions of race, power and was established to be used as a tool to achieve law, the experiential knowledge informed by the employment equity. As Mari Matsuda noted personal experiences of the oppressed is often in her talk presented at the Yale Law School

2 National Post, Canada Ready to Spar with UN over visible minorities, July 5 2011 3 Government of Canada, Nineteen and twenty report June 2005 – May 2009, International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination < http://www.pch. gc.ca/pgm/pdp-hrp/docs/cerd/rpprts_19_20/19-20-eng.pdf> 4 Statistics Canada < http://www.statcan.gc.ca/concepts/definitions/minority-minorite1-eng.htm> 5 Lubomyr Chabursky, “The employment Equity Act: An Examination of its Development and Direction” (1992) 24 Ottawa L Rev at 321. 6 Jennifer Nedelksy, “Reconceiving Rights as relationship” (1994) 1 Rev. Const Stud at 4. 7 Patricia J. Williams, “Alchemical notes: Reconstructing ideals from deconstructed rights” (1987) 22 Harv CR-CLL Rev at 404.

11


Conference on Women of Color and Law in 1988, “it would be absurd to reject the use of an elitist legal system, or the use of the concepts of rights, when such use is necessary to meet the immediate need of [a disempowered constituency].”8 Although the term ‘visible minority’ is contested, it would be absurd to forgo the opportunity to use it as a tool to achieve employment equity. Esmeralda Thornhill reiterate this idea when she says, “though in matters of racism and racial discrimination we in Canada have experienced the law too often as a sword of oppression and so seldom as a shield of protection, law nevertheless remains too precious a tool for Black people to abandon”.9

individuals, was rejected in favor of a substantive concept of equality in Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia.”10 Employment equity for ‘visible minorities’ is justified under substantive equality as “it [is] no longer possible to assume that differential treatment constitutes discrimination and that sameness of treatment constitutes equality [...] as discrimination has to be assessed in terms of the harmful or disadvantaging effects of laws and policies.”11 Further more, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom expressly states in s 15(2) that equal protection under the law (s 15(1)) does not “preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race.”12

Remedial measures are important in the Canadian legal context as they serve to address the The term ‘visible minority’ seems to lump consequences of a legacy of legal discrimination. together minority groups who continue to be The polemic arose because the Act establishes severely disadvantaged and affluent groups positive statutory rights calling for preferential of new immigrants who may not have socially measures to ensure the employment equity suffered from the legacy of discriminatory of ‘visible minorities’. Critics of preferential laws. Nevertheless, these groups are still measures argue that employment equity for experiencing the cost of being members of ‘visible minorities’ creates reverse discrimination a racialized community in a society that has against members of the majority group, not done away with white privilege. Although benefits certain minorities who do not require the question of who should be included in the preferential treatment, devalue the contributions ‘visible minority’ group is a societal decision, the of ‘visible minorities’ and focus on representation idea that some groups are reaping the benefits instead of addressing the underlying problem of without having bared much of the cost highlights discrimination. Responding to this argument, an important limitation of the ‘visible minority’ critical race scholars argue that in the absence concept. of preferential treatment for visible minorities, white males will continue to benefit from the Unlike the American concept of affirmative effects of the original discrimination. action, employment equity in Canada does not impose quotas leaving the details of devising In addition, “formal equality, or a vision of preferential measures to the employers thereby equality premised on equal treatment of mitigating the unintended consequences of

the ‘visible minority’ representation paradigm. Ultimately, “the solution to systemic discrimination in employment cannot consist merely of measures that increase the representation of minorities in the workplace [...], the solution must also include measures designed to change traditional attitudes and stereotypes about the employment of minority groups, whether these attitudes take the form of prejudice, paternalism, or inhibitions.”13 Speaking to her experience as a ‘visible minority’, Patricia Williams explained: “I [...] was raised to be acutely conscious of the likelihood that, no matter what degree of professional or professor I became, people would greet and dismiss my black femaleness as unreliable, untrustworthy, hostile, angry, powerless, irrational and probably destitute.” Although the term ‘visible minority’ itself can be seen as reaffirmation of white dominance, proponents of equality rights do not simply see the term ‘visible minority’ as a necessary legal fiction, but as a tool to combat employment discrimination against ‘visible minorities’.14 Nancy Zagbayou is a second year law student completing a major in commercial negotiation and dispute resolution at McGill’s faculty of law. She is currently helping to facilitate a student-initiated seminar on Critical Race Theory and recently completed a term essay with Professor Pierre Emmanuel Moyse titled “En quoi l’évolution du statut juridique de l’esclave dans la tradition civiliste nous permet-elle de comprendre la distinction entre objet et personne dans le droit civil québécois moderne?”. As VP Québec and chair of the BLSAC translation committee, she worked towards making the institution fully bilingual so as to integrate our francophone constituency.

8 Mari Matsuda, “When the First Quail Calls: Multiple Consciouness as Jurisprudential Method. A talk presented at the Yale Law School Conference on Women of Color and

the Law, April 16, 1988” (1989) Women’s Rts L Rep 11:7 at 8.

9 Esmeralda M. A. Thornhill, “So Seldom for Us So Often Against Us: Blacks and Law in Canada”, Journal of Black Studies (2008) 38:321. 10 Colleen Sheppard, “Constitutional Equality: Challenges and Possibilities”, chapter of a book that has not yet been published at 38. 11 Ibid at 39. 12 Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, c 11. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 13 Ibid Chabursky at 18. 14 Ibid Williams 407.

12


Conversation Avec Une Amie Par Sandra Awovi A.Komassi et Affoh Guenneguez Affoh est une amie qui me fait découvrir une autre façade de la littérature africaine. Passionnée de littérature comme elle, nous avons toutes les deux grandies dans un système éducatif français en Afrique qui ne nous apprenait rien des auteurs de chez nous. Pendant longtemps, nous avons lu Balzac, Voltaire et ignoré Ferdinand Oyono, Camara Laye et Hampâté Ba. Ne vous inquiétez pas, ceci n’est pas une biographie sur Affoh.

(presque…Bon j’exagère). Le Sanglot de l’Homme Noir, est d’Alain Mabanckou, écrivain congolais riche de son expérience en Afrique (Congo), en France et en Amérique, qui dévoile, ses pensées, son parcours et son décryptage des peuples noirs qui d’un continent à l’autre, se définissent selon lui, “par les larmes et le ressentiment”. Il invite les Noirs à sortir de leurs sanglots, à arrêter de se définir, de se forger principalement par rapport à la couleur de leur peau qui semble uniquement rimer avec passé douloureux et avenir incertain, malheureux.

eu des noirs qui ont vendu leur frère à des arabes puis à des blancs. Il s’agit d’une réalité historique qui selon lui, ne doit plus être niée (ou occultée?) mais acceptée et reconnue par tous les africains qui doivent désormais se regarder en face car nous avons notre part de responsabilité dans les malheurs et difficultés d’aujourd’hui. » Mais elle l’a principalement apprécié car les sujets abordés sont nombreux et l’auteur invite l’homme noir à se définir avant tout comme un être-humain afin de vivre et d’investir dans le présent car, c’est la clé de la réussite. Et je me suis alors rappelée de ma citation préférée : (…) on ne brime que celui qui veut bien se laisser brimer (…)»…Et j’ai repassé dans ma tête…cette partie qui a toujours résonné dans mon cœur « on ne brime que celui qui veut bien se laisser brimer… ». En effet, je ne serai plus esclave du passé, plus jamais brimé par lui. Un passé qui ne doit pas être ignoré, mais qui ne m’empêchera pas de « vivre et (d’) investir dans le présent car c’est la clé de la réussite ».

Il s’inspire, ici, de son vécu pour tenter de “réveiller” ses lecteurs. Enfant issu d’une famille A l’âge de 13 ans, ma mère me fait découvrir modeste, il a pendant des années, rêvé de l’Europe, PS : Cette conversation est purement fictive. Mais mon premier roman écrit par un auteur africain, “songe à la fois agréable et trompeur”. Trompeur? pas ma lecture de l’Enfant Noir de Camara Laye, l’Enfant Noir de Camara Laye. Pour la première Oui, car l’auteur parviendra à réaliser son rêve; ni mon expérience juridique que vous pouvez fois, je lisais une enfance complètement différente brillant élève, il décroche une bourse et s’envole retrouver sur http://letudiantendroit.wordpress. de celle que j’avais jusque la connue à travers mes pour la France où il poursuit des études de droit. com (mon blog juridique) ni la critique littéraire lectures. Cette enfance, bien que différente de Son parcours impressionnant lui permet ensuite d’Affoh Guenneguez sur le Sanglot de l’Homme la mienne (parce que pas de la même époque ni de décrocher un poste de professeur de littérature Noir d’Alain Mabanckou que vous pouvez la même situation sociale) n’était pourtant pas Francophone à UCLA. Il sera donc tour à tour retrouver sur : http://culturebony.blogspot.ca. vraiment différente. Je me retrouvais dans cette un enfant qui rêve d’aller en Europe, un étudiant enfance, cette innocence, je revoyais le quotidien africain en France, un français aux États-Unis, Sandra Awovi Komassi: Présidente-fondatrice de des femmes de chez moi, le forgeron du coin un “américain” et ou encore un “franco quelque l’Association des Étudiants Noirs en Droit de qui forge... Bref. Je n’avais que 13 ans mais s’il y chose”, un congolais, un écrivain de langue l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), je suis a un passage qui m’a marqué c’est celui-ci :« La française, un écrivain africain, francophone. Il une diplômée en droit de l’UQAM, passionnée par le coutume ressortit à une foncière indépendance, semble tiraillé entre ses diverses identités, qui droit et l’écriture, rédactrice pour l’Affidavit UQAM, à une fierté innée ; on ne brime que celui qui lui feront vivre des situations cocasses et le nouvellement pigiste pour le National Magazine (journal veut bien se laisser brimer, et les femmes se pousseront à la réflexion. Alors, je cherche à de l’ABC) et aussi bloggeuse à l’étudiantendroit.wordpress. laissent très peu brimer ». Je ne pense pas l’avoir savoir pourquoi Affoh l’a tant apprécié. com, un blog destiné aux intéressés du droit. compris à cet âge-là, maintenant si. Mais avant de continuer, j’aimerai préciser qu’il ne s’agit « -Simplement parce que l’auteur se dévoile et Affoh Guenneguez: Scénariste de documentaire pour point d’une critique littéraire de l’Enfant Noir. dénonce avec virulence aussi bien les tendances à l’ONG Change pour l’Afrique, titulaire d’une licence Vous vous demandez sûrement, ou je veux en l’angélisme que provoque l’exaltation identitaire en économie et politique de l’Université de Montréal; je venir depuis le début… que les comportements rebelles qui poussent à suis passionnée par les toutes les questions relatives au la haine de l’ancien colonisateur et qui empêche continent africain en particulier, la politique, l’histoire et C’était un après-midi d’Août et comme elle aime les noirs d’”avancer”. Car s’il y a bien eu “des la culture. À mes heures perdues, je suis critique littéraire si bien le faire, Affoh me parle de sa dernière ironies, des insultes, des coups subis matin, midi sur mon blog (culturebony.blogpost.ca), consacré aux lecture, un essai écrit par un auteur qu’elle vénère et soir” pendant la colonisation; il y également littératures d’Afrique et de sa diaspora.

13


Going to the Root By Planting Seeds for Change

Conversations on promoting self-determination in the Black legal community

By Shane Martínez When we think about how we can “be the change”, many of us would undoubtedly think of something bigger than ourselves. We envision ourselves as contributing to a larger transformation — something of substantial importance that can promote positive social development. At a recent BLSAC event at Osgoode Hall, a vibrant dialogue emerged with respect to this very topic of change, and how it can be accomplished by Black law students and lawyers. As an ally to the community I was honoured to be on the panel at that event and hear the passionate and intriguing perspectives of co-panellists and attendees alike on how change can be promoted, and how it is presently being stifled. During the candid discussion the ongoing influence of white supremacy on the legal profession was addressed at length. From tokenization, to glass ceilings, to the more nefarious instances of discrimination and harassment, it was generally uncontroversial

14


that racism still exists in many large Canadian firms. Many of those present at the event also agreed that although the problems are not particularly surprising given the institutional racism in the legal system, they remain poisonous and damaging nonetheless. And thus the questions arose: Are opportunities limited to those persons who are willing to integrate into existing models with a view of effecting “change from within”? In the midst of Ontario’s articling crisis, do Black law students have no choice but to conform to white firm culture? Is the labour of Black law students and lawyers destined to service and profit non-Black firms and clients? The answers to these questions were, by and large, a resounding “No!” The students present discussed what opportunities existed, and, perhaps more importantly, brainstormed about the new opportunities they wanted to create (e.g. a large, predominantly Black multi-area law firm). There seemed to be a consensus that if new frameworks for cooperation, collaboration, and mutual aid are encouraged and formed amongst young Black lawyers, the prospects of overcoming traditional barriers will become much brighter.

As new lawyers in a field of practitioners who are usually much more senior than us, building the confidence to challenge traditional frameworks can be a daunting task. Change, however, doesn’t come without some degree of risk. If we wish to explore new possibilities, serve needs which are unique to our communities, and promote economic empowerment and selfdetermination, we need to open those doors and create those spaces ourselves. This does not mean that there are not valuable things to be learned from traditional big firms, but rather that we should be cautious about relying on them if we wish to truly recognize our full potential. Only when we take the risk to plant new seeds will we be able to stop waiting for fruit to fall from the trees of others and instead reap the full harvest from our own. Shane Martínez is a lawyer based in Toronto, Ontario, who practices in the areas of criminal defence, human rights, and prisoner justice.

BLSAC Public Statement RE: Trayvon Martin

It is a sad day when a black man can still be judged, not by the content of his character, but by the colour of his skin. This is precisely what occurred on February 26, 2012 when Trayvon Martin, a young black male was lethally shot at the hands of George Zimmerman. It is important to remember that this is not an isolated incident. Negative attitudes towards black males are pervasive in our society, and the automatic assumption that black males represent “danger”, whether donned in a hoodie or otherwise, is shameful. Sadly this is a routine occurrence in our society, as evidenced by the recent deaths of Ervin Jefferson (Georgia, age 18) and Bo Morrison (Wisconsin, age 20), who were both unarmed when they were lethally shot. We must all recognize that this is not simply a problem relegated to the United States. Take for example, the fatal shooting of Michael Eligon by Toronto police, and a recent study in Toronto

15


which found that Black males are three times more likely to be stopped and questioned by police, regardless of their place of residence. These instances of injustice and prejudice must come to an end. We at BLSAC believe that the practice of racial profiling, as well as the underlying racism that makes it possible, needs to stop. We must be more actively engaged and make our voices heard. We urge the respective BLSA chapters to continue to engage students, faculty and administration with respect to the injustice of the Trayvon Martin case, as well as countless other cases in both the United States of America and Canada.

permanent position within the Executive to speak publicly on issues of racial injustice that affect our community, to both put BLSAC in a better position to react to important events such as the injustice of Trayvon’s death, and to proactively address issues of injustice on a year round basis. We urge you to lend your support to, not only the Martin family, but to the fight against racism. Please lend your support by signing the petition at: http://www.change.org/petitions/ prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-oldtrayvon-martin In Solidarity,

We, the Black Law Students’ Association of The Black Law Students’ Association Canada Canada, stand in solidarity with Trayvon Executive 2012-2013 Martin’s family and we are dedicated to ending violence and racial profiling against black males. We will not stand by and watch history “Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made repeat itself. BLSAC is committed to creating a the world better.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Race” Literacy and the Legal Profession

An ethical imperative for Cap, Bar, and Bench

Presented By: Professor Esmeralda Thornhill, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University Article Written By Sandra Aigbinode In October 2012, in conjunction with the Black Law Students Association of McGill (BLSAM), the Annie MacDonald Langstaff Workshop Series hosted a seminar on “Race Literacy and the Legal Profession” at McGill’s Faculty of Law, with guest speaker Professor Esmeralda Thornhill. The Stephen Scott Seminar Room was filled to capacity with over 40 people in attendance. Law students, students from other disciplines and other campuses, professors, lawyers, and other legal professionals were in attendance. The boisterous atmosphere of the room set the tone for an open discussion about “race,” an issue that is often overlooked in the legal profession. During the presentation, Professor Thornhill discussed many relevant issues, but I’d like to highlight a few that resonated with me. First, “race must be named.” We believe that racism is not a Canadian problem. By not mentioning the word “race” or “racism”, we avoid confronting the issue. Ironically, by using euphemisms such as “diversity,” we continue to perpetuate racial disadvantage and inequity. For example, a scan of the recent Law Society of Upper Canada “Articling Task Force Final Report” of Oct 25, 2012 results in zero search results of the word “race” or “racism.” In its place, the consultation report uses terms like “equality – seeking groups.” When discussing low numbers of articling positions as a problem for these groups, the report did not attribute the problem to race, but rather to the increasing number of internationally trained NCA candidates (88);

16


thereby, hiding ‘race’ and making it a non – Canadian problem. The report goes on to say inequality in articling placements is based on “factors other than competence” (89). If competence is not the distinguishing factor for such inequality, what are these factors? Until we name “race,” this issue will be difficult to address. Professor Thornhill also highlighted the importance of educating members of the legal profession on race literacy. In order to confront racial issues, lawyers need an understanding of the context in which they working. If we, as future lawyers, are to keep our oath of providing the best possible defense for our clients, we must be cognizant of the contextual realities of the people we serve. The need for such education is illustrated by the recent racist graffiti at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law this past fall; and blackface incidences at both McGill University and Université de Montreal. Therefore, race literacy should be encouraged in all of our school curriculums. During the presentation, the word “race” was openly used. Oddly, this made me feel uncomfortable. My discomfort illustrates Prof Thornhill’s point of the need to name “race.” In retrospect, I see that such discomfort is necessary; it signals a healthy step towards harmonic discourse rather than complicity and colour-blindness. Overall, this event highlighted the desperate need for legal reform. Let’s be the change and continue to struggle in our schools, law offices, and benches for race literacy to be a mandatory part of our curriculum and training. Sandra Aigbinode is a Nigerian Canadian, who was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. At the age of 15,

she immigrated to Fort St John, British Columbia, and later moved to Toronto, Ontario for her post-secondary education. Sandra is currently based in Montreal, Québec, where she is studying law at the Faculty of Law, McGill University. In addition to pursuing her LLB & BCL degrees, Sandra already holds an MA in Political Science from McGill University, and an Honours BA in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, and Political Science (double major) from the University of Guelph. Sandra has had a life - long interest in volunteering and community service, particularly in the areas of Criminal Law and Advocacy. Since her youth, she has been involved with various Prison Visitation Projects, Legal Clinics, and Advisory Boards. Twitter: @sandyosh

The Black Daddies Club The Black Daddies Club (BDC) was founded in 2007 by Brandon Hay in response to the lack of forums and spaces for black men to discuss parenting issues and issues facing the broader black Community. BDC’s main goal is to change the image of the black father in the media, from a neglectful figure to a responsible, involved and loving role model. The organization has established and maintained a support system for young black fathers especially, who aim to be better, more accountable fathers and community members. For more information, please visit BDC online at www.blackdaddiesclub. com or on Facebook at The Black Daddies Club or follow BDC on Twitter: @BlkDaddiesClub.

Utilizing Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Representation of Mentally Ill Clients By Rochelle Palmer Those who suffer with mental illness are often releg ated the lowest rung of Canada’s social and economic ladder. Recent trends towards the overcriminalization of individuals with mental illness has led to the overrepresentation of this population within the Canadian criminal justice system. Unfortunately, increased interactions with the criminal justice system only serve to exacerbate the social and economic challenges faced by these individuals. Thus, it is imperative that lawyers who seek to represent these clients have a comprehensive understanding of their client’s non-legal challenges and lived realities, in order to ensure that the needs of these individuals are met. Issues of mental health are of particular relevance to the Black community for a number of reasons. First, the social stigma experienced by people who suffer with mental illness may be more severely felt by immigrants and people from racialized communities, as the stigma may add to the multiple challenges they already face. Second, recent research reveals that individuals of African or Caribbean descent, particularly men and people who are immigrants, are disproportionately represented in the mental health and forensic mental health system. Third, African-Canadians who suffer from mental illness

17


well-trained in identifying and addressing specific legal issues concerning their client, they are often ill-equipped to address the more challenging social issues that their clients face. However, where a lawyer does not possess the requisite knowledge and skills, they must become adept at collaborating with those professionals who do. Rule 1 of the Canadian Bar Association’s Professional Code of Conduct states that a “lawyer owes the client a duty to be competent to perform any legal services undertaken on are more likely to enter the criminal justice system the client’s behalf.” This competency extends rather than the community mental health system. beyond a lawyer’s formal qualifications to study Finally, people from racialized communities, and law, and instead refers to sufficiency of the in particular African-Canadian men, experience lawyer’s knowledge, skill and ability to deal with harsher treatment in both the mental health and matters of interest to their clients. forensic mental health system. Lawyers who endeavor to incorporate In Canada, research reveals a disturbing trend interdisciplinary approaches into their practice towards the over-criminalization of individuals can either collaborate with individuals from with mental illness. Recent research reveals that compatible professions, such as social workers when compared to people without mental illness, and other helping professionals, who have an those who suffer with mental illnesses have an in-depth understanding of the complexities of average of three times more interactions with mental health or independently seek to gain the the police. Furthermore, individuals with mental requisite knowledge through the study of other illness are more likely to be charged with petty disciplines. criminal offences, which likely occur as a result of their mental state, or stem from their efforts Interdisciplinary collaboration provides an lawyer to survive on sparse resources. with an opportunity for enhanced exploration into a client’s goals and options, and as such Within the forensic mental health system, it is should be incorporated into the skill set of any the defense lawyer’s duty to ensure that the needs competent defense lawyer. of their client are addressed and that their rights are protected. Specifically, defense lawyers must Rochelle Palmer is currently pursuing a joint Masters ensure that they diligently advocate in the best of Social Work and a Juris Doctor (MSW/JD interests of their client at the pre-trial diversion from the University of Windsor. Rochelle’s current stage of a criminal proceeding. Such advocacy educational and research interests are in the fields of will require lawyers to become aware of and police accountability and racial profiling, critical race recommend diversion strategies that cater to and feminist approaches to structural change, and the both the legal and non-legal, social needs of treatment of individuals with mental illness within their client. the forensic mental health system. Rochelle is also the President of the Black Law Students’ Association In addressing these needs, a lawyer must rely (Windsor Chapter), and currently works as a program upon knowledge and skills not traditionally taught facilitator for a sexual assault resistance initiative geared in law school. While defense lawyers tend to be towards University women at the University of Windsor.

Lessons From Los Angeles By Saron Gebresellassi I am presently stationed at the Los Angeles Superior Court where I am a Legal Extern with the Shriver Housing Project- Los Angeles. The Shriver Housing Project represents the largest and most dramatic experiment in American legal services since the 1970s. In 2009, Assemblyman Mike Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat, sponsored the historic Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act. Named after Sergeant Shriver, a leader in the 1960’s “war on poverty”, the Shriver Program is a pioneering effort to answer the question of whether there should be a right to counsel for low-income litigants in cases involving basic human needs, like shelter. Attorneys from across Los Angeles have joined forces in an ambitious effort to provide 2000 litigants each year (for 3 years) with an attorney to represent them in their eviction cases. This effort is the first in the country, and has received significant media and judicial attention from around the country. This year, 18,000 people will have eviction orders upheld against them in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Violence and poverty are so pervasive in L.A., it escapes adequate description. At Shriver, a dedicated team of attorneys see dozens of litigants every day providing either full or partial legal representation to fight unjust lawsuits. The litigants who come to our doors are almost exclusively Black or Hispanic, often with limited skills, income and education. Approximately forty percent of the Hispanic litigants are monolingual Spanish speakers and have little to no chance of winning their cases in court without the assistance of an attorney. They

18


are struggling to survive in a city where unfathomable living conditions are business as usual for low-income residents. Children and families live in dangerous housing projects with inadequate heat and water, defective plumbing, bed bug infestations, broken locks, abusive and bigoted landlords, and unsanitary premises. These deplorable conditions exist in L.A. neighborhoods which have gained international notoriety for violence and neglect. For some reason inner city culture continues to be romanticized in popular culture. The segment of the population which invariably suffers the most amidst conflict and disorder is children. For them, it is anything but glamorous. It has become clear to me from my time here that legal representation and a right to counsel in eviction proceedings make a world of a difference for tenants and their f a m i l i e s. However, it can never adequately address the poverty crisis that exists here. That will require political and social transformation on a large scale. This question is fundamentally concerned with the equitable distribution of resources and no doubt there exists no shortage of vibrant initiatives here to combat poverty. There is a lot of uncertainty and unanswered

questions but if there is one thing I know definitively, it is that the litigants who I see here are resilient beyond measure. They remain steadfast and dignified while living with the wounds and indignities of poverty and racism every single day. If you are interested in doing pro bono legal work in Los Angeles, consider offering your talents to the Shriver Housing Project-LA. Learn more at www.shriverhousingla.org. Saron Gebresellassi is an award-winning student, linguist, activist and artist. Saron was selected in Chatelaine Magazine’s ‘Top 80 Amazing Canadian Women to Watch’ feature and was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction. J.D. Candidate, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

BLSAC Lifetime Achievement Award

The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada remembers the late Charles Roach (1934-2012). Activist, lawyer, artist, husband, father and friend. Mr. Roach will continue to be an inspiration to us all. We thank the Roach family for accepting this first ever BLSAC Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf. Thank you Mr. Charles Roach for sharing your passion for justice with us, and for encouraging us as future lawyers to always stand up for what we believe in. You will be missed.

19


BLSAC 2012-2013 Executive Lavinia Latham

Shire Brandi

Taisha Lewis

President University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Vice President Central University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Chair University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Shannon Sproule

Joanne St. Lewis

Saron Ghebressellassi

Secretary University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Faculty Advisor University of Ottawa Faculty of Law

Vice President International University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Tarrie Phillip

Nana Yanful

Farida Adam

Vice President External Osgoode Hall Law School Class of 2013

Social Media Representative University of Windsor Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Moot Chair University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

Nakita Kelsey

Jeanne Sambu

Nancy Zagbayou

Vice President Finance Osgoode Hall Law School Class of 2015

Vice President Atlantic Region Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University, Class of 2013

Vice President Québec McGill University Class of 2014

Ismaël Bolly

Christien Levien

Julie Sobowale

Francophone Representative University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2013

National Mentorship Representative University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Class of 2014

National Articling Representative Schulich School of Law Dalhousie University, Class of 2012

20


Conference Program

Programme de la conférence

Soyez le Changement Be The Change: BLSAC’s 22nd Annual 22e Conférence National Conference Annuelle de AÉNDC February 21-24, 2013 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

21-24 février 2013 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Conference Program Thursday

Business Casual

Welcome to the Supreme Court of Canada (10h00 - 12h00 | Be in Main Lobby at 9h30) The first 20 members to register online will benefit from a special meeting with The Honourable Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella. Books to Prisons (13h00 - 16h00) The Office of the Correctional Investigator documents a 40% increase in the number of federally incarcerated Black Canadians in the last 10 years. Donate literature to prisoners at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre by bringing your gently used books to the lobby. Legal Writing Academy Cafe (13h00 - 15h00 | Pearson Room A Introduced By Taisha Lewis, BLSAC Chair) A session to give you the nuts and bolts of effective legal writing in articling and beyond. Field Trips in the National Capital Region (13h00- 19h00 | Meet Saron Gebresellassi in Main Lobby at 1:00 pm | For Canadian Museum of Civilization meet Nana Yanful in the Main Lobby at 3:30 PM; For Québec: Centre d’Exposition de l’Imagier meet Nancy Zagbayou in Lobby at 1 PM; For National Gallery of Canada meet Shire Brandi in Lobby at 4:30 p.m) Explore the city’s beauty with visits to the National Gallery of Canada, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Parliament Hill and Centre d’Exposition de l’Imagier. Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) (16h00 - 18h30 | Facilitated By Mara Clarke, Manager of Strategic Initiatives) The importance of mentorship in career development cannot be overstated. Attend this session to develop communication strategies and best practices for exercising effective mentorship. Facilitated by: Mara Clarke, Manager of Strategic Initiatives Dinner in the Capital (19h30 - 21h30 | Must Wine Bar | Words of Welcome From Mayor, The Honourable Jim Watson) Enjoy the city`s finest cuisine and network with your colleagues from across the country. Words of welcome from our Mayor, The Honourable Jim Watson. Unwind Your Mind (21h30 - 23h00 | Skating: Meet Nancy Zagbayou In Lobby; Jog: Meet Taisha Lewis In Lobby; Yoga Facilitator: Leyla Mostafavi, Pearson Room B) Close your day right with your choice of yoga, swimming, skating or jogging by the pristine Rideau Canal. Add wellness to your tool kit and attend for a chance to win good prizes.

22


Friday

Business Formal

Blakes’ Morning Ceremonies Presents: Sound Energy Flux (8h30 – 10h30 | Pearson Room | Moderator: Saron Gebresellassi, National Conference Chair) Launch your morning to the vibrations of SEF, a musical phenomenon that emanates energy produced by instrumental vibrations. Extremely talented, these 5 young men know exactly how to create positively wonderful vibrations with their instruments, transcending them into melody and allowing us all to feel and enjoy a musical style that is matched by none. Words of welcome offered by senior leadership in the university and community. 50 Shades of White? (10h30 – 11h30) Dean Camille Nelson tackles racism in law schools and the legal profession, and imparts strategies for change. Special Luncheon with the Law Society of Upper Canada (12h00 – 13h15 | Johnny Farina’s Restaurant) The first twenty registrants head to Johnny Farina`s Restaurant for lunch with the LSUC. Intellectual Property, Entertainment and Technology Law (13h30 15h00 | Pearson Room | Moderator: Nancy Zagbayou, BLSAC Chair) Leading and emerging experts provide insights on the trends of the trade. Current Issues in International Law (13h30 - 15h00 | Laurier Room | Moderator: Amna Qureshi, Chair Muslim Law Students’ Association) A dialogue on hot button national security issues in a post-9/11 era. The Trials of Law School A journey in Law. A journey in Life (15h00 – 17h00 | Laurier Room | Facilitated by: Taisha Lewis) A pre-law session consisting of a film screening followed by a Q&A on the law school experience. A Change is Gonna Come (15h00 – 17h00 | Pearson Room | Moderator: Saron Gebresellassi) Advocates lead a discussion on innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change. Idle No More: Voice of a Movement (19h00 – 21h00 Norton Rose Room | Moderator: Farida Adam) A documentary on the ongoing Indigenous struggle for self-determination and sovereignty. Followed by a dialogue on the parallels between First Nations and Black community experiences and a Q & A with filmmaker Mike Anderson.

Saturday

Business Formal

Young Professionals Coalition Workshop (9h00 – 10h30 | Norton Rose Room Faculty Of Law) Students in medicine, law and engineering share stories and guidance for high and undergraduate students on designing a professional career trajectory. Morning Yoga Session (Pearson Room B) Take advantage of the proven health benefits of yoga with a session by yoga guru Leyla Mostafavi. Just Say No? Race, Justice and the War on Drugs (9h00 – 10h30 | Pearson Room) Preeminent drug policy reform expert Deborah Peterson Small joins us from New York to lead an interactive plenary on the myths and realities of substance abuse and their legal ramifications. Another World Is Possible? (10h45 – 12h00 | Pearson Room | Moderator: Nancy Zagbayou) An exploration of the possibilities and shortcomings of international law in fostering global justice, peace and security. Co-sponsored by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association. Lunchtime Keynote Address (12h00 – 13h00 | Pearson Room) Her Excellency Sheila Sealy Monteith, High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada Justice Julius Isaac Alexander Diversity Moot Court Competition (Sponsored by Koskie Minsky LLP) (13h15 – 15h00; Lady Elgin Room) An annual highlight, moot finalists compete in this championship round before a distinguished panel of judges and the entire BLSAC community. BLSAC Annual General Meeting (15h15 – 17h00) Pay it forward. Consider advancing your candidacy for a position on the 2013-2014 National Executive. Cocktail Reception (19h00 - 20h00 | National Arts Centre Fountain Room) A classical hour of networking sponsored by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. Live music provided courtesy of the Ottawa Flute Quintet. Black Tie Gala (20h00 – 1h00) Reflecting the confidence, dignity and style of the nation’s capital, convene at the National Arts Centre for a night to remember. Hosted by critically-acclaimed actor, comedian and lawyer Lwam Ghebrehariat. Highlights: Keynote Address: Adrienne Coddett, 3 Dreads and a Baldhead Words of Peace from local Faith Leaders Lift Every Voice and Sing, Rise for the Black National Anthem Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Mr. Charles Roach’s Family Announcement of Winners of the Justice Julius Isaac Alexander Diversity Moot Court Competition. Presented by Arlene Huggins, Koskie Minsky LLP. BLSAC Toast to Professor Joanne St. Lewis’ 19 Years of Service. Chapter of the Year Award

23


Sunday Breakfast KEY Meeting (9h00 – 11h00 | Laurier Room) A transition meeting with incoming and outgoing national executives. Bring your USB keys, transfer reports and pass on the torch.

Jeudi

Tenue D’Affaires Décontracté

Bienvenue à la Cour Suprême du Canada (10h00 – 12h00 | Rencontrez Nancy Zagbayou dans le hall principal à 9h30 du matin) Les 20 premiers membres à s’inscrire en ligne vont bénéficier d’une réunion spéciale avec l’honorable juge Rosalie Silberman Abella. Livres Pour Les Prisons (13h00 – 16h00) Le Bureau de l’Enquêteur Correctionnel a documenté qu’au cours des 10 dernières années, le nombre de Noirs incarcérés par le gouvernement fédéral du Canada a augmenté de 40 %. Joignez vous aux membres de BLSAC pour faire un don de livres aux détenus du Centre de détention d’Ottawa-Carleton. Café De l’Académie De Rédaction Juridique (13h00 – 15h00 | Salle Pearson A | Présentée par: Taisha Lewis, Présidente du Comité Exécutif de BLSAC) Une session pour vous donner les rouages d’une rédaction juridique en stage et au-delà. Visites Sur Le Terrain Dans La Région De La Capitale Nationale (13h00 – 19h00 | Rencontrez Saron Gebresellassi dans le Hall principal à 1pm | Pour Rencontrez Nana Yanful dans le hall principal à 15h30; Pour Rencontrez Nancy Zagbayou, VP Québec in Lobby at 13h; Pour Rencontrez Shire Brandi, VP Central dans le Hall à16h:30) Explorez la beauté de la ville avec des visites au Musée des beaux-arts du Canada, au Musée canadien des civilisations, la colline du Parlement et au Centre d’exposition de l’Imagier. Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) (16h00 – 18h30 Dialogue facilité par: Mara Clarke, Gérante de Strategic Initiatives) L’importance du mentorat pour le développement de carrière ne peut être surestimée. Participer à cette session pour élaborer des stratégies de communication et de meilleures pratiques pour un mentorat efficace. Dialogue facilité par: Mara Clarke, Gérante de Strategic Initiatives Dîner Dans La Capitale (19h30 – 21h30) Profitez de la meilleure cuisine de la ville et faites du réseautage avec vos collègues venant des quatre coins du Canada. Mots de bienvenue de notre maire, l’honorable Jim Watson. Détendez Votre Esprit (21h30 – 23h00 | Pour Patinage, Jogging Par Le Canal Rencontrez Taisha Lewis dans le Hall; Yoga Animatrice: Leyla Mostafavi Pearson, salle B) Mettez fin à votre journée correctement avec votre choix de yoga, natation, patinage ou un jogging le long du Canal Rideau. Ajouter le bien-être dans votre trousse d’outils en participant et courez la chance de gagner des prix.

Vendredi

Tenue D’Affaires

Samedi

Tenue D’Affaires

Cérémonies de Mâtiné Présenté par Blakes : Sound Energy Flx (8h30 – 10h30 | Salle Pearson | Modérateur : Saron Gebresellassi, Présidente de la Conférence Nationale) Lancez votre matinée avec les vibrations du SEF un phénomène musical qui vient de l’énergie produite par des vibrations instrumentales. Extrêmement talentueux, ces 5 jeunes hommes savent exactement comment créer des vibrations positivement merveilleuses avec leurs instruments, transcendant la mélodie et permettant de ressentir et de profiter d’un style musical qui est compensé par aucun. Mots de bienvenue offerts par les hauts dirigeants de l’Université d’Ottawa et là de la communauté.

Séance Matinale De Yoga Profitez des avantages prouvés du yoga avec une session menée par la gourou de yoga Leyla Mostafavi.

50 Nuances De Blanc? (10h30 – 11h30 | Allocation principal par Camille Nelson, Doyenne de la Faculté de Droit de l’Université de Suffolk et Ancienne de l’Université d’Ottawa) La doyenne Camille Nelson aborde le racisme dans les facultés de droit et de la profession d’avocat et donne des stratégies de changement.

Atelier De Jeunes Professionnels De Coalition (9h00 – 10h30 | Salle Norton Rose Faculté de Droit) Étudiants en médecine, droit et ingénierie partage leurs histoires et conseils d’orientation pour les étudiants du lycée ou du premier cycle sur des stratégies pour façonner leur trajectoire afin de poursuive une carrière professionnelle.

Déjeuner Spécial avec Le Barreau du Haut-Canada (12h00 – 13h15 Au Restaurant Johnny Farina) Les 20 premiers membres à s’inscrire en ligne sont invités au Restaurant Johnny Farina avec le Barreau du Haut-Canada. Propriété Intellectuelle, De Divertissement Et De Droit De L’informatique (13h30 – 15h00 | Salle Pearson Modérateur: Nancy Zagbayou) Des experts nouveaux et imminents donnent un aperçu sur les tendances du commerce. Les Challenges Des Facultés De Droit. Un Voyage En Droit. Un Voyage Dans La Vie (15h00 – 17h00 | Salon Laurier Modérateur: Taisha Lewis) Une session avant-droit consistant en une projection d’un film suivie d’un Q & R sur l’expérience à la faculté de droit. Un Changement Viendra (15h00 – 17h00 | Salle Pearson Modérateur: Saron Gebresellassi) Des avocats exemplaires animent une discussion sur des approches novatrices et progressistes à droit et changement social. Questions Actuelles Du Droit International (13h30 – 15h00 Salle Laurier | Modérateur: Amna Qureshi, Présidente de l’Association des Élève Musulman) Un groupe d’experts sur les questions de sécurité nationale, un point sensible dans une ère post-9/11. Idle No More : La Voix D’un Mouvement (19h00 – 21h00 Salle Norton Rose | Modérateur: Farida Adam) Un documentaire sur la lutte pour l’autodétermination et la souveraineté autochtone. Suivi d’un dialogue sur les parallèles entre les Premières Nations et les expériences de la Communauté Noire, et un Q & R avec le réalisateur Mike Anderson.

Dimanche

Petit Déjeuner De Travail (9h00 – 11h00 | Salle Laurier) Une réunion de transition avec les exécutifs nationaux entrants et sortants. Apporter vos clés USB, transférer vos rapports et passer le flambeau.

24


Dites Simplement Non? Race, Justice Et La Guerre Contre La Drogue (9h00 – 10h30 | Salle Pearson) La prééminente experte en réforme des politiques anti-drogue Deborah Peterson Small se joint à nous, de New York pour diriger une plénière interactive sur les mythes et les réalités de la toxicomanie et leurs conséquences juridiques.

Un Autre Monde Est Possible? (10h45 – 12h00 | Salle Pearson Modérateur: Nancy Zagbayou) Une exploration des possibilités et des lacunes du droit international en favorisant la sécurité, la paix et la justice mondiale. Coparrainé par l’Association des juristes Arabes Canadiens. Discours Principal (12h00 – 13h00 | Salle Pearson) Son excellence Sheila Sealy Monteith Haut Commissaire de la Jamaïque au Canada Le Concours De Plaidoirie Julius Alexander Isaac (Parrainé Par Koskie Minsky LLP) (13h15 – 15h00 | Salle Lady Elgin) Point culminant de la conférence, les finalistes rivalisent dans ce championnat devant un panel de juges et l’ensemble de la communauté BLSAC. BLSAC l’Assemblée Générale Annuelle. Donnez Au Suivant (15h15 – 17h00) Envisager de soumettre votre candidature pour un poste à l’exécutif national en 2013-2014. Cocktail Dînatoire (19h00 - 20h00 | Salle National Arts Centre Fountain) Une heure de réseautage parrainée par l’Association Canadienne des Avocats Noirs. Musique live, une gracieuseté du quintette de flûte d’Ottawa. Gala Cravate Noire (20h00 – 1h00) Reflétant la confiance, de dignité et de style de la capitale, vous êtes convoqué au Centre National des Arts pour une nuit à se rappeler. Animer par l’acteur acclamé et avocat Lwam Ghebrehariat. Faits saillants: Message de paix des dirigeants spirituels locaux Soulevez chaque voix et chantez, chantons l’hymne National Noir Présentation du Prix pour honorer les réalisations de toute un vie Annonce des gagnants du concours de plaidoirie Julius Alexander Isaac Présenté par Arlene Huggins, Koskie Minsky LLP. BLSAC Toast en l’honneur du Professeure Joanne St. Lewis en reconnaissance pour ses 19 ans de service à notre institution.

Conference Keynote Speakers Her Excellency Sheila Sealy Monteith High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada Academic Qualifications Master of Science in International Relations, University of the West Indies Advanced Diploma in International Relations (Honours) Institute of International Relations, University of the West Indies Bachelor of Arts (Honours) University of the West Indies Languages English, Spanish, some French Summary of Experience Twenty Five years of professional experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica in the theory and practice of diplomacy at bilateral, regional and international levels. Advanced training and extensive experience in the formulation, implementation and management of foreign policy. Particular interest in development issues and in understanding international organizations and their role in development. Active involvement in human resource management, policy-making and implementation. Appointments Currently serving as High Commissioner of Jamaica to Canada since February 2010. Appointed 2005-2010 as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Jamaica to the United Mexican States with concurrent accreditation as High Commissioner of Jamaica to Belize and Ambassador of Jamaica to the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama Six years in the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations in New York with responsibility for economic and financial issues, with additional administrative responsibilities as Head of Chancery; two years bilateral experience in the Embassy of Jamaica in Venezuela and six years as Director in charge of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston, Jamaica. Personal Interests Reading, interior decorating, gardening and philanthropy Married, two children [email protected]

25


Camille Nelson

Before joining Suffolk Law, Dean Nelson served as Professor of Law at Hofstra Law School. From 2000 to 2009, she was a member of the faculty of Saint Louis University School of Law, where she was named Law School Faculty Member of the Year in 2004 and received the University Faculty Excellence Award in 2006. She also was a visiting professor at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where she became the Dean’s Distinguished Scholar in Residence. Following her undergraduate education at the University of Toronto, Dean Nelson received her law degree from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law and went on to receive a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School in New York. She clerked for Justice Frank Iacobucci (pronounced Yako-bucci) of the Supreme Court of Canada, the highest court in Canada, before working as a litigation associate at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto, the largest law firm in Canada. Dean Nelson is an elected member of the American Law Institute and is widely recognized for her writings and lectures, which have focused on the intersection of critical race theory and cultural studies with particular emphasis on criminal law and procedure, health law, and comparative law. She is widely published internationally and domestically and her scholarship is featured in law reviews, journals, anthologies, legal encyclopedias, governmental and non-governmental working publications and legal textbooks/casebooks. She has taught, delivered lectures, and presented in numerous countries, most recently in Lebanon, Sweden, and France.

The Honourable Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella Justice Abella was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004. She is the first Jewish woman appointed to the Court. She attended the University of Toronto, where she earned a B.A. in 1967 and an LL.B. in 1970. In 1964 she graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music in classical piano. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1972 and practised civil and criminal litigation until 1976 when she was appointed to the Ontario Family Court. She was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1992. She was the sole Commissioner of the 1984 federal Royal Commission on Equality in Employment, creating the term and concept of “employment equity”. The theories of “equality” and “discrimination” she developed in her report were adopted by the Supreme Court of Canada in its first decision dealing with equality rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1989. The report has been implemented by the governments of Canada, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and South Africa. She subsequently served as Chair of the Ontario Labour Relations Board (1984 to 1989), Chair of the Ontario Law Reform Commission (1989 to 1992), and Boulton Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Law of McGill University (1988 to 1992). She also served as a commissioner on the Ontario Human Rights Commission; as a member of the Ontario Public Service Labour Relations Tribunal; as Co-Chair of the University of Toronto Academic Discipline Tribunal; as a member of the Premier’s Advisory Committee on Confederation; and as Chair of the Study on Access to Legal Services by the Disabled. She has written over 80 articles and written or co-edited four books. She was made a Senior Fellow of Massey College in 1989, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1997, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007. She has given, among others, the Harlan Lecture at Princeton, the Ryan Lecture at Georgetown and the Anderson Lecture at Yale, and was the Bullock Chair at the Hebrew University, the Mackenzie King Distinguished Visiting Professor at Harvard and a Distinguished Visiting Faculty at the University of Toronto Law School. She was a director of the Institute for Research on Public Policy; moderator of the English Language Leaders’ Debate in 1988; a member of the Canadian Judicial Council’s Inquiry on Donald Marshall, Jr.; Program Chair of the Governor General’s Canadian Study Conference; Chief Rapporteur in Halifax and Co-Chair in Vancouver of the 1992 Renewal of Canada Conferences; Trustee of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada; Governor of the International Board of Governors of the Hebrew University; judge of the Giller Literary Prize; and Chair of the Rhodes Selection Committee for Ontario. Justice Abella has been active in Canadian judicial education, organizing the first judicial seminar in which all levels of the judiciary participated, the first judicial seminar in which persons outside the legal profession were invited to participate, the first national education program for administrative tribunals, and the first national conference for Canada’s female judges. Justice Abella was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law; the Distinguished Service Award of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario); the International Justice Prize of

26


the Peter Gruber Foundation; the Human Relations Award of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews; the Honourable Walter S. Tarnopolsky Human Rights Award; the Bora Laskin Award for Distinguished Service in Labour Law; and 30 honourary degrees. Justice Abella was born in a Displaced Person’s Camp in Stuttgart, Germany on July 1, 1946. Her family came to Canada as refugees in 1950. She is the daughter of Jacob and Fanny Silberman. She married Canadian historian Irving M. Abella on December 8, 1968. They have two sons: Jacob and Zachary, both lawyers.

Jennie Abell

Professor Abell joined the Faculty of Law in 1988. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Professor at the School of Human Justice, University of Regina and worked with a community legal clinic (Prince Albert and District Legal Services) doing criminal defence, welfare rights and Aboriginal rights work. She teaches in the Faculty of Law and at the Institute of Women’s Studies in the areas of: Criminal Law and Procedure; Poverty and the Law; Feminism, Justice and the Law; and Women and Human Rights: International Perspectives. She is the co-author of two volumes of a Criminal Law and Procedure casebook, Criminal Law and Procedure: Cases, Context and Critique and Criminal Law and Procedure: Proof, Defences and Beyond and is the author of various articles in the areas of legal aid, criminalization of the poor; women and violence, and human rights. Professor Abell works closely with a number of groups representing women’s interests and advocating for equality, including the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Recently, she has been involved in a collaborative project training and developing curriculum materials for teaching Gender and Law in China. From 2006-2009, Professor Abell was Director of the Institute of Women’s Studies.

Farida Adam

Farida Adam is currently a third year English Common Law student at the University Of Ottawa Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she graduated summa cum laude from McMaster University where she completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Women Studies with a minor in Economics and Indigenous Studies. During law school, Farida has been involved with the Black Law Students’ Association at the University of Ottawa as Co-President, First Year Representative and a mentor. She was awarded the 2010 Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Scholarship and the Canadian Federation of University Women Memorial Prize given to a law student who has demonstrated leadership in their local community. Farida along with her partner, competed and won the BLSAC Julius Isaac Alexander Diversity Moot and won best oralist during the 2011-2012 academic year. Farida is a devoted Marvin Gaye fan, feels strongly that The Good Wife is better than Suits and is a proud supporter of the Boston Celtics.

Moshen Al Attar

These days, Mohsen’s time is split between his work as an educator and as a scholar. Having previously practiced law in Canada and the US, he holds a tenured senior lectureship at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law. His research interests

and teaching responsibilities oscillate between international law, Third World legal studies, law & development, and intellectual property law. Mohsen is frequently invited by NGOs, student organisations, and governmental agencies to present talks on a variety of legal, social, and political issues (some of which are available on this site). He also develops and facilitates skills-based workshops for many of these same groups. Alongside his scholarly activities, Mohsen is a political commentator whose work appears in a variety of media. For 2012-2013, Mohsen has been appointed a Visiting Professor at McGill University Faculty of Law where he will be teaching courses in the areas of public international law and intellectual property law.

Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson is MTV Canada’s first Political Correspondent. As host of the MTV News IMPACT series, Mike has engaged young Canadians in discussions about voter apathy, civil disobedience, and online activism. Currently a third-year Common Law student at the University of Ottawa, Mike independently produced the short documentary Idle No More: the Voice of a Movement to inform Canadians about the Idle No More movement’s major pillars. Before entering law school, Mike cycled across Canada to raise funds for the Canadian Foundation for Aids research; acted as Vice-President on the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa; and worked as a junior segment producer on the Gemini awardwinning talkshow MTV Live. Mike is a passionate Toronto Blue Jays fan, and still fosters the delusion that he will play second base for Canada’s only major league team.

Josephine Asmah

LL.B. (University of Ghana), LL.M. (Dalhousie), LL.D. (University of Ottawa) After being called to the Bar in Ghana, Dr. Josephine Asmah was counsel at Elf Oil Ghana Limited and was an associate at Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Mate, Legal Practitioners, Ghana. For her Master of Laws degree, her concentration was copyright law, law and technology and international trade law. Her thesis was a comparative study of Canada and Ghana’s approach to recent challenges to copyright in literary works. She was Associate Editor of the Journal of World Intellectual Property. For her Doctor of Laws degree, her concentration was traditional knowledge and intellectual property law, in particular, with regard to textiles. She has taught law at the University of Ottawa. She has published on intellectual property, culture and traditional knowledge. Her interests include law with regard to the arts, sciences and economy. In addition to research and teaching, Dr. Asmah consults on intellectual property, law and technology and on intellectual property with regard to traditional knowledge. Contact: [email protected].

Dina Awad

Dina Awad is a bilingual lawyer with an interest in international and administrative law presently working as a Judicial Clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal. She graduated with a joint B.C.L/LL.B from McGill’s Faculty of Law. During law school, she acquired experience in administrative law as a volunteer at Just Solutions, a community legal aid clinic specializing in immigration and refugee issues. She also focused her studies on

27


international law, including public and private law matters. In 2008 and 2009, Dina worked directly with refugee populations in the West Bank and Lebanon by teaching English and conducting scholarly research examining the effect of labour laws on youth. Her research experience also extends to the fields of intellectual property, media and communications law: in the summer of 2009, she worked for an international law firm with a specialized practice based in Lebanon.

Natasha Bakht

Natasha Bakht is an associate professor at the University of Ottawa’s faculty of law.. She was called to the bar of Ontario in 2003 and clerked with former Justice Louise Arbour at the Supreme Court of Canada.She teaches in the areas of criminal law, family law and multiculturalism.Her research interests are generally in the area of law, culture and minority rights and specifically in the intersecting area of religious freedom and women’s equality. She has written extensively on the issue of religious arbitration in family law. Her most recent works are about the rights of niqab-wearing women. She has written several articles about demeanour evidence and niqab-wearing women in the courtroom context, the growing agitation expressed about niqab-wearing women publicly and the importance of including niqabwearing women in the feminist fight to bring equality to the sexual assault context Prof. Bakht’s arguments were recently cited by Justice Abella in her dissent in R v. NS.

Jacqueline Beckles

Jacqueline Beckles completed a B.A. at Concordia University in Political Science in 1994. She was admitted to the civil law program of the University of Ottawa and went on to complete the National Program, graduating with both LL.L/LL.B. degrees. She became a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2003. Jacqueline practiced criminal law in Ottawa from 2003 to 2006, when she left practice on maternity leave. She had the opportunity to Clerk for the Supreme Court of Barbados for one year and then work as a research fellow at the University of the West Indies, before returning to Ottawa in 2008 to resume her practice. After facing numerous challenges while attempting to return to work in her field, she joined the Federal Public Service as a labour relations advisor with Health Canada and the Correctional Services Canada, before retuning to practice with the Department of Justice Canada, International Assistance Group, where she practices international criminal law handling extradition and mutual legal assistance matters. In addition to her legal career, Jacqueline is a part-time professor at Algonquin College in the paralegal program; and is currently the Chair of the Law Society’s Women’s Equity Advisory Group. Jacqueline a obtenu un baccalauréat en science politique de l’Université Concordia à Montréal en 1994 et un baccalauréat en droit civil (LL.L.) en 2001 et en common law (LL.B.) en 2002. Elle fût admise au Barreau du Haut-Canada en 2003.

Elle a pratiqué dans la domaine de droit criminel à Ottawa de 2003 à 2006, quand elle a quitté sa pratique en congé de maternité. En 2007, elle a eu l’occasion de travailler comme auxiliaire juridique pour la Cour suprême de Barbade pour un an et ensuite comme recherchiste à l’Université des Antilles, avant retourner à Ottawa en 2008 afin de reprendre sa pratique. Après faire face à certains défis, elle a pris un emploi à la fonction publique fédérale comme conseillère en relations de travail au sein de Santé Canada et Service Correctionnel du Canada, avant sa retourne à la pratique de droit criminel avec le Ministère de la Justice Canada, Service d’entraide internationale, traitant des dossiers d’extradition et d’entraide juridique en matière criminelle. En plus de sa carrière légale, Jacqueline est professeure à temps partiel au collège Algonquin (Ottawa) où elle enseigne des futurs parajuristes. De plus, elle est la présidente de la groupe consultatif en matière d’équité des femmes du Barreau du Haut Canada.

Suzanne Bouclin

Suzanne Bouclin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa. She was called to the bar in 2002 and holds a doctorate in Law from McGill University. Professor Bouclin articled with a constitutional litigation firm in Toronto and has since worked with national not for profit organizations furthering substantive equality as Director of the Language Rights Program for the Court Challenges Program of Canada, Executive Director of the National Associations Active in Criminal Justice (NAACJ), and Research /Analyst with the National Association of Women in the Law (NAWL) and the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund’s (LEAF) Legal Committee, Board Member of the Canadian Law and Society Association (CLSA), Board Member of the Independent Filmmakers Cooperative of Ottawa (IFCO), and a member of the Canadian Poverty Law Journal’s Editorial Committee.. Professor Bouclin is also a committed volunteer with community groups, such as Ottawa’s Ticket Defence Program and Pro Bono Students Canada. Her areas of research, collaborations and publication include: performance and performativity in legal education, feminist aesthetics, law and popular culture, and the criminal regulation of vulnerable groups.

Shire Brandi

Shire Brandi is in his third year of the English Common Law Program at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, Shire studied business administration and linguistics at York University. He is a co-founder of several small businesses and youth organizations. In addition, he has extensive community building experience, having worked very closely with Toronto social housing communities to tackle issues such as youth employment, education, relations with the justice system and civic engagement.

Angela Cameron

Professor Cameron received her LL.B. from Dalhousie University in 1998, and was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar in 1999. She received her L.L.M. from the University of British Columbia in 2003 and her

28


Doctorate from the University of Victoria in 2012. She was an SSHRC Doctoral Fellow, and a President’s Research Scholar at the University of Victoria. Professor Cameron teaches Property Law, Constitutional Law II, Gender, Sexuality and Law, Restorative Justice, and a graduate seminar in Legal Theory. Professor Cameron’s research is generally in the area of social justice, with a particular focus on the equality interests of women. Professor Cameron’s research areas include criminal law, restorative justice, property law, reproductive technologies law, family law, legal theory, sociological approaches to law, and human rights law. She is the administrator of Bloggingforequality.ca.

Mara Clarke

Mara Clarke is currently the Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Ontario Justice Education Network, a non profit, non governmental organization founded by Ontario’s 3 Chief Justices in 2002. During law school, Mara interned with the Corporate Counsel at Grace Kennedy Limited in Kingston, Jamaica where she was introduced to corporate social responsibility and securities law.. While summering, Mara was seconded to First Global Bank in Jamaica where she continued building on her interest in securities law. After graduating Osgoode Hall Law School in 2007, Mara articled with a full service law firm in Toronto with a focus on corporate – specifically securities. When the opportunity arose, Mara joined OJEN in 2009 to pursue an interest that had always been her passion – justice education focused at youth. A former executive member of the Black Law Students Association of Canada, Mara was experienced in youth outreach, program management and justice programming for equity -seeking groups.

Adrienne Coddett

Adrienne Coddett is a high school educator who has become a respected local leader and mentor, through her significant contribution to Ottawa’s youth population in general, and Black youth specifically. She has created and organized an annual Black Youth Conference Day during Black History Month where she provides a forum for Black youth expression and cultural exploration. Adrienne has performed groundbreaking work raising awareness amongst youth on the global impact of HIV/AIDS. She also galvanizes Ottawa’s Black youth communities to be active on a worldwide scale by participating in the annual International Black Youth Summit. As a seasoned high school basketball coach and co-founder of the Ottawa Phoenix boys competitive basketball team, Adrienne has helped develop many young men into some of Canada’s best basketball players, using basketball as a transformative agent in their lives. Adrienne is also well known in Ottawa as co-host of Black on Black, a public affairs radio show which broadcasts every Saturday morning on the University of Ottawa’s radio station, CHUO 89.1 FM. Black on Black has been a fixture on CHUO’s Saturday line-up for the past 17 years, and is a source of information on and about Ottawa’s Black community. Her organization, 3Dreads and a Baldhead (founded in 2000), provides

opportunities for people in Black communities to transform their lives by maximizing their physical, mental, spiritual, and economic potential. 3Dreads and a Baldhead has several programs/initiatives: Be More Academy, the Black Youth Conference Day, BlackYouthaPalooza, Young Sisters Bookclub, “An Evening with…” Literary Series, Sisterhood Anthology, CIBC Run for the Cure Team, Sisterhood Walking and Social Club, and Ottawa Phoenix Basketball.

Thomas G. Conway

Thomas G. Conway is the Treasurer of the Law Society. The Treasurer is the highest elected official of the Law Society, which regulates Ontario’s lawyers and paralegals in the public interest. The Treasurer presides over Convocation, the Law Society’s governing board, chairing and setting the agenda for its meetings and establishing Convocation committees. The Treasurer is elected each year at the June meeting of Convocation. Treasurers generally serve two terms. Treasurer Conway was acclaimed by Convocation to lead The Law Society of Upper Canada as its 64th Treasurer in June 2012. Treasurer Conway was first elected a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. He has held several high-profile positions as bencher, including chair of the Professional Development and Competence Committee, co-chair of the Retention of Women in Private Practice Working Group, chair of the Articling Task Force, a member of the Priority Planning Committee, and a council member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, representing the Law Society of Upper Canada. For 2011 and 2012, he is a vice president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. He has also been a board member of LibraryCo and a member of the Ontario Bar Association Council. Treasurer Conway is married with two children. He has served as a Cross Country Ski Coach for the Ontario Special Olympics. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter. com/ThomasGConway or read his blog at http://www.lawsocietygazette. ca/treasurers-blog

Jeremy Dias

Jeremy Dias was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up there until moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he attended high school. As a youth, he was motivated by social and political inequality to take action, volunteering with numerous organizations and charities. In high school he started and lead a number of clubs including Stop Racism and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. He also founded and coordinated the Sault Ste.Marie first regional LGBTQ youth group. After coming out in high school, Jeremy faced extreme cases of discrimination by students & school officials. At 17, he began a legal case against his school and school board, and at 21 won Canada’s second largest human rights settlement. Jeremy used the money to found Jer’s Vision: Canada’s Youth Diversity Initiative, the international Day of Pink and the Jeremy Dias Scholarship. Jeremy has been featured on Canada AM, Much Music, CTV News, Global News and CBC News; and has been a keynote speaker at countless conferences and events. He has completed a degree in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Ottawa, continues to volunteer for a number of organizations including Housing Help and

29


the Imperial Court. He is also a columnist for 2B Magazine in Montreal. Jeremy Dias currently serves as Jer’s Vision’s Executive Director..

Honourable Mr. Justice Hugh L. Fraser Justice Hugh Fraser received his B.A. (Hons.) from Queen’s University, his LL.B from the University of Ottawa Law School and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1979. He has worked as a Sessional Lecturer at Carleton University,was a member of Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, in private practice, at the Department of Justice and is currently a Judge of the Ontario Court of Justice. Justice Fraser has also worked as an arbitrator for American Arbitration Association Neutral, the Summer Olympics, Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 1996, the Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998, the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia in 2006 and currently sits for the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has been profiled in Ottawa Sunday Sun September 10 2000, “Fast-track to future.” He has also been featured in Capital Style magazine volume 6 no 3, Fall 2002-Winter 2003, “Persona in Camera” and the book “One dead Indian” by Peter Edwards which was written about the death of Dudley George and the Ipperwash Crisis of 1995. It contains numerous references to Justice Fraser’s involvement as trial Judge.

David Fewer

David Fewer is the Director of CIPPIC. David is an intellectual property and technology lawyer, and brings a decade of practice experience to CIPPIC’s advocacy on intellectual property and technology files. Prior to joining CIPPIC, Mr. Fewer practised intellectual property and technology law with national firms in British Columbia and Ontario, and clerked with the Federal Court of Canada. He completed an LL.M. at the University of Toronto, where he wrote on intellectual property policy and the application of the Charter to copyright law. He has taught and written extensively on intellectual property and technology law issues, and is a frequent commentator in the media on such issues.

Saron Gebresellassi

Saron Gebresellassi is a JD Candidate at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. Prior to law school, she obtained a BA from Ryerson University’s Radio and Television Arts School of Media and a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto. She subsequently taught in the department of humanities at York University. During her legal studies, Saron was a finalist in the Nelligan O’Brien Payne Moot Court Competition where she made submissions before the Honourable Justice Louise Charron of the Supreme Court of Canada. Saron was selected to collaborate with the United Nations Secretariat in New York to undertake the preparation of a study for the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs. Under the coaching of Professor Saeid Mirzaei and Professor Don McRae, she prepared a study on the application and interpretation of Article 92 of the United Nations Charter.

She is presently National Conference Chair of the Black Law Students Association of Canada and is active in a wide cross-section of civil society organizations. Saron is a recipient of over thirty academic and community awards including the Harry Jerome Leadership Award, African-Canadian Women’s Achievement Award, YWCA Young Woman of Distinction Award and was selected for Chatelaine Magazine’s “Top 80 Amazing Canadian Women to Watch” feature. Saron speaks seven languages including one that can be spoken under water.

Lwam Ghebrehariat

Lwam Ghebrehariat was called to the Ontario Bar in 2011, and is currently working in Toronto as a staff lawyer for Legal Aid Ontario. He enjoys acting in plays and also writes and performs standup comedy and sketch comedy.

Sébastien Grammond

Sébastien Grammond is Associate Professor and Vice-Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Law (Civil Law Section) of the University of Ottawa. He holds a LL.B. and a LL.M. from the Université de Montréal, as well as a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford, with a thesis on the legal regulation of membership in indigenous peoples and linguistic minorities. After his clerkship with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, he began practising law in 1994 with Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP in Montreal, specialising in native law, constitutional and administrative law and construction law. Since 2004, he has been teaching contractual obligations and native law at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on minority and indigenous peoples rights, in particular on the relationship between law and indigenous identity. In matters of private law, his interests pertain to the interpretation of contracts and contractual justice.

Omar Ha-Redeye

Omar Ha-Redeye is a civil litigator with Fleet Street Law and General Manager of My Support Calculator. His legal practice and consulting work focuses heavily on social media and technology. In 2011 he was named as one of the top dozen social media influencers practicing law in Canada. In 2012 he was selected to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to society, promoting access to justice, and professional achievements. Omar is currently completing his LLM at Osgoode Hall School of Law. He is also an Adjunct Faculty at Ryerson University and a Part-Time Faculty member at Centennial College.

Patricia Harewood

Patricia Harewood works for the Public Service Alliance of Canada as a Grievance and Adjudication Officer. Prior to working at PSAC, Ms. Harewood worked as a litigator for the Department of Justice and a Community Developer at the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, focsing on anti-poverty and food security initiatives. Ms. Harewood has a passion for working with others to advance women’s equality rights. She is currently a Board member of MATCH International, the Black Women’s Civic Engagement Network and a volunteer host of Black on Black on

30


CHUO 89.1FM. When Ms. Harewood is not at work, she loves to read and write poetry, hang out with her family and ride her bike.

Glyn Lewis

Glyn has worked on the edge of online and online-to-offline political organizing for the past 5 years. In 2007 he joined the Obama for America campaign in Marshalltown, Iowa as a volunteer field organizer. By the spring of 2008 he was a campaign deputy regional field director in areas like Fort Worth, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. Towards the end of the general election Glyn returned to Canada and got involved in groups like OpenMedia.ca, Canada’s largest citizen-base open Internet advocacy group. His focus and his passions lie in empowering citizens to effectively advocate for positive change.

Taisha Lewis

Taisha Lewis is currently a third year student in the English common law program at the University of Ottawa. Prior to law school, she graduated with distinction from McMaster University where she completed an undergraduate degree in the Honours Arts and Science program as well as a minor in French.

During law school, Taisha has been involved with the Black Law Students’ Association at the University of Ottawa as Co-President, First Year Representative and a mentor. She also volunteers as a mentor in the Women’s Legal Mentorship Program and works as an Ambassador to the Faculty of Law. Taisha has competed in the Wilson Equality Section 15 Moot, and the Nelligan O’Brien Payne Moot where she was a finalist for the County of Carleton Law Association prize for best factum. This past summer, Taisha worked as a summer student at LaBarge Weinstein LLP, where she will return as an articling student in August 2013. Taisha is interested in pursuing a career in corporate/securities law.

Shane Martínez

Shane Martínez is a lawyer based in Toronto, Ontario, who practices in the areas of criminal defence, human rights, and prisoner justice. Originally from the Maritimes, he earned his LLB at the University of New Brunswick. After graduating Shane moved to Ontario and completed his Articles of Clerkship in a legal clinic rotation assisting Latin American and Caribbean migrant workers. His legal work, much like his activism, is social justice oriented. In addition he regularly writes and lectures about police brutality, racial profiling, and the prison industrial complex. Shane also serves as counsel to the Centre for Police Accountability and provides ‘Know Your Rights’ workshops to youth in the Greater Toronto Area.

Carissima Mathen

Carissima Mathen joined the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law as Associate Professor in 2011. She teaches Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Comparative Civil Liberties. Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, Professor Mathen was a member of the Faculty of Law, University of New Brunswick. From 1994-2001, she was Counsel and, later, Director of Litigation for the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

undertaking equality rights litigation before the Supreme Court of Canada and other courts. Her work has appeared in various journals including The Supreme Court Law Review, Osgoode Hall Law Journal, National Journal of Constitutional Law, Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, and Queen’s Law Journal. Her current scholarship is focused on arbitrariness in criminal law, Aboriginal rights, and the role of social media in criminal justice. BA (McGill), LLB (Osgoode), LLM (Columbia), of the Bar of Ontario.

Virginia McRae

Virginia McRae has been teaching effective written communication since 1979. After graduating from the University of Windsor in 1979 she stayed for two years to teach Legal Writing and Research. She was in private practice in Ottawa before joining the Department of Justice where she practiced in a variety of areas (administrative law, human rights law and family law and policy) before becoming Assistant Deputy Minister. She received her LL.M in 1991. She also taught in the Bar Admission Course for 11 years in Legal Writing, Research and Public Law.

Peter Oliver

Peter Oliver’s research is in the area of comparative constitutional law, history and theory, principally in relation to Canada, the Commonwealth and the European Union. He is particularly interested in shifting understandings of two central theoretical concepts: sovereignty and legal system. In 2005, he published The Constitution of Independence: The Development of Constitutional Theory in Australia, Canada and New Zealand (Oxford University Press) which was awarded one of the Peter Birks prizes for outstanding legal scholarship. The bulk of his research has had two limbs: the first involves a reexamination of key assumptions relating to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty; and the second proposes a theoretical account of how new legal systems are created. His present research relates more closely to issues in Canadian federalism. In 2009, he was awarded a grant from the SSHRC to work on legal issues relating to the federal spending power. Peter Oliver has been a speaker at legal institutions around the world, including Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne, McGill, Queen’s, Saskatchewan, Toronto, Toulouse and Max Planck, Heidelberg.

Deborah Peterson Small

Deborah Peterson Small is the Executive Director of Break the Chains, a public policy research and advocacy organization committed to addressing the disproportionate impact of punitive drug policies on poor communities of color. Break the Chains was founded in the belief that community activism and advocacy is an essential component of progressive policy reform. Break the Chains works to engage families and community leaders in promoting alternatives to the failed “war on drugs” by adopting public health approaches to substance abuse and drug-related crime. Break the Chains is an advocate and voice for those affected most by drug policies but too often unheard in policy debates and decisions.

31


Amna Qureshi

Amna Qureshi is currently a third year law student at the University of Ottawa. She completed her undergraduate Honours degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Calgary. Throughout her undergraduate studies and law school she has been an active member of both the Calgary and Ottawa communities by volunteering her time with various organizations. She is an active proponent of increasing access to justice particularly for marginalized groups and has helped create a free legal resource manual for women in Alberta and has worked with free legal clinics in both cities. She also works to increase interdisciplinary education within the legal system for example in her work with the National Judicial Institute to create an Electronic Bench Book for the Canadian judiciary on managing sexual assault trials. For the past two years she has also been the Chair of the Muslim Law Students’ Association on campus, a group which promotes awareness of legal issues that affect Muslims and other minority groups in Canada for instance by organizing events regarding national security, racism and racial profiling. In her spare time she likes to mentor law students and pre-law students and practice photography. Once she completes law school this spring she will be returning to her home province to begin articling with the Alberta Department of Justice and Attorney General.

Owen Rees

Owen is currently the Executive Legal Officer to the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of Canada. In his practice as a partner at Stockwoods LLP, he focuses on civil, commercial, and regulatory litigation. Owen argues cases before all levels of courts in Ontario, the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Owen has written on various legal topics, including evidence, criminal liability for insider trading, the conduct of disciplinary investigations, and constitutional law. He is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences on constitutional law, administrative law, and evidence. He attended McGill University (BA, 1999), and Queen’s University (LLB, 2002). He holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Oxford (BCL, 2005). Following his call to the Bar in 2003, Owen clerked for Mr. Justice LeBel of the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been a lecturer in the University of Oxford, adjunct faculty at Queen’s University Faculty of Law and, between 2009 and 2012, was an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School. Owen was co-founder and, from 2007 to 2011, was executive director of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute. Between 2010 and 2012, he was a member of Legal Aid Ontario’s Group Applications and Test Cases Committee.

Rakhi Ruparelia

Prior to pursuing her LL.M. degree at Harvard University, Professor Ruparelia taught torts at the University of Ottawa and then clerked at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. After completing her graduate studies, Professor Ruparelia joined the Prison Reform Advocacy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio where she established and directed a community legal clinic to assist ex-prisoners with legal issues impeding their

transition back to society. Her current research interests include torts, criminal law, critical race theory, and feminist legal theory. Her recent publications have considered the impact of criminal law on racialized communities, as well as the capacity of tort law to redress racial discrimination. She is the co-editor of “Critical Torts”, a collection of essays that explores the potential and limitations of tort law as a progressive tool for social change. In addition to her teaching and research, Professor Ruparelia has conducted judicial training sessions on issues surrounding sexual assault and domestic violence. In addition, she has worked with the National Judicial Institute to plan and deliver anti-racism training to judges. Professor Ruparelia also has participated as a member of the Canadian Bar Association Standing Committee on Equity and the National Steering Committee of the National Association of Women and the Law (N.A.W.L.).

Joanne St. Lewis

Professor Joanne St. Lewis teaches in the Law Faculty at the University of Ottawa. She is the former Director of the Human Rights Research & Education Centre. She is a regular lecturer in the USC Executive Program on Counter-Terrorism. She is also the Director of POWER: Canada/Africa which examines gender equality issues for African women and girls. She was co-counsel for the AFN on the human rights case on funding of on-reserve welfare services for First Nations children. Joanne was the first and only Black woman to be elected as a Bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada, in its 215 year history. The Law Society governs the over 41,000 lawyers in Ontario. She has held positions with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Ontario Race Relations Directorate and was also Executive Director of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). From 1985-87, she was Special Assistant Government Affairs to the Grand Chief of the Crees of Québec. Professor St. Lewis was recognized as one of 16 trailblazers by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers in 2012 and is the recipient of the 2012 National Hero Award from the Black law Students Association of Canada. She is the recipient of the United Nations Association of Canada 2009 Honoured Champion Award for the 100thAnniversary of International Womens Day, the 2008 DreamKEEPERS Life Achievement Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Coalition and a 2001 Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Outstanding Achievement Award.

Erroll G. Southers

Erroll G. Southers is the Associate Director of Research Transition at the DHS National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) at the University of Southern California, where he developed the Executive Program in Counter-Terrorism and serves as an adjunct professor of Homeland Security and Public Policy in the Sol Price School of Public Policy. He is a former FBI Special Agent, President Barack Obama’s first nominee for Assistant Secretary of the TSA and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Deputy Director for Critical Infrastructure of the California Office of Homeland Security. Prof. Southers is a Visiting Fellow of the International Institute of Counter-Terrorism in Herzliya, Israel, a member of the

32


Bipartisan Policy Center’s Homeland Security Project, a Senior Fellow of the UCLA School of Public Affairs and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA) at Rutgers University. Professor Southers is also the Managing Director of the CounterTerrorism and Infrastructure Protection Division of the international security consulting firm TAL Global Corporation. He was the Assistant Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence at the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department and began his law enforcement career with the Santa Monica Police Department. He is a recipient of the Earl Warren Outstanding Public Service Award, recognized in Security Magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Industry Thought Leaders in the United States and member of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Airport Security at LAX. Prof. Southers has provided testimony as a subject matter expert to the full Congressional Committee on Homeland Security, published numerous articles and appears as a counter-terrorism analyst on a variety of national and international media networks. Professor Southers earned his BA degree at Brown University and MPA at USC, where he is a doctoral candidate.

Elizabeth Sheehy

Elizabeth Sheehy, LL.B. (Osgoode 1981), LL.M. (Columbia 1984), LL.D. –Honourary Doctorate awarded in recognition of contributions to women in the profession-- (LSUC 2005), was appointed to the Faculty of Law in 1984 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Full Professor in 1995. She has also taught law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney Australia and at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto as a Visiting Professor. She teaches Criminal Law and Procedure, Advanced Criminal Procedure, Sexual Assault Law, and Defending Battered Women on Trial. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1987 and has been a member of the School of Graduate Studies since 1990. She held the Shirley Greenberg Professorship in Women and the Legal Profession from 2002-2005. Along with Professor Jennie Abell and Professor Natasha Bakht, Professor Sheehy has published a double volume Criminal Law and Procedure casebook, Criminal Law and Procedure: Cases, Context and Critique and Criminal Law and Procedure: Proof, Defences and Beyond, now in their fourth editions (Captus Press). In addition to her many articles, position papers, and book chapters on criminal law issues as they affect women and racialized persons, she has published several edited collections, including a special double issue of the Osgoode Hall Law Journal: Mandatory Minimum Sentences: Law and Policy (2001), Adding Feminism to Law: The Contributions of Claire L’Heureux-Dubé (Irwin Law, 2004) and, with Professor Sheila McIntyre, Calling for Change: Women, Law and the Legal Profession (University of Ottawa Press, 2006).

Donna Walwyn

Ms. Donna Walwyn heads the Pension and Employee Benefits Practice Group in Toronto. She has a wide range of experience in private practice and, prior to becoming a lawyer, worked for Ontario’s pension regulator. She also practiced pension and benefits law

exclusively with a leading boutique firm in Toronto before joining Baker & McKenzie. Ms. Walwyn is a member of the Ontario Bar Association (Pension and Benefits Section), the Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute, and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.

Mayor Jim Watson

Jim Watson was elected Mayor of the City of Ottawa on October 25, 2010. Mayor Watson had dedicated most of his career to public service in Canada’s Capital. First elected as a Councillor in 1991, he was re-elected in 1994. Three years later he was elected as the youngest Mayor in Ottawa’s history with 82% of the popular vote. Following the amalgamation of Ottawa and surrounding communities, Mayor Watson was appointed the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Tourism Commission, a federal crown corporation. In 2003, he was elected as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean and immediately appointed to cabinet as Minister of Consumer and Business services. In 2005, he was appointed as Ontario’s first Minister of Health Promotion and he successfully implemented the Smoke Free Ontario Act. Re-elected as MPP in 2007, he was promoted to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. In that portfolio, Watson signed the largest Federal-Provincial Housing agreement in Ontario’s History. In addition he co-authored an historic agreement between the province and Ontario’s 444 municipalities that saw over $1.5 Billion in social service costs removed from local property taxes. An active member of his community, Watson has also served on the boards or as honourary chair of several community organizations, including the Riverside Hospital, the National Arts Centre, the Christmas Exchange of Ottawa and the Forum for Young Canadians. He served as chair of United Way’s 2002 campaign, which raised a record $21 million. An avid volunteer with several groups, he has helped serve meals at the Shepherds of Good Hope, a local soup kitchen. His commitment to those less fortunate was evident when, in August of 2000, he contributed his entire municipal severance payment of $31,000 to Ottawa’s Union Mission for Men. His years of active involvement and community service have made him the recipient of several awards and accolades, including Maclean’s magazine’s “100 Young Canadians To Watch,” Carleton University Honours Award, the City of Ottawa’s highest civic honour, the Key to the City; the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal; the Visionary Award by the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association, and the National Leadership Award by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control for his role in implementing the Smoke Free Ontario Act. Mayor Watson was also recognized for his support of the tourism industry by being named Ottawa Tourism Leader of the year in 2012

Judge Jean Whalen

Judge Jean M. Whalen attended St. Mary’s University and graduated from Dalhouise Law School in 1984 . After being admitted to the bar she entered private practice in August of 1985. In 1989 she was appointed a Crown Attorney, becoming the 1st African Nova Scotian woman to hold that position . She appeared in all levels of court in Nova Scotia. Because of Judge Whalen’s extensive experience in “Youth Court” she was invited by the President of Ministerio Servo ,( Brasilia, Brazil) to act as a consultant to the Public Prosecution of the

33


Federal District of Brasilia in 1998 . During the past 30 years Judge Whalen has volunteered for many organizations including the YMCA, the N.S. Barrister’s Society and the Women’s Legal and Education Action Fund (L.E.A.F.) This latter experience enabled her to become the first African Nova Scotian woman to appear in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1994 . Judge Whalen was appointed to the Provincial & Family courts of Nova Scotia on January 15, 2009 . She sits in Sydney, Cape Breton making her the first African Nova Scotian to be appointed to the bench in Cape Breton. Judge Whalen continues to be active in the community by supporting worthwhile causes which focus on youth.

Nancy Zagbayou

Nancy Zagbayou is the VP Québec for the Black Law Student Association of Canada. She is a second year law student at Mcgill Faculty of law where she is pursuing a bachelor of Civil Law and a Bachelor of Laws with a major in commercial negotiation and dispute resolution. Zagbayou is currently serving as a junior manager for the McGill Law Journal (“Journal”) and will be the Journal’s Managing Editor for the 2013-2014 academic year. Prior to attending Mcgill she worked as a consultant for a start up in the Ivory Coast and a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs on Wall Street. She graduated Valedictorian from North Carolina State University with degrees in economics, political science and french language. Her ultimate goal in life is to leave this world a little better than she found it.

Performers

Ottawa Flute Quintet

Saron Gebresellassi is a classicallytrained flautist and has performed with multiple ensembles in Toronto, Ottawa and Los Angeles. Jacqueline Edwards is originally from Guelph and a graduate of the Music Education program at Nova Scotia`s Acadia University where she undertook flute performance. Macy Siu is an accomplished pianist and flautist currently completing her third year of law school at the Univeristy of Ottawa. Braydon Hall is an Ottawa-based flautist and physics major at the University of Ottawa. Megan Lummi is a Masters of Education Candiate at the University of Ottawa and plays with the university symphonic concert band. Olga Koppel is a skilled classical musician and biology student at the University of Ottawa.

Remesha Drums

Remesha Drums is a percussion ensemble originally from Burundi, now based in Ottawa since 2001. The members of Remesha drums have been playing Ingoma (Drums) since they were young boys. Traditionally drummers like Remesha are a part of ceremonies such as birth, Umuganuro (sorghum harvest) and coronation of the Mwami (Kings).

Andrew Forde & Sound Energy Flux Andrew Forde goes by the stage name The Violinist. He is an accomplished musician who is creating his place in the music scene. He has been mastering his craft for an astonishing 20 years, boosting numerous awards including best performance in violin from the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music. Under the direction of virtuoso violinist and teacher Martin Bazarian, Andrew has developed a musical style and interpretation matched by none. He received parallel instruction during his formative years at the prestigious Unionville High School of the Arts and it was here when he started to develop his sense of jazz through the jazz program. Andrew has been surrounded by music his entire life, it was instilled in him from his family, it is from his Dad, a multi-instrumentalist that Andrew was able to develop his gift of listening to a piece of music and playing it back in single takes. Now equipped with style, musicality, improvisation and creativity, Andrew has embarked on the long journey of revitalizing the violins image and removing cultural barriers associated with it. No longer is the violin subject to strictly classical music, or even the jazz taboo; Andrew takes what we know as genres and uses them as ingredients to create a unique multifaceted sound. Andrew Forde has played for over 30 000 people in sold out concert halls, sharing the stage with such talents as Mary J Blige, Sting, Justin Bieber, Sheryl Crow, Akon, Pitbul, Kardinal Offishall, K-OS and Eddie Bullen just to name a few. Having recorded with numerous other artists and played at a variety of shows, including the CBC special “The Evolution of Gospel Music”, and most recently at an unplugged MTV special. The Violinist is on his way to becoming a musician that everyone can appreciate. Miles Gibbons: A deeply rooted love of music, and affinity for the groove led Miles to his first backbeat at age 12. After receiving the Rotary Award for High School Musical Studies, Miles was accepted into Humber College’s prestigious jazz performance program. There, he performed with various small combos and big bands, and graduated with Honours. Miles has been described as, “the grandson of the beat maker”, and continues to wow audiences with his virtuosity every time he sets foot on stage. Johnny Lawrence: He is an internationally acclaimed bassist who has mastered the electric and upright bass; dazzling audiences with his grooves and soloing ability as well as his command of varied musical styles. As one of the most talented bassist in the scene, his genius is something that must be experienced. Nathaniel James: He has had one constant his whole life, and that is music. Being the last of 6 children he was not the only one with the gift, but to date is the only James to have continued in his pursuit of professionalism in the field. Like many musicians he started out in the church, playing for services and concerts as a teenager.

34


He has now branched out into several different areas of music and has shared the stage with some of Toronto’s finest, such as The Weeknd, Kiesha Chante, Choclaire and many others. He is currently awaiting the release of a live DVD gospel recording named “I’m Not Afraid”, from artist Dominiq (http://dominiqnana.wix.com/dream#!dreamntv) that he co-produced. He is also working in the studio with various local artist, which he is also producing, and writing for. Outside of production and performances one of his passions are the children he teaches at his local church who are gradually taking over church services at ages ranging for 10-16. His goal is to make a contribution to music, which has preserved his life so significantly and to be accountable to his gifting from God who has blessed him so abundantly. A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. (Proverbs 18:16) Alexei Orechin: He is a guitar prodigy who synthesizes many styles in creating his musical voice, guitar style and rhythms, has the ability to make his guitar sound beyond anything you would expect a guitar to sound like. As one of our greatest sound innovators, his amazing melodic phrases speak to your soul. Alexei exudes pure musical expression that words simply cannot describe. Together, these 5 young virtuosos have formed SEF, which stands for Sound Energy Flux. SEF is a musical phenomenon that defines themselves as energy produced by their instrument’s vibrations. Extremely talented, these 5 young men know exactly how to create positively wonderful vibrations with their instruments, transcending them into melody and allowing us all to feel and enjoy the beauty of their musical vibes.

The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada would also like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their time, support, and participation Neegann Aaswaakshin, Aboriginal Law Students Association Andrew Coleman, University of Ottawa Marlyse Dumel, Crown Attorney David Fewer, Director, CIPPIC Nicolas Hawkins, President, Common Law Student Society Imam Samy Metwally Anthony Morgan, Occupational Health and Safety Tribunal Canada Leyla Mostafavi Deacon Vita Ns’ingi Awa Carole Diop Rosemary Cairns Way, Professor, University of Ottawa Porter Airlines Arab Canadian Lawyers Association The Roach Family United Graphics

Magazine Editor Design and layout by

Nana Yanful

647-887-5548 [email protected] be.net/christianbortey

A Special Thanks To The Following Schools For Sponsoring Their Students: University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law University of Windsor, Faculty of Law University of Toronto, Faculty of Law University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law

Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University Osgoode Hall Law School, York University McGill University, Faculty of Law

The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada would like to thank those organizations whose generous contributions made this year’s national conference a successful event. Sponsors NAT I O NAL S P O NS O R

T ITLE S P O NSO R : MO RNING C E RE MO NIES

JUST I CE JU L I US I SAAC AL EXA ND E R D IVER S I TY MO OT S P O NS O R

SILVE R SP O NSO RS

B R O NZ E S P O NS O R S OTHE R SP O NSO RSHIP LEVELS

METAMORPHOSIS

35


www.blsacanada.com