2011 BLSA Canada Magazine - Black Law Students` Association of

Transcription

BLSAC
20th ANNIVERSARY
The Evolution of the
Black Law Students’
Association: 20 Years Strong
2 1 -2 11
7th Issue
BLACK LAW STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
Table of Contents
1 President’s Welcome
Keri Wallace
3 Lawyers are Social Engineers
Ida Ngueng Feze
5
L’avocat, un ingénieur de la société
Ida Ngueng Feze
7 Luck, Perseverance, and a Whole
Lot of Hard Work
Omar Ha-Redeye
8 Access to Justice
Damion D. Platt
10 Justice David St. Pierre’s journey:
In His Own Words
Justice David St. Pierre
11 View from the Past: Justice David
St. Pierre, a founder of BLSAC
Karlan Modeste
12 What am I doing
Reflections on legal education
Andre Cain
14 L’Autre, un effluve nauséabond?
Komassi Awovi Akpédzé Sandra
15 La couleur dans le langage
Komassi Awovi Akpédzé Sandra
19 20th Annual National
Special Thanks
The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada
would like to extend their appreciation to
the Law Foundation of Ontario for their
continuing support over the years.
We also thank all participating speakers,
sponsors, the executive committee of the
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers,
Intercontinental Yorkville hotel, Arcadian Court
and event coordinator Eyra Abraham.
Contact
This annual magazine is published by the Black
Law Students’ Association of Canada.
Information about the Association is available at
www.blsacanada.ca. Please direct all editorial,
advertising 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.ca.
Production
Design and layout by VISUTronX,
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Conference Schedule
24 Conference Speakers
BLACK LAW
STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION
OF CANADA
President’s Welcome
By Keri Wallace
We stand on the shoulders of our extraordinary predecessors
with a responsibility to continue the legacy they have left us
for the benefit of those who will follow.
I
n 1991 the Black Law
This year marks a change in the annual moot
Students Association of
competition held at the conference. A body of
Canada was born. The
academics, practitioners and members of the bench has
association and the Black
been established to administer the moot and ensure
legal community have come
the competition is of the highest caliber. Thank you
a long way since then. Today
to the members of this body for their time, efforts and
BLSA chapters can be found
patience in creating the new mooting format.
nationwide and we continue
Thanks to all of those involved with the
to grow with L’Université
organization and planning of the conference. This
du Québec à Montréal and l’Universite de Montreal
year’s team was a group of passionate and committed
joining us in 2010. As well we continue to develop our
individuals. Thanks to BLSA U of T and Osgoode,
relationship with our American colleagues, the National
Melayna Williams, Runako Gregg and Renatta Austin
Black Law Student Association.
for your help in executing BLSAC’s vision. The 2010Though our numbers have increased, Blacks are
2011 executive team truly outdid themselves; it was a
still under represented in law schools, legal practice and
pleasure to work with each of you and I look forward
the judiciary. It is an important time for our current
to watching your successes in the future. Your level of
generation of Black law students. We stand on the
dedication and professionalism is inspiring and truly
shoulders of our extraordinary predecessors with a
appreciated. ■
responsibility to continue the legacy they have left us
for the benefit of those who will follow. I have no doubt
we are ready for the task. I look forward to attending
the conference 20 years from now and marveling at
BLSAC’s continued growth and successes.
Putting on a conference of this size is
an immense task; fortunately the BLSAC
team is well supported. I would like to thank
Proudly supporting
the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
BLSAC and diversity in
executive, your advice and encouragement
was much appreciated. Thanks to Professor
the legal profession
Paul Ocheje of Windsor Law for his guidance
and support as our academic advisor. Special
thanks to the Law Foundation of Ontario
and the Department of Justice Canada,
as well as Blakes Cassels & Graydon LLP
www.stikeman.com
and Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP for their
TORONTO MONTRÉAL OTTAWA CALGARY VANCOUVER NEW YORK LONDON SYDNEY
continuing support of the conference.
STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP
FEBRUARY 2011 ■ BLSAC
1
2
BLSAC ■ FEBRUARY 2011
Lawyers are Social Engineers
By Ida Ngueng Feze
President of BLSA l’Universite de Montreal
[email protected]
L
awyers are social
engineers.” This mantra
was the first principle that
I learned as a 1L and it followed
me throughout my years of law
school at Howard School of Law
in Washington D.C. Each course
and moment spent there was an
experience and a breath in the history written with the
blood and sweat of so many.
It kept reminding me of the reason why so many
of us decide to become lawyers; it is more than an
aspiration, it is a vocation; an inspiration that started
long ago with the awareness of many men and
women such as Nelson Mandela and his dedication
to free his nation and the world from the Apartheid.
His perseverance was an example for many around
the world. Hence, one could think that it was not a
coincidence that BLSAC was created the same year
a freed Mandela became president of the ANC. He
had set in motion a revolution that would enable
many changes to come for more of us in more places
throughout the world.
Using the words of Nelson Mandela, because
“[e]ducation is the most powerful weapon which you
can use to change the world,” as law students we are
privileged to be prepared to join a profession that
carries the burden of being Justice’s gate keepers. Our
understanding and interpretation of the law during our
learning and practice will define our vision of Justice
and what it will entail for others.
With our legal expertise come great responsibilities
to ensure that our sense of Justice and ethics is reflected
in our decisions and actions. As law students, policy
makers, lawyers, or judges we construct, influence
and contribute greatly to society, we build and sustain
the legal norms whether through the legal system, the
alternative dispute resolution system, or in our daily
lives as role models, mentors, colleagues, fellow students,
hence defining our role in society and the polarity of
our impact. This role is critical to the advancement of
“
an everlasting peaceful and secured society as Frederick
Douglass once said “[w]here justice is denied, where
poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where
any one class is made to feel that society is an organized
conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither
persons nor property will be safe.”
So our role as minority student is to always strive
for excellence and Justice at its best. Whether we are
starting our first, second or third law degree, we owe to
demonstrate that our talent has its place, whether it is
academically or in our extracurricular activities or both.
As BLSAC celebrates its 20th anniversary, we
can reflect on where and when it all started and look
forward to where we are heading. While most Canadian
law schools have been present and active in BLSAC, it
is seemingly important to sanction the participation of
francophone universities of Quebec and notably of the
University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) (Winter
2010) and the University of Montreal (Fall 2010),
the first two French speaking institutions to join the
BLSAC network.
When one wonder why it took nearly 20 years
for students in these institutions (Universities of
Laval and Sherbrooke have yet to join the network)
to get organized, they could argue that there might
not be enough minority students, that students are
not dedicated enough….but the reality simply is that
additional barriers exist in francophone universities.
First, the French culture that imposes a status quo and
makes discussion about race such a taboo that just
stating the name of BLSAC in French raises eyebrows
and questions about why such organization would be
needed even among some of the most sophisticated
French speaking minority students. Second, the notion
of student activism and let alone minority involvement
is relatively new and still needs time to take hold.
Third, students who do take on the responsibilities of
leadership do not get much institutional support and
are often left with too much to cope with. For these
Continued on page 4
3
reasons, we call upon all French speaking students in
Québec or elsewhere to take an active and significant
role in their local BLSA chapter so that the third
decade of BLSAC can be enriched and even more
fulfilling; we call upon students everywhere to join
forces with BLSAC and continue the making of
history because diversity in the legal field is something
that concerns us all.
The time is now to get involved, to support the
community, to serve the public, to fight discrimination,
oppression, and injustice in our legal and personal
spheres, wherefore to become the architects of a society
that reflects the contribution of all members. Inevitably
we will all come to the conclusion that only a diverse
pool of talented legal professional is necessary in order
to reflect the multiculturalism and diversity of society.
Because just as the Honorable Judge Timothy K. Lewis
said: “You can’t evolve intellectually unless you have
people with fresh ideas and experiences and you are open
to their different ideas and experiences. There is no more
fertile territory for the evolution of intellectual thought
than a diverse atmosphere in which to thrive. ” ■
Law.
It’s our last name.
Although we’re advocates
for a whole lot more.
+ First law firm to sponsor the Black Business and Professional
Association (BBPA) national scholarship for black law students
+ One of Canada’s Best Employers for New Canadians, 2009 and 2010
+ Winner of a 2010 TRIEC Immigrant Success Award:
CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion
+ Founding member and first law firm Corporate Partner of and pro bono
legal counsel to Pride at Work Canada
+ Member of Catalyst Canada, expanding
opportunities for women in business
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INNOVATIVE | RESPONSIVE | CLIENT-FOCUSED | INCLUSIVE | TEAMWORK | EXPERTISE | KNOWLEDGEABLE
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OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.41'W | EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W | VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''
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OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.41'W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72''N 73°34'6.32''W | OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.41'W | VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''N
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fmc-law.com/diversity
Fraser Milner Casgrain llp
4
L’avocat, un ingénieur de la société
By Ida Ngueng Feze
Présidente de BLSA l’Universite de Montreal
[email protected]
L
avocat est un ingénieur de la société.” Ce slogan
à l’avancement d’une société capable de s’adapter et de
est le premier principe qui me fût inculqué
demeurer sécuritaire pour ses constituants, car comme
dès ma première année en droit à la faculté de
Frederick Douglass l’a dit « là où la justice est reniée,
droit de l’université de Howard à Washington D.C.
où la pauvreté est soutenue, où l’ignorance domine,
Chaque cours et moment passé entre les murs de cette
et où n’importe quelle classe pense que la société est
institution fût une expérience unique, un souffle dans
responsable d’une conspiration organisée pour les
l’histoire de la diversité en Amérique du Nord, marquée
oppresser, les voler, et les dégrader, ni les personnes, ni
par le combat et le labeur de tellement d’individus.
les propriétés ne sont en sécurité» (traduction).
Ce slogan m’a rappelé les raisons pour lesquelles
Alors, notre rôle en tant que minorité est de
beaucoup d’entre nous décident de devenir avocats ;
toujours viser l’excellence et la Justice dans ses meilleurs
c’est plus qu’une aspiration, c’est une vocation, une
aspects. Que nous commencions notre premier,
inspiration qui a commencé il y a bien longtemps avec
deuxième, ou troisième diplôme en droit, nous devons
la prise de conscience de nombreux hommes et femmes
démontrer que notre talent a sa juste place, autant dans
tels que Nelson Mandela et sa persévérance pour
le milieu académique qu’extracurriculaire.
Continued on page 6
libérer sa nation et le monde de l’Apartheid. Sa ténacité
demeure un exemple pour beaucoup à travers
le monde. Ainsi, on pourrait se demander s’il
Love law? And the promise of challenge,
s’agit vraiment d’une coïncidence que BLSAC
mentoring and opportunity? Osler, Hoskin
fût créée la même année ou un Mandela libre
& Harcourt LLP. Our students know.
devint président de l’ANC. Tout porterait à
Osler is a proud sponsor of the Black Law
croire qu’il avait mis en route une révolution
Students’ Association of Canada 20th
qui allait permettre beaucoup de changements
Annual National Conference.
pour plusieurs d’entre nous de par le monde.
Pour citer Mandela, « l’éducation est l’arme
la plus puissante que vous puissiez utiliser pour
changer le monde » (traduction), ainsi en tant
qu’étudiants en droit, nous sommes privilégiés
d’être préparés à une profession qui détient
la charge de préserver et maintenir la Justice.
Notre compréhension et interprétation de la
loi pendant notre éducation ainsi que notre
pratique définiront notre vision de la Justice et
ses conséquences pour le reste de la société.
Avec notre expertise viennent
d’importantes responsabilités car notre sens
de la Justice et de l’éthique va se refléter dans
nos décision et actions. En tant qu’étudiants
en droit, politiciens, juristes, avocats, ou
juges, nous construisons, influençons, et
contribuons à notre société, si bien que
oslerstudent.com
cela définit notre rôle dans la société et la
Toronto Montréal Calgary Ottawa New York
polarité de notre impact. Ce rôle est essentiel
5
Au moment ou BLSAC célèbre l’anniversaire de
ses 20 ans d’existence, c’est une opportunité de se
concerter sur comment et où tout commença, mais
c’est aussi l’opportunité de regarder de l’avant vers les
possibilités et avancements futures. Alors que la plupart
des universités Canadiennes ont été présentes au sein de
BLSAC, il est important de noter la participation des
institutions francophones du Québec, et notamment
de l’Université du Québec à Montréal et de l’université
de Montréal qui ont rejoint l’organisation au cours de
l’année 2010. Ce sont les deux premières institutions
francophones à rejoindre le réseau BLSAC.
Lorsqu’on s’interroge sur la raison pour laquelle
il a fallu presque 20 ans pour que ces institutions
rejoignent BLSAC (l’université de Laval et de Sherbrooke
ne faisant pas encore parti du réseau), on pourrait
penser qu’il n’y a pas assez d’étudiants noirs, ou que
l’envie de s’impliquer n’était pas présente…Mais la
réalité est que des barrières additionnelles existent
dans les institutions francophones. Premièrement, la
culture française qui impose un statu quo et rend les
discussions portant sur la race ou la diversité tabou au
point où mentionner une association d’étudiants noirs,
soulève des interrogations quant à l’utilité d’une telle
association, et cela même chez certains étudiants noirs
en droit. Cette peur du communautarisme stéréotype
l’association comme un regroupement fermé dont le
but est de diviser la communauté alors qu’au contraire,
il s’agit plutôt d’une association ouverte à tous, et dont
le but est de promouvoir la diversité en créant des
activités complémentaires pour tous les étudiants et
professionnels. Deuxièmement, la notion d’implication
et d’activisme est encore relativement nouvelle et a
besoin de plus de temps pour vraiment s’intégrer comme
un élément normal, voir indispensable à l’expérience
étudiante dans le monde francophone. Troisièmement,
les étudiants qui décident de prendre l’initiative
d’organiser et guider leur collègues, se retrouvent très
souvent sans soutient institutionnel et avec bien plus
de travail qu’ils ne peuvent gérer. Pour ces raisons, nous
demandons aux étudiants francophones du Québec et
du reste du Canada de jouer un rôle plus actif au sein de
BLSAC afin de l’enrichir de nos expériences et
de prendre en compte nos particularités ; nous
demandons à tous les étudiants de se joindre
au mouvement parce que la diversité est une
cause qui nous concerne tous.
Le temps est venu de s’impliquer, de se
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de servir le public, de renforcer la lutte contre
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dans nos sphères juridique et personnelle,
et ainsi devenir les architectes d’une société
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consciente de la contribution de tous ses
membres. Inévitablement, nous arriverons
tous à la conclusion que seul un groupe
diversifié d’individus talentueux au sein des
professions juridique est nécessaire afin que
le système reflète le multiculturalisme et
la diversité de la société pour laquelle des
règles sont érigées. Car comme l’a déclaré
l’Honorable Juge Timothy K. Lewis : « On
ne peut évoluer intellectuellement à moins
d’avoir des personnes avec des idées nouvelles
et des expériences diverses, et d’être ouvert à
Torys is proud to be a sponsor of
ces différentes idées et expériences. Il n’y a pas
de territoire plus fertile pour l’évolution de
BLSAC 20th Annual Conference
l’intellect qu’une atmosphère diversifiée dans
TORONTO | NEW YORK
laquelle évoluer » (traduction). ■
Get connected with Torys
6
Luck, Perseverance, and a Whole
Lot of Hard Work
By Omar Ha-Redeye
L
uck is when opportunity
had a stint as a small-claims judge, and helped set up
meets preparation,” said
the unified Family Court.
Gerry McNeilly, the first
His experiences in Ontario led to opportunities in
Chairperson of the Black Law
Manitoba, where he reinvented their Legal Aid plan.
Students Association of Canada
His staff grew from 30 lawyers to 72, making them the
(BLSAC) in 1992-1993. “But not all
largest legal employer in the province. On returning
of us have the same opportunities.”
to Ontario, McNeilly was appointed the Independent
Mr. McNeilly was there in the beginning, when
Police Review Director, where he currently works in
there was no BLSAC. Few black students had the
overseeing police complaints.
opportunity to be in law school, and he realized they
It’s no surprise given his own career that he strongly
were still perceived as outsiders trying to get in.
encourages those starting out to have their own mixed
Mr. McNeilly and other black students decided
career to show that we are not one-dimensional
they needed a vehicle to get to know each other and
individuals. He didn’t just get lucky. Opportunities
have a voice in the legal profession. They formed
were created through hard work and perseverance.
BLSAC to understand the black community, identify
More hard work is needed, because we still have a
the current situation, and make it easier for future black
long way to go. Although BLSAC helped create other
students. Almost two decades later BLSAC has grown
organizations like the Canadian Association of Black
into one of the most influential and active national law
Lawyers (CABL), it was meeting black judges that
student groups in Canada.
really inspired McNeilly. There were only six of them
“We are not shallow. We are just as smart,”
at the time in the entire country, but it showed him
said McNeilly. “We just don’t always have the same
that we don’t have to settle for one type of practice.
opportunities.” Many BLSAC members did not have
There are still not enough black judges in Canada
generations of parents in the legal field or come from
today, and more work needs to be done to improve
affluent families. But they were determined to let the
admissions processes and deal with biases in law school
legal industry know that they were there to become
curriculums. But thanks to people like Gerry McNeilly
good lawyers, and they have.
there are more opportunities today, and we’re all a little
Several members out of the inaugural
luckier today than the generation before us. ■
executive of BLSAC have made some
interesting career choices. Margaret Parsons
Proud Sponsor of the 20th Annual National
went on to found the African Canadian Legal
Conference of the Black Law Students’
Clinic (ACLC) in 1984, which specifically
Association of Canada
targets anti-Black racism and systemic
discrimination. Another, Sheila Galloway,
Added experience. Added clarity. Added value.
went on to complete an LLM degree
on Zimbabwe.
McNeilly has had his own varied and
Miller Thomson LLP
challenging career. After working briefly in the
www.millerthomson.com
public sector and being in private practice he
was appointed a part-time adjudicator with
VANCOUVER CALGARY EDMONTON SASKATOON REGINA LONDON KITCHENER-WATERLOO
the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and
GUELPH TORONTO MARKHAM MONTRÉAL
was subsequently appointed as chair. He then
“
7
Access to Justice
By Damion D. Platt
T
he study of law is a
passionate subject
matter for me, simply
because of my belief that law
has an intrinsic influence
on the construction and
destruction of institutionalized
forms of inequality and
equality. For most of my life law has functioned as a
great aperture, unmoving, unchanging despite what
an individual’s situation may be. History has shown
us that a law, in its simplest form, is a conglomerate
of shared thought, which may or may not be lawful.
Despite whether a law is lawful or not those laws are
enforced until they become social norms, this is what I
would call the normalization of injustice. From a young
age I always viewed lawyers as super heroes of society,
swinging in to battle injustice, ensuring that the civil
liberties of all citizens were protected. I held onto that
dream for a very long time until I began seeing huge
disparities in what I believed to be lawful and in what
certain lawyers argued as lawful.
After learning that there is no universal consensus
on what is lawful and unlawful, my central question
then became: What does society do if the lawyers they
put their trust in, view what they consider unlawful to
be lawful?
While writing this article I found myself orbiting
the past, like so many planets around the sun, because,
in essence, the past is the light by which we live today.
While orbiting the past of BLSAC I found some
information which seemed to answer the question:
What do we do when those who have the power to
create change don’t believe that change is necessary?
Should society sit back and allow things to remain the
same, or do they become proactive?
In 1992, in the spirit of community outreach, the
concept of access to justice was coined as the phrase
by which BLSAC would conduct its first
national conference. That was the answer.
Three simple words, ‘Access to Justice.’
SLANSKY LAW
Those words meant to me that even if
PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
every judge, lawyer, law student and
politician on the face of the earth believed
Paul Slansky, Barrister & Solicitor,
a certain law to be lawful, if a community
B.A. (McMaster), LL.B. (Windsor) & J.D. (Detroit)
of people, with good reason, believes that
same law to be unjust, that community has
CRIMINAL AND REGULATORY LAW
the right to access justice with or without
TRIAL AND APPEAL LAWYER
the help of a legal aid.
(over 24 years of experience)
I believe firmly that if BLSAC
has started a bottom up movement of
FORMER FEDERAL AND O.H.S.A. CROWN
empowerment, but if BLSAC intends
PROSECUTOR:
to ensure universal access to justice
• Prosecuted drug (ordinary & wiretap), white collar/proceeds and
through community outreach efforts, the
extradition cases;
organization must ensure that they are
• Prosecuted Industrial, Construction and Mining cases under
educating all willing participants on how
O.H.S.A.;
to maneuver the law. Society should not
• Defence counsel in criminal and quasi criminal law, with
be solely dependent on lawyers or law
specialization in constitutional litigation and national security
students for legal reform, it is essential that
and extradition cases.
communities given back the swords by
which they can slay their own dragons with.
8
I do however commend BLSAC for ensuring that
more doors are open for youth of African descent who
intend to attend law school. I believe that educated
professionals in a particular subject matter should
always be available for the sake of reference, support,
and also representation but I also believe that there
should be a reasonable level of community awareness
and knowledge as well. With all this in mind I would
love to see the further promotion and expansion of
the cornerstone principle, of access to justice, in the
way of increased community outreach programs, and
further field research. Field research would ensure
that adequate information is gathered about major
legal issues within a community. Once this research
is completed and looked over BLSAC could begin to
organize workshops based on their findings in hopes of
addressing those issues. I believe this will truly assist in
the journey to obtain comprehensive access to justice
for all. Putting power back in the hands of the people
is the best way to ensure access to justice, whether it is
through social reform or just increasing the ability of
the polity to conduct them successful in legal matters.
I end this article with a quote from an extremely
insightful man, Mr. Paulo Friere who states,
“Transformation is in the power of the oppressed
because they have the power to change the oppressor
from themselves.” I believe that is exactly what
BLSAC stands to achieve if they continue with their
community outreach programs to ensure access to
justice for all. ■
Proud Sponsor of
Committed
to diversity
McCarthy Tétrault LLP salutes the Black Law
Students’ Association of Canada (BLSAC)
for 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.
BLSAC’s Annual
National Conference
dwpv.com
mccarthy.ca
9
Justice David St. Pierre’s journey:
In His Own Words
I am enjoying the work very much now that I get to
actually determine the outcome for a change!
A
fter completing my undergrad degree in
Psychology at the University of Alberta I was
away from school for several years. I am a
musician by trade so I worked for a chain of music
stores here in the west. I was the credit manager and
would often find myself in court suing “deadbeat”
musicians for gear they had obtained on credit. It had
always been painfully obvious to me that the lawyers
10
who were there were making far more money than I
was so I went back to school and obtained a law degree
from Calgary in 1994.
From there I articled in Vancouver for a very
successful criminal defence lawyer. Eventually, I settled
into a little niche as a partner in a small criminal
defence firm (specializing in drug defence work). I had
always loved the Charter and this work was ideal.
I also spent several years as a special
prosecutor on a very large case involving
government ministerial aides accused of
accepting bribes (they recently entered
guilty pleas).
Along the way I was involved in Pro
Bono work for Access Justice and the
Salvation Army. I also sat as co-chair for
the CBA’s Equality Committee here in
B.C. I have been busy coaching youth
basketball for that last 12 years or so. I’m
raising three kids, 20, 17 and 13.
I was appointed to the Provincial
Court Bench in March of 2009 and it has
proven to be a very rewarding but difficult
challenge. I am enjoying the work very
much now that I get to actually determine
the outcome for a change! ■
View from the Past:
Justice David St. Pierre, a founder of BLSAC
Interview by Karlan Modeste, Faculty of Law, Dalhousie University
1) Share your thoughts on why you felt it was
important to be involved in the development of
BLSAC?
As far as BLSAC is concerned, I believe it was probably
1990 or so when I was contacted by Margaret Parsons
from the “center of the universe” looking for black law
students. I was very happy to learn of the numbers east
of Manitoba and that there was a group that could get
together, learn from each other and share the common
experiences, hurdles and triumphs that are unique to
our group.
I undertook to round up as many westerners as
I could find and get to the next conference. Initially,
I became the Western V.P. and then V.P. External. I
loved being a part of BLSAC and working with the
unbelievably intelligent and talented people who
were part of it (including Audrea Golding, who I just
reconnected with in New Orleans in August at the
annual National Bar Association conference).
2) What were your hopes for the association?
My hope for the association was that it could continue
to be a positive resource for not only black law students
but also those who hope to become law students.
With competition the way it is there is more
need than ever for assistance, information
and encouragement in navigating the system,
before, during and after law school. I found
great benefit in everyone getting together
(even if it just once/twice year) and creating
relationships that will last a career (or longer!).
We have now started a CABL (Canadian
Association of Black Lawyers) chapter down
here and I am feeling re-invigorated that
we can recreate some of the magic and the
memories that were so palpable at those early
conferences.
3) As you reflect on BLSAC’s 20th anniversary, in
what areas do you think BLSAC is strong and what
areas do you think need further development?
BLSAC needs to remain a strong organization for all the
young black students coming through now. Learning
then mentoring then passing the torch creates a link
from past to future. It binds the different generations of
black students so that we can create our own legacy.
4) How has the landscape in the legal profession
changed in the last 20 years and what should
BLSAC consider in continuing meeting the needs of
its members and the legal community?
As you can imagine there were not many black law
students out here at the time and I don’t imagine the
numbers have grown that much. However, I take great
pleasure in talking to as many kids as I can to tell them
that they can do anything they put their minds to. We
have four black judges here in B.C. and many talented
black lawyers all over the west. It would be great if we
all were even loosely connected by our experiences in
an organization like BLSAC. ■
11
What am I doing
Reflections on legal education
By Andre Cain
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
T
he great philosopher of
our time Drake poses
the question: what am
I doing? He then proceeds to
answer his own question “I’m
doin’ me, I’m doin’ me” (repeated
for emphasis). His reply is quite
clear, but when I seriously think
about this question and ask
myself what am I doing: for folks, my province, or my
country – I do not have an answer. But I am clearly not
doing me.
One serene autumn morning on my way to
Constitutional, I was on the bus and a woman, Ashley,
with whom I had started a conversation; told me she
did not read the paper or any other news medium for
that matter because there was too much negativity
within their collective texts. As I listened to Ashley
explain why she felt this way I tacitly smiled and
thought to myself how could someone not want to be
abreast of the latest developments? However, I soon
realized this insightful young woman, with an easy
smile made an undeniable point. As it stands we: “face
slower growth in the years ahead, an aging population,
unsustainable increases in health-care costs, a high
currency, fiscal restraint, widening regional disparities,
low productivity, a sputtering, debt-laden U.S.
economy, the buildup of government and household
debt during the recession, unemployment above eight
percent, to mention a few challenges.” Moreover,
climate change, the economy and social issues are
among the many priorities facing us in the twenty-first
century.
12
So how does Canada, a Federation that divides the
policymaking power between two levels of government
approach these enormous tasks? More specifically, how
does Canada address the challenges of social justice,
environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity?
Through hard work and dogged perseverance we
have earned the opportunity to study in the finest
schools Canada has to offer. Yet, our stories are only
part of the larger Canadian narrative, and we owe a
debt to all of those who came before us. As we drink
deeply from wells we did not dig. With the privilege
and power that comes with a legal education there
also comes a responsibility – a responsibility to give
back to one’s hometown, province and country. It is
incumbent upon us and should be our goal to reach
back and help those coming behind us and push
those ahead of us. Because, it is imperative we reinvest
into our communities that have invested so much in
us. But, simply saying that is not good enough. The
scripture tells us we are not just judged by word but by
deed. And, this reminds me of the Robert Frost poem
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. The actions of
the narrator are prescient for us at this time, as the final
stanza of the poem illustrates:
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Our work here at law school is just the beginning
my friends as we still have many of promises to keep.
If our dream of creating a Canada that is fairer, more
compassionate and has greater understanding between
its various peoples a reality.
A law degree is a major asset and I believe that
the law is not simply a business, but also a mandate
for public service. With that said we must invest in
our people, and our infrastructure and our education
system and clean energy – this should be our focus as
we gather here in Toronto for our 20th Anniversary.
My friends from the University of Alberta, University
of British Columbia, McGill University and the
University of Western Ontario we have a lot of work
to do – we must work for the high school student
in Nova Scotia who cannot read yet, because in a
country this great no opportunity should be deferred.
We must work for the Aboriginal woman in northern
Saskatchewan who cannot pay her university tuition,
and is forced to choose between her education and her
rent, because it is situations like this that makes our
country poorer. If there is a veteran of the Afghanistan
war in Manitoba not receiving the benefits, care and
support they need when they get home this threatens
all of our national security.
We need to think about those kinds of issues as
you go back to the mountains of British Columbia,
the plains of Québec, the hills of New Brunswick and
towards the coasts of Newfoundland. Because the
purpose of our work and the law is to give people the
tools to make the most of their lives. So, let’s be the
model for a country hungry for something positive to
believe in.
Canada is the greatest country in the world and
will continue to be the envy of the world as long as
we can go ahead and handle serious problems with
aplomb, instead of getting distracted all the time.
When you look at the challenges, I mean opportunities
before us; I think we have got to ask ourselves what am
I doing?
These are tough questions we all have to answer
sooner rather than later. And I am sad to report that my
answers thus far would get me a failing grade (unless
there’s a curve). When I look at what I am doing it is
not nearly enough. We live in a world with a twentyfour hour news cycle – a world riddled with a plethora
of challenges and far too little solutions. We live in
a world that is crying out for help and in desperate
need of our services. We as young law students have
too much talent to sit on the sidelines. The stakes are
too high for our country and for your future and for
Ashley’s future, so I am going to get out there and fight
as hard as I can – and I know you are, too – to make
sure we keep moving forward because Canada and its
citizens deserve better.
Our cities, provinces, and country need our
voices. As President Obama once said a voice can
change a room, “and if a voice can change a room it
can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can
change a [province], and if it can change a [province]
it can change a country” – so let’s go change a country
BLSAC. ■
(Full disclosure: Drake is not really a philosopher, but he is a Juno Award
winning artist – albums are currently in stores).
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13
L’Autre, un effluve nauséabond?
Par Komassi Awovi Akpédzé Sandra
E
n Octobre 2010, un tollé
a fait le tour du monde
suite aux propos jugés
« racistes » de Jean-Paul
Guerlain, ancien dirigeant de
l’entreprise Guerlain sur le
plateau du Journal de France 2.
L’ancien nez de la maison
Guerlain, en expliquant et en
commentant la création d’un
des ses parfums Samsara, a dit: « Pour une fois, je me
suis mis à travailler comme un nègre. ». Cela aurait pu
s’arrêter là sauf qu’il a ajouté par la suite : Je ne sais pas si
les nègres ont toujours tellement travaillé, mais enfin... ».
L’expression « travailler comme un nègre » est une
vieille expression qui fait référence à la contrainte et
à l’exploitation sans limites d’un travailleur. Ce qui
historiquement n’est pas faux, si l’on s’en tient au
passé des esclaves noirs. En effet avec une Histoire
de 400 ans d’esclavage à son actif qui a décimé toute
une richesse humaine, L’Afrique a été meurtrie au
plus profond de son âme en étant emprisonnée dans
un enfer et en étant affaiblie par ses cauchemars.
Cependant il est dommage de voir aujourd’hui la
perception de l’Homme Noir dans la société actuelle,
qui parfois est un singe (les supporters de football ne
14
manquent pas de créativité), ensuite un paresseux,
puis la violence incarnée (le profilage racial policier) la
malédiction, et tout ce que l’on ne veut pas.
Mais si l’on donne un peu de crédibilité à l’Histoire
qui nous est contée, toutes les personnes embarquées
ne sont pas restés les bras croisés. Elles ont dû travailler
pour leur propre survie. Bref le but n’est pas de réécrire
le passé mais il est cependant dommage que malgré
tous les échanges multiculturels qui se créent et se font
de nos jours, l’ignorance de l’autre continue d’avoir
une place aussi importante dans notre société. Pourquoi
est-il si difficile d’apprécier la richesse que l’autre nous
apporte?
L’arabe n’est pas forcément une bombe ambulante,
le Noir n’a pas forcément un couteau dans sa poche et
le Blanc n’est pas forcément raciste. À Mr Guerlain,
et à toutes les personnes qui ont peur de « L’Autre»,
quelque soit la raison, un réveil s’impose. Je
répondrai personnellement à Mr Guerlain (je serais
moins agressive que la journaliste Audrey Pulvar) que
les « Nègres », ont travaillé, servi et contribué à la
construction d’empires.
Aux peureux de « l’Autre », il n’y a rien de plus
envoûtant et de plus riche qu’une connaissance de
l’autre, de son mode de vie, de sa culture, du respect
de ses idéologies. Dans le journal Le Pays, un
africain a écrit : «Quand vous aurez le sens
de l’hospitalité, de la solidarité, du respect de
l’homme qui a la peau différente de la sienne
» peut être alors pourriez-vous vous comporter
en vrai raciste. Nous avons tous quelque chose
à apprendre de cela : respecter et accepter
l’autre mais aussi éviter les préjugés pour
connaître l’Autre. Connaitre l’autre ne veut pas
forcément dire être l’Autre mais il n’y a rien de
plus soulageant que la dissipation de la peur
qui nous entoure lorsque l’on voie l’Autre.
Parfois, ou le plus souvent, l’Autre
n’est peut-être pas l’effluve nauséabond qui
dérange tant. La menace vient surement de
l’intérieur de nous-mêmes. ■
La couleur dans le langage
Par Komassi Awovi Akpédzé Sandra
L
e langage est-il étymologiquement raciste?
Dans l’ouvrage publié par Frantz Fanon et
intitulé : Peau noire, masques blancs, on retrouve
cette citation d’Aimé Césaire :
« Je parle de millions d’hommes à qui on a inculqué
savamment la peur, le complexe d’infériorité, le
tremblement, l’agenouillement, le désespoir, le larbinisme »
Dans cette œuvre, l’auteur fait une analyse de
l’héritage psychologique laissé à l’humanité après la
colonisation, en se basant sur un rapport Noir-Blanc. Il
fait une analyse approfondie de plusieurs situations qui
ont pour but d’entraîner une prise de conscience non
seulement de l’antillais mais du Noir d’Afrique puis du
Français Blanc.
Cependant la partie qui retient mon attention
est celle de la relation entre le Noir et le langage. Le
Noir moderne, lorsqu’il quitte son pays d’origine, et
va en France métropolitaine, subit apparemment « un
changement génétique ». Il adopte la langue française
et rejette sa langue d’origine.
Le cas le plus concret serait
celui d’un Haïtien par
exemple, qui dès son arrivée
en France, rejette le créole et
adopte la langue française.
L’illustration serait donc
un Noir qui ne se sentirait
comme un véritable homme
que lorsque la langue française
serait sienne. En effet, il
sera moins représentatif
« du sauvage » lorsqu’il aura
adopté les valeurs culturelles
métropolitaines, ainsi plus
il rejette sa « noirceur »,
sous-entendus ses valeurs
de « sauvages » comme sa
langue, plus il se rapproche
de l’Homme véritable
qu’il doit être, à savoir le
Blanc. Il embrassera donc la
langue française parce que
c’est elle qui est synonyme
de modernité, comme outil de promotion sociale,
comme l’a mentionné Arianna Poissonier dans le
Courrier International, lorsqu’elle s’est prononcée
sur la progression de la langue française, en Afrique
francophone.
Mais n’étant pas experte en analyse
comportementale du Noir, je continuerai ma petite
réflexion ou discours (appelez-le comme vous voulez)
sur la couleur dans le langage ou plutôt le noir dans le
langage.
Récemment, en lisant un article, je suis tombé sur
une question qui m’a paru bête mais qui par la suite
m’a fait réfléchir. La question était toute simple : le
langage est-il étymologiquement raciste? Alors moi,
francophone, je me suis tout simplement demandé : la
langue française est-elle étymologiquement raciste?
Il existe beaucoup d’expressions dans la langue
française qui assimilent le « noir » à tout ce qui est
diabolique, ou malsain, ou anormal. Le sens donné
Continued on page 16
15
au mot noir symbolise le mal -selon une perception
colonialiste- ainsi que tous les mots qui en dérivent. Les
définitions très enthousiasmantes sont souvent :
• Noir : qui marque ou manifeste le pessimisme, la
tristesse, le malheur.
• Travail au noir : activité professionnelle non déclarée
et qui échappe illicitement aux réglementations en
matière sociale etc.
• Broyer du noir : déprimer. (Bien que les origines
de cette expression ne soient pas claires, le noir
a toujours été selon L’internaute, un symbole de
tristesse et de mélancolie. On ne peut que donner
raison à ce genre d’interprétation quand l’Histoire et
le Présent, font que l’Homme Noir peut être amené
dans certaines situations à regretter sa couleur qui est
source de racisme, et de discrimination et d’inégalité)
• Messe noire : parodie de la messe célébré en
l’honneur du démon, dans le culte satanique.
• Se noircir : s’enivrer
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• Noircir : peindre sous des couleurs inquiétantes, faire
passer pour méchant.
• Noirceur : méchanceté, perfidie.
Et d’un autre côté, l’antonyme du mot Noir,
« Blanc » qui a pour synonyme des mots tels que :
immaculé, vierge, pur, limpide, innocent, pur et ainsi
de suite.
Que peut-on penser d’une langue qui devient la
vôtre, dès que vous l’adoptez et qui vous pointe du
doigt, vous condamne et vous fait « broyer du noir »?
Que penser d’une langue où tout ce qui n’est pas blanc,
sous-entendant pur et sans tâches, est donc souillé
et noir? Moi je la pose cette question mais je ne sais
vraiment pas quoi en penser. En écrivant ces lignes, je
me demande si je dois l’abandonner …et elle me fait
bien rire cette idée car c’est impossible. Je ne peux pas
quitter cette langue occidentale qui est devenue mienne.
Je me dis tout simplement que cela n’aurait pas dû l’être
mais il se fait que le commencement même était pur
et sans tâches, et qu’il y a maintenant un
monde qui a toujours le dernier mot tandis
que l’autre monde est damné. Et je ne peux
pas quitter cette langue qui fait partie de
moi, et qui sera mon arme en tant que
future juriste. Je veux être présente dans ce
monde, y participer, et cela ne se fera que
par la parole…le langage…la langue mais je
ne veux pas parler une langue qui m’accuse
et m’associe au mal! Mais je ne peux pas
échapper à cette langue non plus! Que
faire?
Alors, je tombe sur Marcel Zang,
ce fameux écrivain qui me suggère
indirectement (Non je ne l’ai pas
rencontré!) : « je briserai la puissance du
cercle et j’échapperai à ce tragique parce
que je dois être, je parlerai, j’aurai la parole
hors de la parole « blanche ». Je retrouverai
une mémoire, une langue et un langage
qui n’est pas de ce monde. Je renaitrai en
retournant dans un vide. Je cesserai d’être
un peu, je cesserai d’être « noir » pour être
tout. Je cesserai d’être pour pouvoir être
absolument en recommençant à être, en
recommençant à déconstruire, à retrouver
le langage dans la nuit, soit dans le rien,
soit au-delà du « blanc » et du « noir ».
Voilà. Je ne sais pas si vous avez compris grandchose mais à partir d’aujourd’hui, je ne laisserai plus
mon esprit se faire enchaîner par des mots. Et nous
sommes beaucoup à avoir besoin de « cette délivrance
». Il est inadmissible que de nos jours l’existence que
la dénomination d’associations telles que l’Association
des Étudiants Noirs en Droit choquent des personnes
mais encore plus les Noirs eux-mêmes. J’ai eu à
parler avec certains Noirs qui ne comprenaient pas
ce regroupement qu’ils qualifiaient eux-mêmes de
communautariste. J’avoue que je ne comprenais pas
la nécessité d’une association de ce genre moi non
plus au début (Et oui je suis passé par là!). Mais ayant
une liberté d’association dont je veux jouir et ayant
pris connaissance de la mission de l’AEND, je ne me
suis plus posé de questions. J’ai cependant appris à
comprendre et à accepter certains faits et certaines
réactions concernant le mot « noir » qui me définit.
Je suis pour l’unité et un monde en couleur, malgré
les difficultés rencontrées et je n’ai plus de difficulté à
m’affirmer en tant que « noire » car mon esprit n’est
plus enchaîné par le mot « noir ». Je suis Noire certes,
mais je suis avant tout un être humain, et je veux
comme tout le monde pouvoir « Être ». Je veux pouvoir
m’associer avec n’importe qui quelque soit sa couleur en
apportant avec moi mon expérience personnelle pour
que nos esprits soient délivrés d’un monde trop gris à
mon goût. Quelque soit notre couleur, il est important
de ne pas se sentir accusé par le langage que nous
employons chaque jour et ce pour notre propre bien,
et c’est pour cela qu’il faut renaître Homme. Pour ma
part, je mets de la couleur en communiquant librement
dans mon langage de tous les jours, et toi? ■
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17
BLSAC 2010–2011 Executive
Keri Wallace
President
University of Western Ontario,
Faculty of Law, Class of 2011
Thiaw Abdou
Vice President Quebec
L’Université du Québec à Montréal,
Lashell Eaton
Treasurer
University of Windsor, Faculty of
Law, Class of 2011
Dale Melville
Vice President Western
University of Victoria, Faculty of
Law, Class of 2011
Julie Ann Sobowale
Vice President Eastern
Dalhousie University School of Law
Class of 2012
Nailah Gordon-Decicieo
Secretary
Law, Class of 2012
Shayna Walford
Vice President Central
Osgoode Hall Law School,
Class of 2011
Shaneka Shaw-Taylor
National Articling Representative
Osgoode Hall Law School
Class of 2010
Sandra Komassi
Francophone Representative
L’Université du Québec à Montréal,
18
Te-Anna Bailey
National Mentorship
Representative
Law, Class of 2012
Zuwa Matondo
Vice President International
University of McGill, Faculty of Law
Class of 2012
BLSAC
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The Evolution of the
Black Law Students’
Association: 20 Years Strong
February 24–27, 2011
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
19
Conference Schedule
Thursday February 24, 2011
Time
Activity
Potential Speakers
12:00–6:00
Registration, hotel check in
BLSAC Executive
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Torys Welcome Reception, open to all BLSA students and conference
attendees to mingle at Torys law firm located at Wellington and Bay.
Cornell Wright, Partner
Deborah Dalfen, Director,
Student Affairs
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Our History: Exploring the Black Community in Canada
President of Ontario Black History Society to discuss the various
diasporas in Canada, waves of immigration historically in Canada
(of the Caribbean and African diasporas).
Rosemary Sadlier, Ontario Black
History Society
7:30–8:15 pm
Success Stories: Persons who have come from abroad to start their
legal careers in Canada share their stories.
Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams
Justice Romain Pitt
Florence Chumpuka
8:15–9:00 pm
Racial Discrimination and the effectiveness of the Judicial System:
A discussion of human rights tribunal as effective recourse in racial
discrimination cases.
Peter Selwyn
Sonia Lawrence
Royland Moriah
Richard Miller
9:00–10:00 pm
Newly appointed Director of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility at
Windsor University discusses ongoing struggles for acceptance in the
Black community.
Kaye Johnson
Friday February 25, 2011
Time
Activity
8:00–9:00am
Breakfast/Registration
9:00–9:45am
Blake’s Opening Ceremonies
Ballet Creole Performance
Thank-you’s
President, BLSAC Executive,
Ballet Creole
9:50–10:50
Grassroots: The importance of pro bono and community nurturing;
How to incorporate community involvement and pro bono into your
practice
Sarah Mason-Case, Canadian
Associattion of Black Lawyers
Qadira Jackson, Black Pearls
Brandon Hay, Black Daddies Club
Pauline Christian, Black Business
Professionals Association
11:00–12:00pm
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP keynote: The Honourable Valerie Miller
of the Tax Court of Canada
Honorable Justice Valerie Miller
Former Honorable Justice Donald
Bowman, FMC Law
12:00pm–1:00pm
Lunch
1:00–2:00pm
Concurrent Session
Litigation Panel; Litigators from
criminal, family and business law
20
Potential Speakers
International Law Panel; How
to commence an international
law career in the public or private
sector; challenges and opportunities
Litigation Panel:
Jason Bogle, Law Office of Jason E.
Bogle
Junior Sirivar, McCarthy Tetrault
Pinta Maguire, Lenczner Slaght LLP
International Law Panel:
Christopher Aid, Baker McKenzie
Tania D’Souza-Culora, Baker McKenzie
Catherine McKenna, Canadian
Lawyers Abroad
Friday February 25, 2011 (continued)
Time
Activity
Potential Speakers
2:10–3:10pm
Concurrent Session
The Big Firms and The Big
Challenges:
Terrie-Lynn Devonish, Chief
Counsel, Aon Canada
Hadiya Roderique, Associate,
Fasken Martineau
Marcus Snowden, Partner,
Blaney McMurtry
Faithe Holder, Partner, Gowlings LLP
The Big Firms and The Big
Working in Academia; A guide for
Challenges; Lawyers talk about the those students who wish to pursue
challenges faced as a Black lawyer their LLM or a career in academia
on Bay St.
Working in Academia:
Prof D. Sanderson,
University of Toronto
Prof. Laverne A. Jacobs,
University of Windsor
Prof. Paul D. Ocheje,
Prof. Emir Mohammed,
3:10–3:30pm
Afternoon Coffee Break
3:30–4:30pm
Concurrent Session
Corporate Governance;
Discussing governance issues
within public and private
corporations
4:35–5:35pm
Working in the Public Sector;
What life is like for those in the
public sector
Working in the Public Sector:
Simon Fisch, Children’s Aid Society
Omo Akintan, City of Toronto
Christopher Webb, Ministry of the
Attorney
General (Ontario)
Nefeterri Carnadin, Department of
Justice Canada
Defence (DND) / Canadian Forces
(CF) & RCMP
Concurrent Session
Labour and Employment Law;
a series of perspectives into the
practice of labour/employment
Corporate Governance:
Dexter John, Phoenix Advisory
Partners
D’Arcy Nordick, Stikeman Elliott LLP
The Move to Politics; How to use
your legal skills to start a career in
politics
Labour and Employment Law:
Donna Walwyn, Baker McKenzie
Laura Williams, Williams HR Law
Professional Corporation
Esi Codjoe, Ontario Nurses
Association
The Move to Politics:
Samuel Getachew
Ike Awgu
5:45–7:00
9:00pm
CABL Young Lawyer Division event
21
Saturday February 26, 2011
Time
Activity
Potential Speakers
8:30–9:30am
Breakfast
Registration for Saturday only participants
BLSAC Exec
Osgoode
9:30–10:15am
Concurrent Session
ADR: Through the
Prism of Diversity
The Business Case
for Diversity; Why
corporations are
demanding diversity
from their law firms
High School/
Undergraduate
Students session;
Balancing home, school
and friends, managing
different expectations
and pressures.
ADR: Antoinette Clarke,
Antoinette Clarke, Counselling,
Consultation
& Mediation Services
Patricia DeGuire, Immigration and
Refugee
Board of Canada
Michelle Henry, Borden Ladner
Gervais LLP
Shashu Clacken, Koch Thornton LLP
(Moderator)
The Business Case for Diversity:
Sue-Lynn Noel, Livingston
International Inc.
Andre Bacchus, Heenan Blaike,
David Allgood, General Counsel,
Royal Bank of Canada
High School/Undergraduate
Students session:
Shevanne Robinson, CEO,
Preserve Your Sexxy Inc.
Richard Phillips, M.A. Community
Missions Specialist, Heart and Stroke
Foundation
10:20–11:00am
Concurrent Session
Financial
Management; Paying
off student loans and
properly managing
your salary
11:05–12:05pm
Alternative Careers:
Options for those
who do not wish to
practice.
Concurrent Session
“The Equality Effect”: a program
that addresses the problem of
legal reform for the protection of
women in Kenya
12:05–1:05pm
22
High School/
Undergraduate
Students session;
Awards and Bursaries
available, planning for
the future.
Lunch
Students session; “Beyond
Law and Order: Criminal Law
demystified”; Exploring the realities
of practicing criminal law, why
more Black lawyers are needed in
this area.
Financial Management:
Tanya Walker,
JoMarie Burke, Legacy Capital
Alternative Careers:
Ada Maxwell (senior policy advisor),
Estella Muyinda (executive director)
Students session:
Cindy Wong, RBC
The Equality Effect:
Margaret Parsons
Flora Terah
Christine Kungu
Students session:
Joanna Gordon
Jacqueline Beckles
Saturday February 26, 2011 (continued)
Time
Activity
Potential Speakers
1:10–2:10pm
Concurrent Session
You’re Accepted!:
Gavin Holder, University of Windsor,
Faculty of Law, J.D. 2010
Paolo De Michelle, UdeM and McGill
Renatta Austin, University of Toronto,
Faculty of Law, J.D. Candidate 2012
Mastering the
Interview; Tips and
tricks for students
going through the
fall interview process
(OCIs) or summer
articling process
Strong Start from a
Strong Person; How
to survive articling,
getting hired back as
a first year associate,
managing your
practice as a business
You’re Accepted!;
Undergraduate student
session about applying
to law school
Mastering the Interview:
Kari Abrams, Blakes Cassels &
Graydon LLP, Eric Hoffstein, Fraser
Milner Casgrain LLP, Dianne Carter,
Ministry of the Attorney General
Strong Start:
Paul Kuttner (Innovative Marketing),
Yola Grant, Grant & Bernhardt
Barristers
Jessica Peterkin
2:15–3:15pm
Concurrent Session
G20 Panel; Critical
discussion panel about
the events of the police
during the G20 summit
in Toronto
“Fun and Weird
Law”; What it really
takes to be a successful
entertainment
lawyer, how you
can incorporate
aspects of fashion or
entertainment law into
your practice.
3:15–3:35
Break
3:35–5:00pm
Koskie Minsky Diversity Moot Finals
5:00–5:30
Concurrent Session
BLSAC Annual General Meeting:
General meeting, election of new
executives, discussion of new
initiatives.
6:30 cocktails
7:00–1:00am
The LSAT; John
Richardson to show
some tips and tricks
for writing the LSAT,
test questions will be
taken up
High School Session; forum on
race relations; talk about being
a minority student, and how to
overcome these issues.
LSAT:
John Richardson
G20:
Nathalie Des Rosiers (General
Counsel)
Anna Willats
Ajamu Nangwaya
Fun and Weird Law:
Suhuyini Abudulai, Cassels Brock &
Blackwell LLP
Richard Jefferson, M.E.T.A.L. Law
Group, LLP
Karen Wishart
High School Session:
Gavin Holder,
Runako Gregg
Gala:
Keynote: Founding Members of BLSAC (Margaret Parson, Courtney
Kazembee, Jaqueline Lawerence, Gerry McNeilly 1st chair)
BLSAC Awards and Thank You’s
Sunday February 27, 2011
Time
Activity
9:00–11:00
Breakfast Meeting of BLSAC Outgoing and Incoming
Potential Speakers
23
Conference Keynote Speaker:
The Honourable Valerie Miller
E
ducated at St. Francis Xavier University
(B.A. cum laude, 1964) and Dalhousie
University (B.Ed. 1975, LL.B. 1985). Called to
the Bar of Nova Scotia in 1986. Practised with
federal Department of Justice in the areas of
fiscal law and tax litigation (1985-2007). Prior
to her appointment, member of the Nova Scotia
Barristers’ Society Discipline Hearing Committee, Tax Court of Canada
Bench and Bar Committee and Canada Revenue Agency Legal Risk
Management Committee, acted on several Boards of Directors, speaker
at the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth, African Orthodox Church
in Sydney and numerous Halifax high schools. Appointed Judge of the
Tax Court of Canada on April 2, 2007.
Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams
Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams is a barrister and solicitor and was legal
counsel with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. She is a
graduate in law of Cave Hill, University of the West Indies and
Osgoode Hall, York University. She has successfully practiced before
the Ontario courts and Tribunals in the areas of Immigration, Human
Rights and Young Offenders. Her early years of practice were at the
Jane Finch Legal Clinic, where she represented refugees and young
offenders. She was Manager of human rights for the Bank of Nova
Scotia. She received her Masters degree in Administrative Law from
Osgoode Hall, York University in 2003 and a diploma in alternate
dispute resolution and negotiation from the Stitt Feld Handy Group
in association with the University of Windsor in 2006.
Kari Abrams
Kari Abrams is the Director of Student Recruitment
& Development at Blakes. In this role, she is
responsible for all aspects of the summer student and
articling student programs, including the recruitment,
supervision and professional development of summer
students and articling students, as well as liaising with
law schools.
Prior to joining Blakes, Kari was a Partner in the labour and
employment department at the Toronto office of a national law firm
where she was also actively involved in the student program as a
member of the student committee.
Suhuyini Abudulai
Suhuyini Abudulai is a Banking and Finance lawyer in
the Financial Services Group at Cassels Brock &
Blackwell LLP. Her practice focuses on corporate
finance matters, representing lenders and borrowers in
various secured and unsecured financing transactions.
Her experience includes syndicated loans, project
24
finance and advising financial institutions in regulatory matters,
including the operation of credit, debit and payment card programs.
Suhuyini enjoys reading and traveling, and her personal interests
include fashion, films, international relations and politics.
Christopher M. Aide
Mr. Aide is Partner at Baker and McKenzie. He
handles a variety of trademark, copyright, design and
advertising/marketing law matters, including
managing global trademark, copyright & design
portfolios; as well as coordinating global intellectual
property enforcement and anti-counterfeiting
programmes, in most cases for significant multi-nationals. Mr. Aide’s
practice also covers prosecution before the Canadian Intellectual
Property Office, international intellectual property prosecution,
worldwide corporate branding availability, drafting and negotiation of
trademark license agreements, managing the intellectual property
aspects of mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions, and
resolving domain name and other internet-related conflicts.
Mr. Aide was admitted to practice law in Ontario in 1992
and in England and Wales in 2002. Mr. Aide is a graduate of the
University of Toronto (LL.B., 1990; B.A.(Hons.), 1985).
Omo Akintan
Omo Akintan is a labour and employment lawyer in
the City of Toronto’s Legal Services Division. She
spent her two years as a property tax litigator with the
City. In the fall of 2007 she took a leave and spent
seven months as an intern at a legal clinic in Cape
Town, South Africa. She graduated from the
University of Toronto Faculty of Law and is a past president of the
U of T Law Black Law Students Association chapter and was co-chair
of U of T’s Students of Law for the Advancement of Minorities
(SLAM). Most importantly she is mom to an adorable little boy.
Ike Jonathan Awgu
Ike Jonathan Awgu is a Canadian politician. At the
age of 19 he ran for Mayor in the 2003 municipal
election, and finished third out of eight candidates
with 2.92% of the vote. He planned on running for
city council in the 2010 Ottawa municipal
election in Bay Ward, but dropped out after sitting
councillor Alex Cullen declared his intention for running for re-election.
After the municipal election, he became an editorial columnist
for the Ottawa Sun newspaper. He went on to host X-Factor,
a politics-oriented national television show on CPAC, in the
summer of 2004. He has also been a columnist for the Globe and
Mail newspaper.
Ike Awgu studied economics and mathematics at Carleton
University before going on to earn a law degree from Queen’s
University in 2008. Awgu is vice-president of LIKO Corporation, a
real estate and property development company.
André B. Bacchus
André is the Director of Professional Development
at Heenan Blaikie LLP. Heenan Blaikie LLP is one
of Canada’s fastest growing law firms, with more
than 525 lawyers and professionals across the
country and internationally. André is responsible for
all aspects of the Toronto office’s associate and
student programs as well as managing the office’s orientation,
continuing legal education, mentoring and review programs.
Prior to joining Heenan Blaikie LLP, André served as the
Director of Career Services at Osgoode Hall Law School where
he utilized his knowledge and experiences to assist students by
expanding the offerings of the Career Services Office and by
contributing to the law school community.
André can be reached at 416.643.6923 or via e-mail at
[email protected].
Jason Bogle
Mr. Bogle practices civil litigation, criminal law and
human rights law. By employing successful strategies
and detailed preparation, he has completed
numerous trials and gained a comprehensive
understanding of Canada’s multifaceted
jurisprudence. Mr. Bogle has appeared in numerous
jurisdictions throughout Ontario and has distinguished himself as an
accomplished litigator. Mr. Bogle stands by his personal mantra;
“There is no option but to succeed.”
Nefeterri Carnadin
Nefeterri Carnadin is Legal Counsel for the
Department of Justice Canada (DOJ) with the
Office of the Legal Advisor to the Department of
National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
She completed a Bachelor of Commerce
(Honours) degree in 1998, specializing in
marketing as well as human resources management. After obtaining
her law degree from the University of Ottawa, she was called to the
Ontario bar in 2002.
In her leisure time, Nefeterri enjoys participating in volunteer
activities, attending community events and playing soccer.
Dianne Carter
Called to the Bar in 1997, Dianne has been
counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney General
since 1999. Dianne is currently Deputy Legal
Director (Acting) to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing. Branch lawyers represent
the Ministry before various bodies such as the
Ontario Municipal Board, the Human Rights Tribunal and all levels
of courts. The Branch also provides advice on planning, housing
and municipal issues, including land-use planning processes under
the Planning Act, greenbelt protection, development charges,
housing refinancing and redevelopment, procurement, Federal/
Provincial infrastructure programs, affordable housing initiatives,
Building Code reform, and implementation of the Municipal Act,
2001 and City of Toronto Act, 2006.
Pauline Christian
Pauline Christian is an immigrant from Jamaica
and a graduate of Micro Teachers College in the
disciplines of Social Science and Physical
Education. Upon her arrival in Canada she
immediately pursued her degree in Business
Administration, minoring in Political Science and
Psychology. Later on she pursued and successfully completed her
Masters in Project Management at York University Schulich School
of Business. Christian is one of the few African Canadian sisters, who
have successfully made it to the position of Associate Director at one
of Canada’s large corporations. However, it was the time when her
husband became critically ill, and she had a 80 year old mother to
care for, that Pauline realize the struggle of work-life balance in
Corporate Canada, and when her previous employer refused to
accommodate Pauline’s family health issues. This experience
motivated Pauline to take control and become the President and
CEO of Best Lifestyle Residence Inc., a retirement and health-care
facilities for seniors and younger individuals with special needs. She is
the President of the Black Business and Professional Association and
was picked as one of the top 20 women of 2010.
Florence Chumpuka
Florence is a human rights lawyer with the
Department of Justice, Canada. She is a member of
the Bar in Ontario, a Solicitor of the Court of Appeal
of Ontario and the Superior Court of Justice. She is
an accomplished public civil servant with 17 years
Federal and Provincial government experience in
providing legal and policy on issues such as human rights law,
anti-discrimination, employment equity, gender and equality issues.
As a Senior Policy Advisor, Florence was recognised with a
Government of Canada merit award for a distinguished contribution
to the Privy Council Office for supporting and providing advice
to the office of the Prime Minister of Canada on issues related to
the Prime Minister’s prerogative for appointments to public office
such as successive Deputy Minister shuffles, diplomatic corps and
appointments of CEOs to Boards and Agencies. She served in this
capacity from 2005-2007.
Antoinette R. Clarke
Antoinette is currently a PhD candidate with the
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Her
thesis is focused on the influence of culture in the
mediation process. Antoinette obtained a Masters of
Social Work degree and Graduate Diploma in social
Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. She
received her Bachelor of Arts and Social Work degrees from York
25
University. Antoinette is an adjunct Faculty and Course Director with
the School of Social Work, York University.
Antoinette is the co-author of a book chapter, ‘Restorative
Justice-based mediation for elder abuse among ethno-racial minority
seniors’ in Diversity and Aging Among Immigrant Seniors in Canada:
Changing Faces and Greying Temples by Douglas Durst and Michael
MacLean – Calgary, AB: Detselig Enterprises.
Antoinette is a member of the ADR Institute of Ontario, Family
Mediation Canada (FMC), and Ontario Association for Family
Mediators (OAFM), Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
(AFCC), The Peel/Halton Collaborative Law Association, Ontario
College of Social Workers, Canadian Association of Social Workers
and The Caribbean Association of Social Workers.
Emir Aly Crowne-Mohammed
Professor Emir Aly Crowne-Mohammed is an Assistant
Professor at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law.
His teaching and research interests lie in all areas of
Intellectual Property Law (domestic, comparative and
international), Information Technology Law, Gaming
Law, Medical Law, Torts and Contract Drafting/
Negotiation. Along with the Windsor Review of Legal and Social
Issues, he founded the Canadian Law Student Conference – the only
undergraduate Law student conference in Canada to showcase the
research of LLB and JD students. He also founded the Harold G. Fox
Moot ( www.ipmootcanada.ca) – the first and only national
competitive Moot in Intellectual Property Law. He has also recently
written a book on Mooting published in late Fall 2009.
Patricia DeGuire
Patricia DeGuire has served as an adjudicator for
the past 15 years, in both Provincial and Federal
Tribunals, including being Vice-Chair at the
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Pay
Equity Hearings Tribunal. Currently, Patricia is
First Vice-President of JusticeNet. Patricia has been
a member of the CBA since 1988, and serves on the executive of the
OBA’s Feminist Legal Analysis Section since its inception, in 1993
and is editor of its Newsletter VOICES. Patricia is a senior ADR
Mediator/Negotiator. She was a recipient of BLSAC’s “People who
Made a Difference” Award in 2009. Patricia’s motor is” It is an
honour to serve.”
Nathalie Des Rosiers
Nathalie has been General Counsel of Canadian
Civil Liberties Association since July 1, 2009. She
was previously Dean of the Faculty of Law – Civil
Law Section of the University of Ottawa from 2004
to 2008 and President of the Law Commission of
Canada from 2000 to 2004.
She obtained an LL.B. from Université de Montréal in 1981, an
LL.M. from Harvard University in 1984, and an honorary doctorate
from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 2004. She became a
26
member of the Québec Bar in 1982 and of the Law Society of Upper
Canada in 1987.
From 1987 to 2000, she was a member of the University of
Western Ontario’s Faculty of Law. She served as law clerk to Supreme
Court of Canada Justice Julien Chouinard from 1982 to 1983 and
then worked in private practice until 1987.
Terrie-Lynne Devonish
Terrie-Lynne Devonish is Chief Counsel at Aon
Canada Inc. and in that position is responsible for
providing legal advice and guidance to the Aon
businesses in Canada. Terrie-Lynne received a B.A.
from Collège Glendon, York University in 1992
and an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School in
1995. She was called to the Ontario bar in 1997. Terrie-Lynne is a
member of the Board of Governors of York University, the Executive
Committee of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association –
Toronto Chapter (Ontario Bar Association), and a member of the
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, who awarded her with an
Award of Excellence in October 2006.
Tania D’Souza-Culora
Tania advises on a broad range of intellectual
property matters including various issues relating to
local trade mark prosecution, litigation, and global
anti-counterfeiting programs. Prior to joining the
Baker & McKenzie Toronto office in October
2009, Tania worked in the firm’s London (England)
office and has also completed a short intellectual property
secondment in Baker & McKenzie’s Hong Kong office.
Tania’s experience includes day-to-day management of global
anti-infringement programs for a pharmaceutical client and a
number of technology clients relating to which she has advised on
general strategic considerations across the globe such as: which of
civil, criminal and/or Customs enforcement are most effective in a
number of jurisdictions; defensive measures including bolstering IPR
portfolio; and Customs protection globally.
Tania was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2002. She
graduated from the University of Southampton in England (Hons
LL.B., 1999).
Simon Fisch
Simon Fisch is legal counsel with the Children’s Aid Society of
Toronto. Simon’s practice is focussed exclusively on child protection
litigation. As counsel, Simon represents the Society at all levels of
court and regularly appears before the Ontario Court of Justice, and
Superior Court of Justice (on Appeal), and has appeared before the
Ontario Court of Appeal, Child and Family Services Review Board,
and at a Coroner’s Inquest.
Simon’s real job is a father to two children under 4 years old,
which means all other pursuits are done through an ongoing haze of
exhaustion.
Joanna Gordon Biography
Joanna Gordon was called to the bar in 1999 after
completing the joint program at the Faculty of Law
at the University of Windsor. After four years of
study Joanna received her Bachelors of Law and
Juris Doctor from Detroit Mercy. After completing
her studies, she resumed her position as a manager
of Social Services with the Department of Social Services for the City
of Toronto. Around 2001, she began her work in the legal profession
with Roach Swartz as an associate before working in the criminal
courts at East Mall as Duty Counsel with Legal Aid Ontario. Since
establishing “J. Gordon Law Firm Professional Corporation,” her
own criminal practice in September 11, 2003, Joanna has been
advocating as criminal defence counsel out of the William Davis
Courthouse in Brampton. With close to ten years of experience,
Joanna has practiced has exclusively in the area of criminal law with a
client base which consists predominately of young people.
Yola A. Grant
Yola Grant regularly advises clients in the non-profit and broader
public sectors on labour, employment and human rights matters.
Yola is also an active member of various rosters of investigators and
mediators in unionized environments and serves also as an Ontario
Nurses Association grievance arbitration Nominee.
Yola was called to the Ontario Bar in 1989 with articles in
labour law and human rights. She studied law at York University
(Osgoode Hall) after graduating from University of Toronto with
a Masters degree in Physical Chemistry and a Bachelors of Science,
cum laude, in Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry in 1978.
Runako Gregg
Runako is currently in his third year at Osgoode
Hall Law School, and in his fourth year of
a doctoral program in Social and Political Thought
at York University. Prior to this, he completed a
Master of Arts’ degree in History at York University
and a joint-specialist Bachelor of Arts’ degree in
Political Science/History at the University of Toronto. Runako is
primarily interested in the fields of Labour and Employment law.
Brandon Hay
In 2007, Brandon Hay established the Black Daddies
Club in Toronto drawing from his own personal
experiences of being a young father at the age of 24.
Hays was faced with the challenge of raising his own
son, without the experience of a father figure in his
own life when he was growing up. Black Daddies
Club was created to help reduce the high number of single mother
leading a black household, usually the result of crime and a sense of
alienation among young black men. Black Daddies Club has worked
with many black fathers to develop a support system for men to share
their challenges and experiences.
Michelle S. Henry
Michelle is a partner with Borden Ladner Gervais
LLP. She articled at the firm and following her
admission to the Ontario Bar in July 2003, joined
the firm’s Labour and Employment Law Group. She
graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of
Law in 2002. Prior to law school, Michelle received
both an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Arts in English
from the University of Toronto. Michelle advises employers on
labour and employment matters, including: employee and employer
obligations under various employment related legislation and
common law; employee terminations; employee discipline;
defamation; restrictive covenants, and human rights issues.
Faithe Holder
Faithe Holder is a partner practicing in the Real
Estate, Environmental and Urban Development
Group in the Toronto office of Gowling Lafleur
Henderson LLP. Faithe focuses her practice
primarily on Infrastructure/public-private
partnership law and commercial real estate. Faithe
is also developing an expertise in construction law.
Faithe received her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and
holds a BA in Biomedical Ethics and Women’s Studies from Victoria
College, University of Toronto. Faithe was called to the Ontario Bar
in 2002 and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the
Ontario Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers,
the National Bar Association, and the Christian Legal Fellowship.
Qadira Jackson
Qadira Jackson was born and raised in the GTA. Throughout her
university career, she worked with children as a child and youth
worker in group homes, foster homes and open custody detention
centres. Qadira attended York University and obtained a Bachelor
of Arts in Psychology. Continuing her studies at York University,
she completed a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Social Work
Degree and a post graduate certificate in Dispute Resolution. After
graduating, she then worked as a social worker with the Toronto
Catholic District School Board.
In 2006, Qadira attended the University of Windsor’s law
school, where she was quite active. Qadira was on the national
executive of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, holding
the title of Vice President - Central for 2008/2009. After graduating
from law school in April 2009, Qadira completed articling at CUPE
(Canadian Union of Public Employees), and was called to the bar in
2010. She is currently a sole practitioner focusing primarily on real
estate, immigration, criminal, and personal injury.
27
Laverne Jacobs
Laverne Jacobs joined the University of Windsor’s
Faculty of Law in 2007 where she teaches Judicial
Review, Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law, and
is Faculty Advisor for the Laskin Moot. She was
appointed Director of Graduate Studies for the
Faculty of Law in 2010.
Professor Jacobs obtained her BA (Hons.)(’94), LLB and BCL
(’99) from McGill University and her PhD from Osgoode Hall Law
School (’09). Upon graduating from law school, she clerked at the
Federal Court of Appeal. Before pursuing her PhD, she worked
as a litigation lawyer in private practice and as Counsel for the
Department of Justice Canada.
Richard B. Jefferson
Richard B. Jefferson, Esq. is a General Partner at
M.E.T.A.L.® Law Group, LLP located in Los Angeles,
California, and practices in the areas of intellectual
property and business law. The firm represents clients
within the Media, Entertainment, Technology, Action
sports, and Lifestyle brand industries.
Mr. Jefferson began his legal career in the legal and business
affairs department at Virgin Records America, Inc. Thereafter, he
held associate positions with a top 100 law firm and a small boutique
entertainment law firm before co-founding M.E.T.A.L.® Law Group,
LLP (previously known as Fagerholm & Jefferson, P.C.).
Mr. Jefferson earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial
and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University and received
his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School where he
participated in the prestigious accelerated two-year SCALE program.
Dexter John
Dexter has over 10 years of experience in Capital
Markets, spending 6.5 years in Structured Finance,
namely at Metcalfe & Mansfield Capital Corp. and
Coventree Inc., where he executed over $4 billion in
transactions. Dexter brings with him a strong
knowledge of corporate law and a thorough
understanding of the financial markets. Prior to joining Phoenix
Advisory Partners, Dexter held the Executive Vice President &
General Counsel position at Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc
where Dexter worked on 22 of 40 proxy flights and provided advice
to numerous resource companies in terms of corporate governance,
shareholder communication and advisory services.
Christine Kung’u
Christine Kung’u is an LLM candidate at the
University of Toronto Law School. Before joining
the program, she was the Legal Officer with the
Women’s Rights Awareness Programme (WRAP), a
Non-Governmental Organization which provides
education, shelter and legal support to women and
28
children who have been sexually, physically, psychologically and
mentally abused in Kenya. Her main interests are women’s and
children’s rights. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She
is currently a volunteer with the Equality Effect Project.
Paul Kuttner
Paul Kuttner is a principal at innovate! marketing
(www.innovatemarketing.ca) and works with law
firms of all size and type. He has functioned both as
a director of marketing with one of Canada’s largest
firms and as an external on-call marketing resource.
He assists law firm marketing directors with specific
projects and tasks and works closely with partners in firms where no
in-house capability exists. Paul helps law firm clients in Canada and the
U.S. build their business base, build sustainable revenue streams and
become more effective in their marketing and sales activities. He has
extensive hands-on experience in providing leadership to develop and
execute strategic business building and tactical marketing programs for
law firms, blue chip companies and entrepreneurial enterprises.
Jacqueline G. Lawrence
Jacqueline Lawrence is a co-founder of WiseSolution Consulting,
a management consulting practice that provides organizational
effectiveness and community capacity building services to a wide
range of community-based agencies, government departments,
and umbrella organizations. Before joining forces with Annamaria
Menozzi to create WiseSolution Consulting, Jacqueline practiced
Corporate and Securities Law, first as an Associate with Osler, Hoskin
& Harcourt, and later as a member of the Securities Law Group
at Nortel Networks. Jacqueline is a graduate of the University of
Toronto Law School, and is one of the founding members of the
Black Law Students Association of Canada. Jacqueline is also an
active Facilitator of the International Black Summit.
Sonia Lawrence
Professor Sonia Lawrence joined Osgoode’s faculty
in 2001. She graduated from the University of
Toronto’s joint LLB/MSW program, and went on
to serve as law clerk to Chief Justice Beverley
McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada. With
the help of Fulbright and SSHRC Fellowships, she
then attended Yale Law School where she focused on constitutional
equality issues and welfare administration. A past member of the
Board of Parkdale Community Legal Services, Professor Lawrence has
also provided expertise to the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the
Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), and the Court
Challenges Program. She is a member of the Executive of the
Canadian Association of Law Teachers and the case comments editor
of the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law. She is the Director
of the Institute for Feminist Legal Studies (http://ifls.osgoode.yorku.
ca) and the chair of the Academic Policy Committee.
Sarah Mason-Case
Gerry McNeilly
Sarah Mason-Case, LL.M. candidate (McGill University), LL.B.
(Osgoode Hall Law School), B.A. (McGill University and Université
Paris-Sorbonne).
Sarah was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2008 after having
completed her articles as a judicial law clerk at the Ontario Superior
Court of Justice and Divisional Court. She is currently an LL.M.
candidate in a specialized law and environment programme, jointly
administered by the McGill School of Environment and the Faculty
of Law. Her LL.M. thesis concerns principles of subsidiarity in
international, regional and domestic policies for climate change
mitigation and adaption, and sustainable development. Sarah is on
the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
(CABL) where she holds the post of Community Liaison.
Gerry McNeilly was appointed as the Independent
Police Review Director in June of 2008. Mr.
McNeilly is a former chair of the Board of Inquiry
for the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and has
also served as a justice of the peace and a deputy
judge. For the last nine years he has served as the
Executive Director for Legal Aid Manitoba. Mr. McNeilly is a lawyer
called to the Bars of Ontario and Manitoba Canada.
During his many years at the Ministry of the Attorney General,
Mr. McNeilly served as the Director of the Unified Family Court,
a manager of mediation services, the Acting Director of Courts
Administration and helped establish the Unified Family Court system
throughout Canada.
Mr. McNeilly was also a founding member and chair of the
African Canadian Legal Clinic in Toronto and A Woman’s Place in
Winnipeg, which provides legal support services to abused women.
Mr. McNeilly is dedicated to implementing a public complaints
system that has the confidence of the community and the police.
Ada Maxwell
Ada Maxwell is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ontario
Medical Association, the provincial physician
advocacy organization. As an advisor, Ada provides
legal and policy advice on a range of topics affecting
the medical profession in Ontario. Ada regularly
consults with government on behalf of physicians in
the areas of health care planning and delivery. Before she worked in the
policy field, Ada articled at a large national law firm in Toronto. Ada
obtained her LLB from Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University,
holds a Masters degree in Medical Anthropology from University of
Toronto and a BA from Harvard University. Ada is a member of the
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, DiverseCity Toronto, and she
serves on the Board of the West Toronto Community Legal Services.
Catherine McKenna
Catherine is co-Founder and Executive Director
of Canadian Lawyers Abroad, a charity that supports
good governance, rule of law and human rights work
in the developing world and Canada’s north. While
a huge fan of Canada (and of her hometown,
Hamilton), Catherine has always enjoyed working
and living abroad. After finishing a degree in international relations and
French at the University of Toronto, she filmed a documentary in Asia,
“Real Travels: 60 days in Indonesia.” Catherine then completed a
Master’s degree in International Relations at the LSE and a law degree at
McGill. In 1997, she worked as a Trade Policy Officer at the Canadian
Department of Foreign Affairs. Returning to Asia, Catherine practiced
law at a corporate firm in Jakarta and then joined the UN peacekeeping
mission in East Timor as the legal advisor to the Chief Minister in the
Timor Sea treaty negotiations with Australia. In 2002, Catherine joined
Stikeman Elliott LLP, working in the areas of competition, trade, and
constitutional law. During this time she was senior counsel on the Rt.
Hon. Antonio Lamer’s review of Canada’s military justice system. She is
admitted to the bars of Ontario and New York. Catherine lives in
Ottawa with her husband Scott Gilmore, the founder of Peace
Dividend Trust, and their three young children.
Royland Moriah
Royland Moriah has articled with the African Canadian Legal Clinic
in Toronto. While attending law school, he served a term as the
Dalhousie Black Law Student Association President and as the VicePresident Atlantic and then Secretary for the Black Law Students
Association of Canada.. While at the African Canadian Legal Clinic,
Mr. Moriah has made submissions to the Toronto Police Services
Board and the Le Sage Review of the Police Complaints System. He
also participated in the Symposium on Critical Race Lawyering at
Fordham University Law School in New York, in the fall of 2004.
Ajamu Nangwaya
Ajamu Nangwaya is a doctoral candidate in the
Department of Adult Education and Counselling
Psychology at the University of Toronto. He is a
trade unionist and a member of the Canadian
Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and has held
various leadership positions in his union. Ajamu is
also a community activist who is committed to a politics that is
inclusive of questions centred upon class, gender, race, sexual
orientation and other forms of domination.
Sue-Lynn Noel
Sue-Lynn Noel is Corporate Counsel for Livingston
International Inc., Canada’s largest customs brokerage
with 2500 employees and operations throughout North
America. Prior to joining Livingston, Sue-Lynn was a
partner in the Business Law Practice Group at Owens,
Wright LLP. She obtained her law degree from Osgoode
Hall Law School in 2001 and was called to the Bar in 2002 after articling
with Owens, Wright. Sue-Lynn is also a registered Trademark Agent.
29
D’Arcy Nordick
D’Arcy Nordick is a partner in Stikeman Elliott’s
Corporate Group. His practice includes advising both
foreign and domestic clients in a variety of industries
on business law matters including mergers and
acquisitions (both public and private), corporate
finance, securities, corporate governance, structured
financial products, licensing and joint ventures, project development,
restructuring and general corporate and commercial law.
Education: Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.M. 2003, LL.B. 1998),
University of Western Ontario (MA 1995, BA Honours 1994).
Bar Admission: Ontario, 2000.
Paul D. Ocheje
Paul D. Ocheje, LL.B. (Ahmadu Bello), LL.M.
(Benin), LL.M. (Osgoode), D.Jur. (Osgoode), of
Osgoode Hall, Barrister and Solicitor, Supreme Court
of Nigeria. Professor Ocheje teaches Property Law
and Law and Development. His research interests
include law and social change, international
development law, human rights, global governance, post-colonial
theories of law and society, and consumer protection. His articles
have appeared in learned journals, including the Leiden Journal of
International Law and the Journal of African Law. He is on the
editorial board of The Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice and the
editor of a special edition of the journal.
Richard Phillips
Richard holds a Master of Arts Degree from the
University of Windsor. He is most proud of this
role as a single father who brought up three
daughters, 17, 18 and 20 on his own for 12 years.
He is a tireless advocate for social justice and a
staunch and ardent supporter of the Labour
Movement. Richard teaches Race and Ethnicity in Canada and World
Cultures at St. Clair College. He sits on several steering committees
including the Colour of Poverty and the University of Windsor
Empowerment Fund. He is also an advisor tot he National African
Canadian Initiative on Capacity Building and Full Participation.
Richard is a published author on issues of ratial justice.
Selwyn A. Pieters
Selwyn A. Pieters, Barrister & Solicitor, is a
progressive sole practitioner lawyer committed to
providing the highest quality legal services in a
respectful and supportive environment. Selwyn is
an activist involved in human and civil rights
litigation. He held positions in the Ontario and
Federal Civil Service including Registry Officer at the Ontario
Superior Court of Justice and Federal Court and Refugee Protection
Officer at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada,
30
Correctional Officer and Volunteer Probation and Parole Officer with
the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services before
pursuing his legal career.
EDUCATION: LLB, Osgoode Hall, York U, 2003; BA,
Criminology, U of T, 1997.
Justice Romain W.M. Pitt
The Honourable Mr. Justice Romain W.M. Pitt,
Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Toronto, ON.
BORN: Grenada. The Hon. Mr. Justice Romain
Pitt was appointed to the Superior Court of
Ontario, in 1994. He studied Economics and
Politics at the University of Toronto and
graduated with an Honours B.A. in 1959. Graduated from the
University of Toronto Law School in 1963. Called to the Ontario
Bar in 1965. He had been practicing law in Ontario since 1965,
first with Blaney, Pasternak until 1967, then in the first Black law
partnership in Ontario (and possibly in Canada), with E. Lindsay
(now also a retired judge). That partnership continued until 1976,
after which he maintained a sole proprietorship until 1992; he then
worked in association with Victor Burke until 1994. With his
appointment to the Bench in 1994, he became the first Black lawyer
to be appointed from private practice in Ontario (and possibly in
Canada) to a Superior Court.
John Richardson
John Richardson is Canada’s longest running and
most experienced LSAT prep instructor and law
admissions counselor. He has taught and designed
LSAT courses since he was a law student himself.
During this period, he has taught and designed
courses for four different versions of the LSAT. He
is a frequent speaker for the career centres of Canadian universities
and pre-law groups.
John Richardson, B.A., LL.B., J.D. – The Facts
• holds both Canadian and American law degrees
• admitted to the bars of Ontario, New York and Massachusetts
• author of: Law School Bound
• author of: Mastering The LSAT
• author of : Mastering The Personal Statement
• creator of the following Social Media sites:
• Best LSAT Prep Books
• LSAT Study Group Blog
• LSAT Study Group Facebook Page
• LSAT Study Group – Facebook
• Pre-Law Forum Facebook Group
• Twitter
John lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Shevanne Debra Robinson
Shevanne Debra Robinson, personal trainer, nutritionist, owner of
Preserve Your Sexy and student at the University of Windsor. As a
certified personal trainer and nutritionist Shevanne had been training
for seven years, specializing in weight loss, kick boxing, pre natal;
post natal, rehabilitation and weight gain.
Shevanne began training after her mother suffered from
two severe strokes completely paralyzing the left side of her body.
Unfamiliar with the effects of stroke, she took the initiative to learn
about the deadly disease. Once educated, she realized that stroke
is genetic and mainly caused by stress, poor diet and lifestyle. She
began training friends and family members that could be at risk of
health problems and branched out to training her own clients, and
eventually starting her own business, Preserve Your Sexy. Preserve
Your Sexy focuses on providing personal training, nutritional plans,
and education in breaking the cycle of genetic health problems that
are claiming the lives of so many.
2011 will mark the launch of Preserve-Your-Sexy.com which
will provide an interactive web site to gain knowledge about fitness
and nutrition.
Shevanne is also in the process of completing her BA at the
University of Windsor, double majoring in Political Science and
Sociology, with aspirations of attending law school in 2012 while
growing her business. It’s safe to say that she is the Jane of all trades.
Hadiya Roderique
Hadiya Roderique is an associate in the Labour,
Employment and Human Rights Group. She is
engaged in a broad practice assisting employers
with matters relating to restructuring, downsizing,
human rights, employment agreements and
terminations, labour relations and collective
agreement interpretation.
As a law student at the University of Toronto, Hadiya was the
Vice-President (Student Affairs) of the Students’ Law Society and
served as an executive member of Downtown Legal Services, the law
school’s legal clinic.
Hadiya summered with the firm in 2007 and was seconded to
SonyBMG Canada Inc. In 2008/09, she articled with the firm and
joined as an associate in 2009.
Douglas Sanderson
Douglas Sanderson was managing editor of the
inaugural the Indigenous Law Journal in 2002 while a
student in the JD program. He went on to get his
LL.M from Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar.
Prof. Sanderson is a member of the Opaskwayak Cree
Nation, and he has been deeply engaged in Aboriginal
issues from a policy perspective. From 2004-2007 he was a Senior
Advisor to the Government of Ontario, first in the Office of the Minister
Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, and later, to the Attorney General.
From 2007 to 2009, he was a Visiting Research Fellow at the University
of Toronto Faculty of Law. During this time, he organized the highly
successful 2008 Summit on Aboriginal Economic Development with the
Rt. Hon. Paul Martin. He has been the Academic Advisor for Aboriginal
students at the Faculty of Law since 2007.
Abbey Sirivar
Abbey (Junior) Sirivar is a partner in our Litigation
Group in Toronto, having articled with the firm
before his call to the bar. Mr. Sirivar’s wide-ranging
civil litigation practice has included commercial
disputes, mining cases, professional negligence and
insurance cases.
He has acted as trial and appellate counsel, appearing before
all levels of court in Ontario, administrative tribunals and arbitral
panels. He has tried both jury and non-jury cases as lead and cocounsel.
Mr. Sirivar is a recipient of a 2010 Lexpert Zenith Award
honouring him for pro bono activities.
Mr. Sirivar is a frequent author and speaker on litigation topics
and pro bono initiatives. He has presented CLE seminars at Ontario
Bar Association conferences on pre-trial remedies and discovery skills.
He also delivers seminars on legal issues of informed consent at the
University of Toronto Medical School. He regularly publishes articles
on topics such as D&O insurance coverage, reasonable expectations
and case outcomes.
Mr. Sirivar currently sits on the board of directos of the Child
Development Institute, a Toronto-based non-profit organization
that provides universal prevention and healthy child development
programs, as well as early-intervention programs targeted to
vulnerable or at-risk children and families.
Mr. Sirivar received his BA (Hons.) from Bishop’s University
in 1999 and his LLB from Dalhousie University in 2002. He is a
member of the Canadian and Ontario Bar Associations. He was
called to the Ontario bar in 2003.
Marcus Snowden
Marcus Snowden is a partner with Blaney
McMurtry. Marcus’ insurance law practice focuses
primarily on insurance coverage issues. His client
services include advising on all aspects of Property
& Casualty coverage from drafting the wording,
through advising on coverage positions to litigating
disputes over wording and statutory coverage interpretation.
On the corporate-commercial & risk management side of his
practice, Marcus advises underwriters on drafting and revising policy
wording including “Canadianizing” wordings for foreign carriers
entering the local P&C market. His work includes drafting advice for
underwriters on some of the largest primary, excess and reinsurance
markets in North America. He also provides input to assist the
Corporate Insurance group on insurance law, indemnity and related
issues in the context of commercial transactional, due diligence
wording review, product launch and related regulatory retainers.
Corporate clients in underwriting and transactional sectors of the
insurance industry benefit from a combination of practical litigation
background, academic interest and commitment to the industry.
With Mark G. Lichty, Marcus has co-authored and continues to
provide annual updates to Annotated Commercial General Liability
Policy, first published by Canada Law Book in 1997.
31
Flora Terah
Flora Terah is an HIV/AIDS counselor and women’s
advocate who was one of approximately 200 women
that ran for Parliament in the Kenyan elections in
2007. She was one of several women who were
abducted, tortured and abused because they dared to
run for public office in Kenya. Hospitalized for
weeks and unable to canvass properly, lost her bid for election. Worse
was still to come for Terah: in March 2008 her only child, a 19 year
old footballer, was murdered in Nairobi. Terah’s case is one of several
case studies highlighted in Amnesty International’s 2008 report on
the state of world’s human rights, released on May 28 2008. Now,
more than ever, Ms. Terah is committed to mobilizing an end to
gender-based violence, and to this end. Ms Terah is Executive
Director of an NGO she started called “Terah against Terror (www.
Xterror.org.) A civil society organization that campaigns on behalf of
victims of gender based violence based in Nairobi. Ultimately, Ms.
Terah is committed to running for office again in the next
Parliamentary elections in Kenya in 2012.
She is currently working for the Stephen Lewis Foundation as a
Consultant.
She has authored “They Never Killed My Spirit: But They
Murdered My Only Child” her autobiography and her next book
“Beyond Pain” is due out this fall.
Tanya C. Walker
Tanya C. Walker is a commercial litigation lawyer
practicing at 401 Bay Street, Suite 2410, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. She obtained her law degree from
Osgoode Hall at York University in 2005 and her
Honours Bachelor of Commerce with a minor in
Economics from McMaster University in 2002. She
was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006.
During law school she received the Simms Shuber prize for the
highest academic standing in Corporate Governance. Tanya received
the largest percentage of votes among 19 other candidates in August
2010 and was awarded the 2010 Woman’s Enterprise Woman of the
Year Award.
Tanya is a part-time member on the Environment and Land
Tribunals Ontario, Assessment Review Board.
Tanya is an executive member of the Ontario Bar Association
Committee on Franchising, on the Second Chance Scholarship
Committee and a member of the Canadian Association of Black
Lawyers.
Christopher Webb
Christopher Webb is employed as Crown Counsel in the Crown
Law Office - Criminal, Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario).
His practice is split between arguing criminal appeals before the
32
Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada,
and prosecuting large-scale trials. He obtained his law degree from
Osgoode Hall Law School.
Anna Willats
Anna Willats has been an activist working on
social justice issues, particularly violence against
women and police accountability, since 1982 in
Toronto. She is currently a professor in the
Assaulted Women’s and Children’s counsellor/
Advocate Program at George Brown College and
coordinates an innovative program for survivors of violence who
want to find work in skilled trades and non-traditional
occupations. Anna was a founding member of the Committee to
Stop Targeted Policing (active from 1998 to 2003) and the Toronto
Police Accountability Coalition (2002 - present), and has worked in
partnership with many community-based policing reform and
accountability campaigns.
Laura Williams
Laura has extensive experience providing strategic advice and
representation to employers on a full range of labour and
employment matters, including pre-termination advice and strategy,
workplace safety and insurance, wrongful dismissal actions, union
organizing and certification, grievance arbitration, human rights,
privacy, employment standards, workplace policies, procedures and
employment contracts.
Laura is a member of various professional organizations and
community and service associations. She is the Vice-Chair of
Community MicroSkills Development Centre, which provides
settlement, employment, and self-employment services to individuals,
and a Governor of Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill.
Karen Wishart
Karen Wishart, the Executive Vice President and
Chief Legal Officer for TV One, joined TV One in
January 2005. In this position, she oversees the
business and legal affairs department, as well as the
human resources department for the company. Her
responsibilities include the negotiation of agreements
for all of the company’s business units, as well as corporate
governance, risk assessment and strategic planning. In addition, she is
the Secretary to the Board of Managers.
Wishart graduated from McMaster University in Ontario,
Canada, with a B.A. degree in honors psychology. She earned a J.D.
from the University of Windsor and a MBA from Emory University’s
Goizueta Business School in Atlanta.
The Black Law Students’ Association of Canada would like to thank the following individuals for their time,
support and participation.
Keynote Speakers:
Honorable Justice Valerie Miller, Tax Court of Canada
Former Honorable Justice Donald Bowman, Counsel to FMC’s
National Tax Group, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Speakers & Participants:
Cornell Wright, Partner, Torys LLP
Deborah Dalfen, Director, Student Affairs, Torys LLP
Rosemary Sadlier, Ontario Black History Society
Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, Barrister & Solicitor
The Honourable Justice Romain Pitt, Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Florence Chumpuka, Legal Counsel, Department of Justice Canada
Selwyn Pieters, Barrister & Solicitor
Sonia Lawrence, Associate Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Royland Moriah, Policy Research Lawyer, African-Canadian Legal Clinic
Richard Miller, Director of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility,
Windsor University
Sarah Mason-Case, Associate, Koskie Minsky LLP
Kaye Johnson, Director, Office of Human Rights, Equity and
Accessibility - University of Windsor
Qadira Jackson, Development Co-ordinator, Black Pearls
Brandon Hay, Founder, Black Daddies Club
Pauline Christian, President, Black Business Professional Association
Jason Bogle, Barrister & Solicitor, Law Office of Jason E. Bogle
Junior Sirivar, Partner, McCarthy Tetrault
Pinta Maguire, Lawyer, Lenczner Slaght LLP
Christopher Aid, Partner, Baker McKenzie LLP
Tania D’Souza-Culora, Associate, Baker McKenzie LLP
Catherine McKenna, Co-Founder / Executive Director, Canadian
Lawyers Abroad
Terrie-Lynn Devonish, Chief Counsel, Aon Canada
Hadiya Roderique, Associate, Fasken Martineau LLP
Marcus Snowden, Partner, Blaney McMurtry LLP
Faithe Holder, Partner, Gowlings LLP
Laverne A. Jacobs, Professor, University of Windsor
Paul D. Ocheje, Professor, University of Windsor
Emir Mohammed, Professor, University of Windsor
Douglas Sanderson, Professor, University of Toronto
Dexter John, Senior Vice President, Phoenix Advisory Partners
D’Arcy Nordick, Partner, Stikeman Elliott LLP
Simon Fisch, Legal Counsel, Children’s Aid Society
Omo Akintan, Lawyer, City of Toronto
Christopher Webb, Crown Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General
(Ontario)
Nefeterri Carnadin, Counsel, Department of National Defence (DND) /
Canadian Forces (CF) & RCMP
Donna Walwyn, Lawyer, Baker McKenzie
Laura Williams, Lawyer, Williams HR Law Professional Corporation
Esi Codjoe, Barrister & Solicitor, Ontario Nurses Association
Samuel Getachew, City Council, Toronto Ward 43 Candidate
Ike Awgu
Patricia DeGuire, Adjudicator, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Michelle Henry, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Shashu Clacke, Lawyer, Koch Thornton LLP
Antoinette Clarke, Mediator, Consultant & Trainer, Counselling,
Consultation & Mediation Services
Sue-Lynn Noel, Corporate Counsel, Livingston International Inc.
Andre Bacchus, Director, Professional Development, Heenan Blaike LLP
Kari Abrams, Director of Student Recruitment & Development, Blake,
Cassels & Graydon LLP
Dianne Carter, Ministry of the Attorney General
Eric Hoffstein, Litigation Partner and Chair of Student Committee, Fraser
Milner Casgrain LLP
David Allgood, General Counsel, Royal Bank of Canada
Shevanne Robinson, CEO, Preserve Your Sexy
Richard Phillips, Community Mission Specialist, Heart and Stroke
Foundation
Tanya Walker, Barrister & Solicitor
JoMarie Burke, Manager, Lending Division at Legacy Capital Group Inc.
Ada Maxwell, Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Medical Association
Estella Muyinda, Executive Director, National Anti-Racism Council of
Canada
Cindy Wong, Account Manager, RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Margaret Parsons, Executive Director, African Canadian Legal Clinic
Flora Terah, Writer
Christine Kungu, LLM candidate, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
Joanna Gordon
Jacqueline Beckles, Lawyer, Department of Justice
Gavin Holder, Articles of clerkship, Jason E. Bogle’s Law Office
Paul Kuttner, Principle, Innovative Marketing
Yola Grant, Activist / Lawyer, Grant & Bernhardt Barristers
Jessica Peterkin
John Richardson, LSAT Prep Instructor / Law Admissions Counselor
Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties
Association
Anna Willats, Professor, George Brown College
Ajamu Nangwaya, Trade Unionist, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Suhuyini Abudulai, Associate, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Richard Jefferson, General Partner, M.E.T.A.L. Law Group, LLP
Karen Wishart, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, TV One
Runako Gregg, Osgoode Hall Law School
Courtney Kazembee, Lawyer & Founder, The Global Institute for
Transformation & Enlightenment
Jaqueline Lawerence, Co-Founder, WiseSolution Consulting
Gerry McNeilly, Independent Police Review Director, Ontario Ministry of
the Attorney General
Special Thanks To:
Ballet Creole
Jesse Ketchum Pan Vibrations
33
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
Platinum Sponsors
Law Foundation of Ontario
Department of Justice Canada
Title Sponsor: Keynote Speaker
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Title Sponsor: Diversity Moot
Koskie Minsky LLP
Gold Sponsors
University of Western Ontario
Silver Sponsors
McCarthy Tétrault
Torys LLP
Cassels Brock
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Queen’s University
Osler Hoskin Harcourt
Blaney McMurtry
Slansky Law Professional Corporation
Bronze Sponsors
Miller Thompson
Gowling LaFleur Henderson LLP
Heenan Blakie
Davies Ward Phillips LLP
Fasken Martineau Dumoulin LLP
Stikeman Elliott LLP
BLSAC

2011 BLSA Canada Magazine - Black Law Students` Association of

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