Congratulations to the new and returning Section Executives of the 2024-25 term. After our call for volunteers, over 50 new members have joined our Section Executives, with many serving on more than one.
CBABC Section activities have a reputation for unmatched relevance to your day-to-day practice. Our volunteers work hard to collect topics that are timely, effective and transferrable. With over 60 Sections to choose from, and free content for members, Section Enrollment is a key benefit of your CBABC membership.
Empowering Indigenous Voices
The month of May saw a return of the annual Aboriginal Lawyers Forum Retreat at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. Members heard from esteemed speakers Leah George-Wilson, Dr. Ronald Ignace, The Honourable Chief Justice Leonard Marchand Jr., Madelaine McCallum and Michelle Casavant. The theme, Empowering Indigenous Voices: Nurturing Leadership, Motivation, and Legal Advocacy, inspired attendees, and made space for them to explore Indigenous law and culture.
Finding Treasures to Raise Funds
The 17th Annual Aboriginal Lawyers Forum Auction has wowed the community once again. The auction raised over $16,500 and featured many great items. Thank you to all who donated. All proceeds fund opportunities for Indigenous law school and articling students through the Warrior Project.
Our gratitude goes to Algonquin sculptor David J. Robinson of Thunder Carving & Education. David donated his hand-carved “Hammerhead Shark” wood sculpture (right) valued at $12,000, the auction’s largest donation item to date. The sculpture symbolizes David’s support for the Aboriginal Lawyers Forum mandate.
The Auction happens every June. Follow News+Jobs to stay in the loop for next year!
Looking Ahead: 2024/2025 Section Term
You can count on annual events like Monte Carlo Night, Associate Judge Shadowing, and Section-led events like the Family, Maritime and ‘For the Love of Litigation’ Dinners to complement your learning in Sections.
Have a meeting topic in mind? Or a speaker you’ve want to hear from? Contact the Sections team so we can start planning.
SAGDA unites with students and health law colleagues
The Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance host meetings dedicated to education, advocacy, and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
SAGDA kicked off the term with the session Recognizing Hatred in our Backyard with speakers barbara findlay, KC and Glen Stratton. November’s Discussion with The Honourable Harry LaForme covered intersectionality, honouring the 2SLGBTQIA+ community’s history and future within the legal profession. SAGDA co-hosted a session with Health Law in March on Mature Minors and Health Decisions, where Graeme Keirstead, KC, Dionne Liu, and Claire Hunter, KC, discussed recent B.C. cases and the legal, ethical and practical issues surrounding gender-affirming care for mature minors.
SAGDA also provided peer networking opportunities to discuss initiatives and raise awareness for lawyers within the community, including a spring student event in partnership with the UVic Law Careers Office and UVic OUTLaws. SAGDA also participated in the annual Pride celebrations across B.C. this summer.
Keeping up with Human Rights Law
In June, the Human Rights Law Section hosted its final meeting of the term, where Devyn Cousineau, Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal, shared updates and insights from the Tribunal. Earlier meetings covered content on changes to the Workers Compensation Act and B.C.’s new Pay Transparency Act.
The Human Rights Law Section plans to engage both the Human Rights Tribunal and the Human Rights Commission for upcoming meetings next term.
The Section offers a collegial and welcoming environment where members of the Bar can interact and provide insights into new developments in human rights law. We invite you to join us for a meeting next term!