What a pleasure it is to be able to express my gratitude to all of you, students, faculty, staff, friends and supporters of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and the broader Lakehead University community, for the past five years we have spent together. Thank you all very much! It has been a career highlight and a personal joy to get to know all of you. A special thank you to Dr. David Richards from the Faculty of Business Administration, who covered for me on two occasions. My deanship has come to an end, and I am writing to you from Berlin where I am spending the summer with my family. It is a very welcome rest and a lovely beginning of my year of administrative leave. I will return as a faculty member in time for the 2025/26 academic year and I am looking forward to teaching and to picking up some of those research projects that have been on hiatus.
I am incredibly proud of what this Faculty has accomplished over the past five years. We have hired outstanding new faculty, promoted and tenured established faculty, and renewed and even tenured some newer faculty. We have
Dr. Betsy Birmingham
Iwant to express my appreciation for the warm and supportive welcome I have received as Interim Dean from students, faculty, staff, friends and supporters of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in my first weeks here. I am grateful for all the work Dr. Hughes has done to prepare an easy transition for all of us at the Faculty of Law, thankful her for her successful term as dean, and appreciative of the insight and intelligence she has shared with the Lakehead Community through her administrative service these past five years.
My academic background is in the humanities, and I received my doctorate in Rhetoric and Professional Communication from Iowa State University. My spouse and I have lived in Thunder Bay for six years. We have five children, the two youngest of whom will be finishing high school this year.
recruited, taught and graduated amazing students. We have raised our national profile, expanded our course offerings, research and community outreach in our mandate areas. Clinical education has grown by leaps and bounds, with extraordinary leadership from clinic directors and counsel. None of this would have been possible without the staff team. I want to highlight them because they do a great deal of their work in less visible ways. The staff team at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law is absolutely first rate. Next time you see a staff member, please take the time to thank them. They are the secret ingredient in the magic sauce.
The future of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law looks bright. This year, we will welcome an increased cohort of students, and new faculty to support the expansion of the program. Land-based learning will continue to grow and improve as we deepen relationships with Indigenous partners and bring landbased learning opportunities to all of our students. For the coming year, we will benefit from the leadership of Dr. Betsy Birmingham, who has stepped into the role of acting dean. Dr. Birmingham completed a highly successful term as dean of Social Sciences and Humanities at Lakehead, and I am beyond grateful for her mentorship and friendship over the past five years. Being able to leave the Faculty in her capable hands has been tremendously comforting and inspiring.
I have been asked more than once about the vision for the Law School that I will advance during my brief term as interim dean. I envision myself as a caretaker of the role, supporting the students, staff, and faculty in developing and articulating their shared vision of the future through our strategic plan, and working to gather the necessary resources to assure that an expanded cohort receives the same outstanding legal education the Law Faculty has provided for the past ten years. Perhaps the most important shared work this year will be hiring a new dean to lead the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law for the next five years. I encourage everyone to actively participate in this work when invited to do so, and to be in touch with the representatives on the search committee, the membership of which should be announced soon. I look forward to welcoming new and returning students, staff, and faculty for a beautiful fall in Thunder Bay, and wonderfully successful year.
Anishinawbe Omaa-Minowaywin Spotlight
– Elder Gerry Martin
“Elder Gerry” as he is fondly called at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, is from Mattagami First Nation. Though he is a new member to the AOM, he has been an important and appreciated “family” member of our faculty for many years. If you have attended an event that has been put on by the Faculty of Law, it is probable that Elder Gerry did the opening and/or closing prayers, or was in the audience to support our students, faculty and staff. He has participated in our Elder-in-Residence program, where he comes to our Restorative Justice room and is available for anyone to answer questions on Indigenous culture, to share a story or two or just be a supportive ear to listen.
He comes to us as a former nurse and student of traditional Aboriginal healing methods. In his interactions with everyone, it is evident that he enjoys teaching and sharing knowledge of traditional healing methods and considers it a lifelong journey to learn more. He provides traditional counselling, knowledge of medicine, history, art and storytelling to students at Lakehead University, Confederation College, and Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services, Matawa First Nations Management Inc. (KKETS).
It was very important to us that we have a consistent elder on this Indigenous advisory committee (our AOM) and Elder Gerry was the perfect fit. His compassion and care for the people in our faculty and his cultural knowledge will provide valuable insight into our law school matters. We are very happy that Elder Gerry accepted the position, and we know his membership will be a valuable asset.
Events/Speakers
Sault Ste. Marie Visit
In June, Hope and Sarah travelled to Sault Ste. Marie to deliver an update about the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at the Algoma District Law Association’s annual meeting. It was great to finally meet some of our long-standing Practice Placement firms! They also hosted a lunch for local alumni and it was so nice to catch up and hear all about what they’ve been doing in their careers.
Professional Networking Event
It was another great annual Professional Networking Event in January. Thanks goes out to Amy Sellors for leading a networking “tips and tricks” workshop earlier in the day - it was great to see so many students and members of the Thunder Bay Law Association making connections and enjoying some tasty nibbles. Looking forward to the next one!
Spring High School Sessions
In May and June, we hosted high school students from four local schools - St. Patrick, Westgate, St. Ignatius, and Hammarskjold, to join us and learn about the pathways to law school and how our program works. Special thanks to the LUCLS team of Emily and for leading the students in riveting rounds of Jeopardy with dozens of fun, law-based questions!
An Evening with Women Judges
We were pleased to host “An Evening with Women Judges: Dialogues and Discussions” on February 1st, in collaboration with the CCIAWJ. Local female Justices engaged in small group conversations with students. It was a wonderful evening, and we extend sincere appreciation to The Hon. Justice Claudia Belda (OCJ), The Hon. Justice Tracey Nieckarz (SCJ), and The Hon. Justice Helen Pierce (SCJ) for their time and efforts.
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Cheers to TEN years! We wrapped up our year of special events with a weekend of celebrations at the end of March. Thank you to all alumni, students, staff, faculty, and community partners who helped us mark the occasion.
On March 21st we opened our events with a special Pipe Ceremony and feast, which opened with remarks from FWFN Chief Michele Solomon and Lakehead University President Gillian Siddall. Led by Elder Sam Achneepineskum, the ceremony represented renewal and our continued commitment to reconciliation through a deeper understanding of Indigenous law.
March 22nd featured an Alumni Panel with seven BLFL graduates representing a wide array of legal career pathways. They participated in a panel discussion, providing students with valuable insight into navigating the early years of lawyering. Later that evening, a great time was had at Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. for a ‘mix and mingle’ social - fantastic company, tasty snacks, and fun prizes!
Lastly, during the afternoon of March 23rd, we hosted an “Open Doors” drop in at the PACI Building with tours, a raffle, treats, and displays. It was wonderful to see everyone who came through the doors, including many former PACI students and other local residents for whom the building holds special memories. Even Wolfie stopped by!
It’s been a whirlwind of a decade and we are proud of the many successes of our innovative program and exceptional people. We cannot wait to see what the next decade brings!
Student Services Update
The 2023/2024 academic year ended on a great note! We hosted our annual end of term lunches for the 1Ls, and 2Ls, sent a handful of students off to their summer internships thanks to the Law Foundation of Ontario, the Law Commission of Ontario, and the Debwewin Summer Law Program; and of course, celebrated our graduating class of 2024! Graduation is always a highlight, and this year was no exception. Dean Jula Hughes presided over her last graduation ceremony of her term as Dean, and Justice Stephen Wojciechowski, one of our favourite contract lecturers, and now a newly appointed justice of the Superior Court of Justice, gave an amazing address to graduates. It was a wonderful day filled with good cheer and positive vibes. We wish the best of luck to the class of 2024, and we encourage them to stay in touch!
We always chuckle when students ask us if we get the summer “off”. Far from it! Student Services has been very busy over the past couple of months welcoming incoming 1L students, giving them tours of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and answering their many questions. In addition, we have been diligently planning our programming for the upcoming year which includes career programming, student health and wellness programming, and our 1L Orientation!
Mino-waabandan Inaakonigewinan Indigenous Law and Justice Institute
Institute staff and faculty have been busy building relationships to strengthen the law school’s land-based learning opportunities. In the spring, Director Robin Sutherland and Professor Larissa Speak were invited by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) faculty and Fort William First Nation member Damien Lee to a gathering at the Anemki Wajiw Sugar Bush.
The Sugar Bush gathering brought together staff, faculty, and students from Bora Laskin Faculty of Law and TMU Faculty of Law to discuss Indigenous pedagogies and land-based learning. We spent a day caring for the Sugar Bush and sharing ideas to strengthen the Indigenous content and pedagogies at our respective law schools. We also spent time at Algonquin Park School where wigwas artist Helen Pelletier provided instruction and guidance on birch bark
As many of you know, this Fall we will be welcoming a slightly larger cohort of 1L students, with an admission target of 90 students (a 25-student increase from last year). This makes for very exciting times at the law school. We are planning some great orientation events to properly welcome the incoming 1L class and to get them prepared for their law school adventure. Included in this year’s orientation program, we will be presenting a session on Professionalism that draws upon the Rules of Professional Conduct, as well as the Seven Grandfather Teachings. We hope that this session and the others will set an appropriate tone for law school, while also calming some of the anxiety and nerves that students may be facing. With the end of summer quickly approaching (gasp!), and many events and programs still to finalize in the early Fall (you can expect an invitation to our annual Professional Networking Event that will be held in January), we are making sure to balance our working days with some much-needed rest and relaxation so we can recharge the batteries for what will certainly be a busy and exciting academic year!
canoe making. Larissa also hosted TMU faculty at the Bora Laskin for a building tour and curriculum discussion. TMU faculty were inspired by our welcoming space full of Indigenous art. They returned to Toronto with many ideas on how they can Indigenize the TMU curriculum and building. We’re very grateful to Damien and the Sugar Bush family for hosting us at the sacred Sugar Bush site. We’re also grateful to the TMU faculty for visiting and sharing ideas. We’re hopeful that this relationship will result in land-based learning opportunities for Bora Laskin students in the future.
Robin, Larissa, and Indigenous Relations Coordinator Brandon Chevrier attended Fort William First Nation’s Hide Tanning Camp in May. The team spent five days working with community members and expert hide tanners to learn traditional practices and build relationships. The Institute plans to bring some of this knowledge into the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in October 2025 when we host a two-day workshop on moose hide tanning in collaboration with artist and hide tanner Jean Marshall. Stay tuned for more details!
The Institute is also very excited to announce that Bora Laskin is hosting
Indigenous Relations Update
Over the summer months the Office of Indigenous Relations has been busy with planning and preparing for the upcoming academic calendar year, particularly this year’s Gaa-maada’ooniding Law Camp with a new location and increased cohort. The winter term was also a busy one. Aside from regular administrative programming and activities, including running the Elder-in-Residence program, assisting with Welcome Day and Graduation events, working on grant funding applications, and supporting Indigenous students, the Office of Indigenous Relations took part in some memorable events. Over the semester, Brandon and Robin attended a few recruitment events, including a Career & Undergraduate Exploration Day on the main campus for high school and Indigenous Transition Year Program (ITYP) students, the 1st annual St. Ignatius Pow Wow, and the Dennis Franklin Cromarty Career Fair. On March 1st, they accompanied about twenty 1Ls to Dryden for a two-day Gladue Workshop hosted by Grand Council Treaty #3’s Kaakewaaseya Justice Services. On March 21st, Elder Sam Achineepineskum led us through a Pipe Ceremony in honour of, and to kick off, the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law’s 10th Anniversary events. On April 9th, Elder Peter Sackaney led us through an end-of-year Sunrise Ceremony and the Institute hosted an end-of-year feast and giveaway, a great way to acknowledge, celebrate, and show appreciation to the students, staff, and faculty who have supported the Institute over the past three years. On April 25th, we invited Indigenous students for dinner at Mike’s Roadhouse to celebrate the completion of exams and a successful term. On April 30th, Director Sutherland spoke on the “Indigenous Education, Justice, and Reconciliation” plenary at the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education (CAPSLE) Conference.
The most enjoyable highlight for the Indigenous Relations and Institute team took place from May 9th to 13th on the traditional territory of Anemki Wajiw (Fort William First Nation). They hosted their 5th Annual Moose Hide Camp and we had the pleasure and honour to participate and learn from a wellrespected team, including Camp Coordinator Jean Marshall,
the Kawaskimhon Moot in March 2025. This will be the first law moot hosted by Bora Laskin! The Kawaskimhon Moot is a consensus-based moot that incorporates Indigenous legal traditions alongside federal, provincial and international law, and concepts of dispute resolution. Mooters participate in circle discussions on a particular topic in Indigenous law, representing their assigned party’s positions to their circles. We can’t wait for this exciting event which will bring together Indigenous law experts and supporters from all across Turtle Island!
Elders Laura Calmwind, Dan and Maggie Magiskan, Edna Skunk, Cathy McGuire, and Andrew Mandamin, and Hide Team members Brian and Paulette Bird, Nate Johnson, Shelby Gagnon, Mary Magiskan, Cher Chapman, Belmo, Charlotte Marten, Leanna Marshal, and Karhu Esquega. This was a great opportunity to network with peers, create connections, and strengthen our relationship with Anemki Wajiw. While there, we witnessed and partook in the various stages of moose hide and deer hide tanning from start to finish, including fleshing, dehairing, framing, stretching, scraping, making a brain paste, braining, soaking, wringing and twisting, softening, and smoking. We also had the opportunity to work with fish skins, beaver pelts, a turtle, make and use traditional tools, learn some Anishinaabemowin from puppet shows, and indulge in delicious traditional food, including bannock, moose, fish, and various stews. This was a great experience that will help us in the future when delivering our own Hide Camps, including a two-day workshop planned for this October with Jean. Look out for more information coming soon!
Expansion Means New Faculty!
Expanding
our program and having more students enter our faculty, means we needed to hire three new faculty members. Our three new professors bring different areas of expertise and teaching methodologies that will serve to enhance our students’ experience and knowledge!
Jennifer Dagsvik
Jennifer has been working at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law as a contract lecturer since 2016 and as the founding director of the Newcomer Legal Clinic since 2021. Jennifer was born and raised in Thunder Bay and moved back home with her family 10 years ago. She studied law at the University of British Columbia and is completing a Research LLM at Osgoode Hall. Jennifer clerked at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and has been practising law since 2007, in Vancouver, Toronto, and Thunder Bay. She has worked in government, private practice, and a teaching clinic. She practises public law, immigration and refugee law, and appellate advocacy. Her research focuses on access to justice in northern communities. In 20242025, Jennifer will continue serving as the Newcomer Legal Clinic's director, and she will also teach Legal Research and Writing, Torts, and Immigration and Refugee Law.
Dr. Ngozi S. Nwoko
Dr. Nwoko graduated with a PhD in Law from the University of Victoria (UVic), Canada, where he studied as a Queen Elizabeth Scholar. He holds a Master of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, where he received the Harley D. Hallet Graduate Scholarship. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree (Honours) in Nigeria and was admitted to practise law in Nigeria. Before joining the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law (BLFL), he was a Sessional Lecturer at UVic where he taught Business Associations and Immigration and Citizenship Law. He will be teaching contracts, torts, and property law, respectively, at the BLFL.
Ngozi is a Research Associate on China, Law and Development project at the University of Oxford – a five-year project funded by the European Research Council that engages in an interdisciplinary study of China’s approach to law and development, the impacts of Chinese investment on the legal systems of developing economies, and how China’s approach differs from Anglo/Euro approaches to law and development. He is also a Research Associate in The Law and Africa Initiative, Max Planck Law, Germany. His research interests include the regulation of Chinese state-funded investment in the extractive industries in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa, bribery of foreign government officials in transnational investments, and the Indo-Pacific Strategy. His work is theoretically informed by Third World Approaches to International Law and legal pluralism. Ngozi’s works have appeared or will appear at the Cambridge University Press, Edward Elgar, and the Asian Journal of Comparative Law.
Monique Woolnough
Monique Woolnough has been a lawyer member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2014. She articled and practiced law at the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay until she took on a Project Manager role launching 6 new legal projects for Northern Ontario's 11 community legal clinics. She was then Executive Director of the Sudbury Community Legal Clinic until she moved to Ottawa to pursue her LLM at the University of Ottawa, which she will complete in August 2024. In 2023-2024, she worked at the Clinique juridique francophone d'Ottawa leading the development of public legal education for Francophone seniors in areas of law that impact them as seniors.
In 2015, she co-developed and co-taught the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law's first course on Poverty and the Law. She has since developed and taught a course on Decolonization and Poverty Law at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law. She has also taught in Social Work at Laurentian University and the University of Ottawa and Indigenous Studies at the University of Sudbury and Carleton University. She is looking forward to being back in the PACI building and in Thunder Bay.
Prof. Dylan presents at second Phish Studies Conference
In May 2024, Professor Daniel W. Dylan presented at the second Phish Studies Conference (PSC), held at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Most students, past and present, know of Prof. Dylan’s enthusiasm and passion for the band Phish, a quartet from Vermont who have been performing live music for well over forty years. Having presented at the first PSC in May 2019, at this iteration of the PSC Prof. Dylan presented a paper titled “RailRiding, Tarping, and Chomping: A Legal Analysis of Claiming Objective Space at Phish Shows” which focused on how Phish show-goers enter and share common space in general admission sections at concerts. Prof. Dylan’s presentation was well-received among PSC attendees. In an online recap of the PSC, one of the program committee members wrote “...Daniel Dylan’s thorough legal analysis of how space is claimed at shows…led to a lively debate and discussion looking at how gender, entitlement, substance use, the law, and community norms can affect how we experience a show and the ways lived experience interact with abstract legal theories.”[1] Of his presentation and the opportunity to present at the PSC, Prof. Dylan said: “Having an opportunity to once again present my scholarship at a conference devoted to the academic study of my favourite band is a scholarly dream come true. Like their oft-compared-to predecessor, the Grateful Dead, this music of Phish and the Phish scene— Phish Studies—has in a few short years become the subject
of serious and rigorous scholarship and I am thrilled to be a part of it all. I’m also grateful for Lakehead University’s financial support in the form of conference travel grant.”
Later this year, Prof. Dylan’s paper from the first conference which focused on Phish’s failed effort to trademark the popular red and blue donut pattern will appear in a book of conference proceedings titled Concepts We’ll Ponder, and he expects to submit the 2024 paper for publication in the conference’s second book in December 2024. Prof. Dylan’s has enthusiasm for all music, not just Phish, and welcomes opportunities to discuss with students the music to which they like to listen.
The Law Students’ Society (LSS) would like to extend a warm welcome to you from the entire team. It is a huge achievement to be accepted to Law School and we are so excited to have you. LSS is your elected student body that is here to support and advocate for you. We were all once in your shoes, trying to anticipate what it would be like to attend Law School. We understand the mix of excitement and nerves that come with starting this new chapter. Our school is different from any other JD program. You'll be able to work closely with professors who know your name. You are someone at Bora Laskin, a community member. The LSS is here to help you connect with your classmates, the upper years, faculty, staff and the city of Thunder Bay.
We’ll host a variety of events including the peer mentorship program, social gatherings throughout the year, and clubs’
day. Whether you're looking to make new friends, gain insights from experienced professionals, or simply have a good time and get involved, there's something for everyone.
One of the best ways to enhance your law school experience is to be active and participate. We have a diverse variety of clubs that are all run by the students. This is a great opportunity to volunteer and shape the Law School community in meaningful ways.
We are committed to ensuring that your voice is heard. If you have any ideas, concerns, or feedback, please share them. We work closely with the faculty and administration to advocate for your needs and improve the student experience. Your input is invaluable in making our community better for everyone.
Welcome to the Lakehead Law Students’ Society, and here's to a successful and fulfilling year ahead!
Photo Credit: Derek Finholt/Pineal Press
LUCLS – Providing Experiences for Community Driven Students
Our 2023/24 academic year ended with many clinic student successes! We were thrilled to award 2L students Ethan Quan and Stefanie Bernier with LUCLS’ Outstanding Student Award. Our 2L PBSC student, Emma Dew, was the recipient of the prestigious Honourable Chief Justice Wagner Award for her volunteer work with our clinic. Additionally, at convocation, former clinic student, Dawson Somerville, received Lakehead University’s President’s Award, in part based on providing access to justice through her work in our clinic. We are so proud of all of you!
Clinic work continued to be busy for our 2024 summer students. Our summer students were led by 3L students Ethan Quan, Josiah Baldassini, and Emma Dew. Ethan and Josiah were both in our clinical course in their 2L year, with Ethan also having spent the summer of 2023 in the role of summer caseworker. Emma spent the summer of 2023 in the role of Legal Advocate and Assistant (“LAD”) and was our PBSC volunteer for the 2023/24 academic year. Collectively, Ethan, Josiah, Emma along with 2L summer caseworkers Kaitlyn Harding, Chris Hutson and Katelynn Rookes have made numerous appearances in
Criminal Court in Thunder Bay and in Geraldton, Provincial Offences Court, Small Claims Court, and at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
We also welcomed 2L students Cassandra McGrath and Emilee Sposato as our 2024 summer LADs. Cassandra and Emilee’s roles emphasize community outreach and engagement. They have organized, led, and assisted with several ID clinics and helped many vulnerable individuals apply for birth certificates in Thunder Bay and Pikangikum First Nation. Additionally, they have provided public legal education sessions to various organizations in the district including the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre, Metis Nation of Ontario and Greenstone Victim Services.
Lastly, while we were sad to say goodbye to one of our Legal Administrative Assistants, Nidhi Verma, we are excited to welcome Natasha Smith into this role. Natasha joins us with a wealth of local legal experience. As for Nidhi, we will keep our eyes open in the halls as she starts her law school journey here at BLFL!
Rodi-Lynn Rusnick-Kinisky Director, Lakehead University Community Legal Services
Stefanie Bernier and Ethan Quan, LUCLS award recipients 2023-24
Emma Dew, PBSC Honourable Chief Justice Wagner Award
Dawson Somerville, LU President’s Award
LUCLS 2024 summer students - Kaitlyn Harding, Chris Hutson, Emma Dew, Katelynn Rookes, Josiah Baldassini, Ethan Quan, Cassandra McGrath, and Emilee Sposato.
LUCLS 2024 summer crew hosting an ID Clinic
Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Ninth Class Of Juris Doctor Graduates
On Friday, May 17th, we hosted a day of celebrations to recognize the accomplishments of our ninth class of Juris Doctor graduates.
First, we hosted our annual Blanket Ceremony, where graduates travel along a cedar pathway to be wrapped in keepsake blankets by chosen loved ones to mark this momentus point in their journey. Miigwetch to Robin, Celina, Sharlene, and Jeordi for leading this year’s ceremony.
After a luncheon which included some traditional feast offerings, we held our graduation event in the Paterson Auditorium where the class received their IPC Letters from Dean Hughes. We extend heartfelt thanks to all who delivered speeches and words of wisdom to the graduates, and special gratitude to Justice Stephen J. Wojciechowski for his Keynote address at the gathering.
The day concluded with a reception bursting with proud family, friends, staff, faculty, and graduates. Congratulations, Class of 2024!
