Faculty of Law Newsletter - Spring/Summer, 2023

Faculty of LAW NEWSLETTER

SPRING\SUMMER,2023

The feeling of support and connectedness that comes from thriving together

What are the big things we takeaway from law school? This was the question our graduates reflected on at this year’s blanket ceremony. As a law professor, I might have hoped it would be the finer points of jurisprudence, but the answer is clear: it’s the feeling of support and connectedness that comes from thriving together in the great pressure cooker their legal education. As we went around the circle, student after student commented on how their accomplishments flowed from their camaraderie and friendship that had stood the test of three years of studying together. We had so many people participating that we had to move the ceremony from the Restorative Justice room back to the gym, for the first time since the pandemic. It was wonderful to celebrate the class of 2023 in this way. This year’s ceremony also

featured new blankets, with a beautiful design by local artist Jessica Mamakeesick which truly captures the spirit of our Faculty of Law. The small class sizes, the open doors, the attention to Indigenous teachings, the connection to the North and the commitment to access to legal education all shone through.

Jula Hughes, Dean

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Anishinawbe OmaaMinowaywin Circle Spotlight

May is Leave a Legacy Month

Anyone with assets should have a Will to:

• protect your family and your estate

• minimize taxes

• establish a legacy and safeguard future generations

A gift in your Will to Lakehead University can:

• CHANGE LIVES

• remove barriers to a post-secondary education

• sustain important programs and initiatives

Arthur Huminuk, Justice Director, Grand Council Treaty #3

For more information contact Jennifer McKeown T: (807) 343-8010 Ext. 7792 | E: jennifer.mckeown@lakeheadu.ca

The support I received through the estate of Florence Shuttleworth-Higgins has allowed me to focus more on my studies, bringing me closer to my career goals and dreams.”

All requests remain confidential with no obligation. lakeheadu.ca/ legacy

Arthurhas been a valuable member of our AOM since 2019. He has worked as the Grand Council Treaty #3 Justice Director for fifteen years, supervising and developing Community Justice Programs. In this position, he has worked with community leadership, Elders, court, policing, probations, family services and other community systems developing justice initiatives within the Treaty #3 territory. Prior to working with Grand Council Treaty #3, he was the Treatment Foster Care Coordinator at the Weechi-It-te-Win Family Services where he developed the treatment foster care program, facilitated sharing and healing circles, and provided training to foster parents working with high needs youth. He also sits on committees that work toward a healing path for community members such as: Advisory table to the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Ontario; Advisory circles to Provincial OPP table and the North West OPP advisory table, Treaty Three Police negotiation group, Chiefs of Ontario working groups for the Prosecution of First Nation By-laws and development of Traditional Justice, Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee and other Court and Corrections working groups.

Arthur's involvement in Restorative Justice and Alternative Dispute Resolution models commenced in 1995 while employed at West Region Tribal Child and Family Services in Manitoba. He served as Treatment Center Manager for adolescent offenders and became a facilitator and trainer in Restorative Justice models and spent two years as Child Abuse Investigator.

On his off time, he is a father of four, grandfather of five granddaughters and spends his time with his soul mate, Monika. Living in Kenora, the region provides a natural playground for all of them to enjoy recreation and nature in all seasons.

Arthur’s background and experience, as well as his presence at other faculty events, are very much appreciated and his vital input at our meetings have assisted in guiding our faculty and students in creating important and relevant programming.  In our winter term, Arthur offered our second-year students the opportunity to participate in a Gladue Workshop in Dryden, ON. The students loved it so much, this year we have a Gladue course incorporated into our curriculum. We look forward to continuing to work with Arthur and Grand Council Treaty #3!

A GIFT IN YOUR WILL. SOMETHING YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL BE PROUD OF.

MARINDA TRAN, Bachelor of Arts, Recipient of the Florence Higgins Music Scholarship

Faculty Highlights

Congratulations to Dr. Ezeudu for his Best Conference Paper Award

Dr. Martin-Joe Ezeudu was one of two Canadian scholars to attend the 9th International Conference on CSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance, held at the University of Cantabria in Santander, Spain, from June 14-16, 2023. The annual multidisciplinary conference had in attendance nearly 60 scholars from 19 different countries.

Dr. Ezeudu presented his recent work titled: “Reflections on the Corporate Social Responsibility Landscape for Canadian Mining Transnational Corporations in the Aftermath of Nevsun Resources Ltd. v. Araya ”. The paper examines the extent to which, if at

Phil Lord

Prof. Phil Lord wrote this article: https://illinoislawreview. org/online/trumping-dobbs/

He also presented at the following conferences:

all, Canadian mining transnational corporations could be influenced to change their corporate social responsibility stances, following the landmark decision of the Supreme

Court of Canada in Nevsun Resources Ltd. v. Araya. The Araya decision settled as a concrete position of law, the right of action in Canada by foreign victims of human rights abuse in the hands of Canadian mining corporations, thus introducing legal responsibility into a sphere previously governed only by corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The presentation of the paper was one of the electrifying moments at the conference, thanks to its topical and captivating nature as well as the presentation style. Unsurprisingly, it received the best paper award in the business and society category. Also, the paper has been accepted for publication by the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law. Congratulations, Dr. Ezeudu!

1. “From the ‘Cult Watchers’ to the ‘Anti-Cult Wars’: Tracing the Path to Rich and Rigorous Scientology Research” presented at the Harvard Divinity School Annual Evolution of Spirituality Conference (Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities)

2. "Moral Panic and the War on Drugs" presented at the Critical Perspectives: Criminology and Social Justice 12th National Conference

3. “Cultivating Humility” presented at the Canadian Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference

4. "The Return of Postal Banking" presented at the Canadian Law and Society Association Annual Conference

5. "From the ‘Cult Watchers’ to the ‘Anti-Cult Wars’: Tracing the Path to Rich and Rigorous Scientology Research" presented at the International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference

6. Par ticipated in a Panel on Religious Fraud (with Prof. Stephen Kent and Dr. Maryam Razavy) at the International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference

He also received two summer research grants from Mitacs and a grant from SSHRC.

Wendy Parkes

Professor Parkes participated in two Canadian Bar Association conferences held in Ottawa in May. She organized and moderated panels at each event. At the CBA National Environmental, Energy and Resources Section Conference, her panel was entitled: Ethics and Environmental (In)Justice in Canada. Panelists were Elizabeth May, M.P. and Leader of the Green Party, Richard Lindgren, Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association, and Dr. Elaine MacDonald, Advisor, EcoJustice. At the CBA Aboriginal Law Section Conference, she moderated the panel on “Case Law Update”. The panelists were David Morgan, Partner, Conway Litigation, Ottawa , and Alyssa Flaherty-Spence, Associate, Gowling WLG, Ottawa.

Caption: Wendy Parkes and panelists at the CBA National Environmental, Energy and Resources Section Conference.

Daniel Cox was called to the Ontario bar in 2020. Prior to graduating from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law in Thunder Bay, Daniel completed degrees in mathematics, statistics, and psychology, earning himself the Dean’s Scholar Award for his studies in mathematics and the Vice Chancellor’s Medal for his studies in psychology. At law school, Daniel competed in both the Wilson Moot in constitutional law and the Walsh Negotiation moot in family law. He completed his Integrated Practice Curriculum placement with Atwood Labine LLP in his third year of law school before going on to clerk for the Northwest region of the Superior Court of Justice. Daniel returned to Atwood Labine LLP in the Summer of 2021, following the completion of his clerkship.

INDIGENOUS RELATIONS UPDATE

Ithas been a busy semester in the Office of Indigenous Relations and the Indigenous Law & Justice Institute. In January, we hosted our biennial Indigenous Law Conference, Languages, Land and Sovereignties: Revitalizing Indigenous Legal Orders, as well as a successful launch event

for the Mino-waabandan Inaakonigewinan Indigenous Law & Justice Institute where we unveiled the new logo (designed by Ryan Pooman) and new name (gifted by Ron Linklater). In February, we attended the Career & Undergraduate Exploration Day hosted by the Lakehead University (LU) Achievement Program, the Community Research Methods for Revitalizing Indigenous Laws Training hosted by the Wahkohtowin Law & Governance Lodge in Enoch Cree Nation, and we presented at the High School Guidance Counsellors Breakfast hosted by the LU Office of Indigenous Initiatives. In March, we attended the Kawaskimhon Moot hosted by the University of Victoria, the 2nd Annual National Indigenous Citizenship Forum hosted by the First Nations University of Canada, we presented at the Best Practices in Education Forum hosted by Nishnawbe Aski Nation, we attended ILSA’s End-of-Year Celebration Feast, and we hosted our own Community Research workshop for the Institute, Increasing Knowledge, Awareness and Understanding of the Recognition of Indigenous Laws & Legal Traditions: Walking the Shared Path Together.

April was by far the highlight of my semester. Not only did we attend Preview Day at LU, as well as an important networking meeting with Toronto Metropolitan University

Daniel is a member of the Thunder Bay Law Association, the Criminal Lawyer’s Association, and The Advocates’ Society. He has served as one of the coaches for the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law’s Wilson Moot and is currently working towards the completion of his LLM at the University of Toronto. This fall he will be teaching Criminal Law to 1Ls, and Aboriginal Law to the 2Ls. Welcome back, Daniel!

while harvesting maple sap at Fort William First Nation, but Brandon Chevrier has joined our team as the new Indigenous Relations Coordinator on a one-year contract. His position was made possible by a grant through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. In May, we hosted a Lunch & Learn at Superior Collegiate & Vocational Institute with one of our alumni, we paid a visit to check the suitability of the Kingfisher Outdoor Education Centre as a site for our land-based learning activities, and we participated in the 4th Annual Hide Tanning Camp hosted by Fort William First Nation.

Lastly, in June we hosted our annual High School Law Day for students from Matawa Education & Care Centre, Superior CVI, and St. Ignatius, as well as a full day of graduation events, including a Sunrise Ceremony, Blanket Ceremony, Traditional Feast, and Graduation Ceremony. Over the summer, we are working on enhancing our events planned for the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation through additional funding provided by Canadian Heritage, and we are finalizing plans to deliver our 2nd Law Camp (integrated with Orientation and the Foundations of Law course) to the entire incoming Class of 2026.

The Faculty of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Cox, who joins the Faculty as a limited-term appointment (and also as an alum of our law program!)

High school students preparing tobacco ties and enjoying a game of double ball during the annual High School Law Day

A Look Back at the Name & Logo Launch for the Law and Justice Insititute

In the days prior to hosting our biennial Indigenous Law Conference, we were thrilled to unveil the new Anishnaabemowin name of the Indigenous Law and Justice Institute and a new logo at a ceremony in the John N. Paterson Auditorium. The new name, Mino-Waabandan Inaakonigewinan, means “seeing the law in a good way.”

Elder Ron Linklater bestowed the new name on the Institute during a naming ceremony at Bora Laskin’s inaugural summer land-based learning camp in August 2022. Designed by local Anishinaabe artist Ryan Pooman, the new logo is a Thunderbird. The logo represents power, protection, and strength – qualities associated with vision and leadership that will guide the Institute.

Both the name and logo reflect the important work the Institute is doing with communities to revitalize Indigenous laws and legal orders. Current and future projects include hosting our biennial Indigenous Law Conference, expanding our land-based learning camp, building our resource library, and supporting student and faculty research, with the support of the Department of Justice and the Law Foundation of Ontario.

Our Biennial Indigenous Law Conference

TheBora Laskin Faculty of Law, together with the Mino-Waabandan Inaakonigewinan Indigenous Law and Justice Institute, were pleased to present our biennial conference titled, “Languages, Land, and Sovereignties: Revitalizing Indigenous Legal Orders” in the winter term. We welcomed students from Ontario and other parts of Canada for a remarkable few days of discussion, learning, and camaraderie. Special thanks to the organizing committee, presenters, and all who made the days’ events a success.

Highlights included an opening “Coffee and Conversations” with Keynote Speaker The Honourable Patricia Hennessy who engaged in an insightful dialogue with Prof. Tenille Brown about Restoule v. Canada, and a Keynote address by The Honourable Evelyn Baxter who shared her experiences with practice in the North, with Gladue, and the role of Anishinaabe tradition and ceremony in her legal career and in her courtroom.

Panels explored timely topics related to languages, landbased learning, and self-governance and spurred many discussions which continued into the evening at the closing feast and social, which ended with all in attendance dancing to the beat of the Longlac Youth drum group.

Student Services Update

Another year done and it was a great one! After a busy fall semester that had Student Services assisting new 1L students getting settled, helping 2L students navigate an incredibly difficult workload (IPC assignments galore!) and supporting 3Ls during Practice Placement, we kicked of the winter semester with our annual Professional Networking Event . We were so pleased to invite all law students and the Thunder Bay legal community to our event after a twoyear hiatus due to Covid. Given the fantastic turnout from students and lawyers alike, it was clear that everyone was excited to socialize and network again. A huge thank you to everyone who participated to make this event a successful one. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to seeing everyone again in January 2024!

As many of you know, the Professional Networking Event is just one of the career development programs that Student Services hosts for law students. In addition to this event, we present yearly to students on resume and cover letter writing and on interviewing for law jobs. Student Services continues to provide one-on-one resume and cover letter support throughout the academic year and summer. We hope employers feel that they are receiving quality applications from our students, whether it is for employment or Practice Placement positions.

In an effort to stay connected with our students and to remind them that there is always time to take a “break” from law school, Student Services held regular monthly coffee houses. Taking place in the morning before the start of class, we brought in coffee and donuts and encouraged students to relax and visit in an informal setting (our hallway!). These

Visiting students and local ILSA members were invited to participate in a private student workshop on Saturday morning, facilitated by Prof. Larissa Speak and Daniel Cox, with the intent to reflect on the conference sessions and consider ways to bring the knowledge back to their schools.

coffee houses were consistently well attended and the Student Service team always looked forward to checking in with our students over a hot cup of coffee.

This summer, we saw many of our students placed in various internships. Covering a wide range of areas of law and employment environments, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Attorney General’s Indigenous Law Division and the Law Foundation of Ontario, we placed eight students throughout the province. From Nokiiwin Tribal Council, to Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic to the Canadian Environmental Law Association, our students are gaining valuable experience in our mandate areas and providing access to justice. Bora Laskin has also teamed up with the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) for the fourth year in a row, to hire our students for the Student Scholar Fellowship Program. We currently have two students working with LCO lawyers on cutting edge research that contributes to law reform in areas such as consumer protection, AI and the justice system, and environmental accountability.

Finally, looking ahead to the future, we are so excited to meet our incoming 1L class! We had a great turn out for our hybrid Welcome Day event in February, and hosted some future students in our beautiful building for a tour and reception. We look forward to meeting the entire class in September, kicking off the year with two weeks of fun-filled and informational orientation events.

See you in the Fall!

Hope Buset, Student Services Director & Anya Scheibmayr, Student Services Advisor

TERM AT A GLANCE

After a brief hiatus (thanks, Covid), our annual Professional Networking event was back on January 19th. Students, faculty, and staff were invited to join members of the TBLA in our Paterson Auditorium for an opportunity to hone their networking skills, make connections, and start some great conversations. Special thanks to the TBLA for their generous sponsorship, and for the large number of attendees who are always supportive of our students and program.

The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law was pleased to host a presentation of the Harold G. Fox Distinguished Lecture Series, featuring Michael Pal (B.A., M.A., J.D., LL.M., S.J.D.) with a discussion examining "Could it Happen Here? Canada and the Crisis of Global Democracy". It was an evening of compelling and thoughtful discussion, made possible by the Harold G. Fox Education Fund.

In May, Sarah (SISE Manager), Robin (Indigenous Relations Director), Larissa (Assistant Professor), and Hope (Student Services Director) travelled to Fort Frances and Kenora to present to high school students, and also host open house events with local lawyers, alumni, and community partners. Thank you to both communities for welcoming us! It was great to be able to meet people in person, provide some updates about our program, and hear feedback about how we can best support the region.

At the end of January, the LSS hosted their annual law ball at The Chanterelle. It may have been frigid outside, but an “enchanted garden” sprung to life indoors. Thank you to the LSS for kicking off 2023 on a great note!

The halls are alive with the sounds of IPCs! It is so nice to be fully returned to the classroom for our experiential exercises, like the 1L Criminal sentencing submissionsspecial thanks to our alumni “judges” for overseeing the proceedings!

Our Law Librarian Courtney, and library technician Domonique, treated the student library workers to a “chocolate bunny citation hunt”. Student workers could choose a post-it with a citation, and if they found the correct reporter/statute that citation directed them to, there was a bunny hidden behind it. Yum!

Les Franco-Laskinois.e.s is an informal group of French-speaking students which meets once a week. The group is aiming to gain official status during the 2023-2024 academic year, and saying “bienvenue” to new members! (l to r: Cassandra Spade, Natasha Latina, Shaun Malley, Alexandra Bula-Banner, Katherine Orfali) submitted by Shaun M

The Cal Duthie Cup Hockey game between the Bora Laskin Students and Thunder Bay Law Association took place on Friday March 24th. The Lawyers took home the Cup defeating the students 5-3. It was the first return of the annual game since pre-COVID. The event was put on collaboratively by the TBLA and the Sports Law Club submitted by Jeff J

On June 6th, we welcomed the Grade 11 and 12 law classes from St. Ignatius. After a program presentation, some of the students argued “R. v. Gomer” - the case they previously argued during the local OBA / OJEN mock trials. Special thanks to “Junior Justices” Emmaleigh and Aundrea, incoming 2Ls currently working in the Clinic who presided over the trial, and to all whio made this unique, collaborative day possible!

Congratulations to our Class of 2023!

We first celebrated our Class of 2023 on May 25th, when some of our newest graduates attended Lakehead’s Convocation ceremonies. Special thanks to honorary degree recipient Hon. Marion R. Buller, C.M. for her words of wisdom during the morning’s ceremony.

On Friday, June 16th, we held a wonderful day of celebrations here at the Faculty of Law - we can hardly believe the eighth class of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law has graduated! We began the day with a beautiful Sunrise Ceremony at the waterfront Spirit Garden, led by Elder Sam Achneepineskum. Next, we held our largest-ever Blanket Ceremony, where graduates travelled along a cedar pathway and were wrapped in a blanket by chosen loved ones to recognize this pivotal step in their life’s journey. Miigwetch to Celina, Lara, and Ma-Nee for leading the ceremony, and to local artist Jessica Mamakeesick for her talents in creating the new artwork which adorned the blankets. The image truly captures our mandate areas and our law school’s identity: the feather is in the shape of Nanaboozhoo (the Sleeping Giant) and is especially important to our students, visible right from our building. The circle shape is important to Indigenous cultures and speaks to continuity, community, balance, and unity – all important to our law school identity. The floral pattern of the circle readily connects to our Environmental Law & Natural Resources mandate, as does the blue sky above and water below.

After a noon hour Feast, we held our Graduation event in the Paterson Auditorium. Graduates received their IPC letters, and heard speeches from many who are part of the BLFL community. Special thanks to Dr. Delores V. Mullings; VP of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism, who delivered the Keynote address to the class. The day ended with a joyous reception which filled the halls of the law school. Congratulations, Class of 2023!

LUCLS – Excelling at Community Service and Legal Advocacy

Our clinic students are fortunate to have experienced and professional Review Counsel to learn from. Having dedicated mentors like Joanna Goldenberg, Amy Parker and Mike Maher who can provide guidance, share their expertise, and offer support is invaluable for students. The impact of their mentorship is evident in the twenty (20) students (2x3L’s and 18x2L’s) that took part in the Clinical Legal Education course with Lakehead University Community Legal Services (LUCLS) during the 2022-23 academic year. These 2022-23 student caseworkers* worked tremendously hard for their clients and by the end of the six-month period ending March 31, 2023, had saved their Criminal and Provincial Offences clients over $15,000 along with having numerous fines reduced and charges withdrawn or dismissed. Our students that specialized in the civil areas of law (landlord and tenant matters, employment matters and Small Claims Court) were successful in obtaining awards of over $32,000 for their clients through settlements and court orders. Thank you to all our 2022-23 student caseworkers for your dedication and compassion in serving the community! We wish our graduating students, Merritt Baker and Kathleen Judd, nothing but the best as they now pursue their legal careers.

Clinic work continues to be busy for our nine full-time summer students. Our six summer student caseworkers are being led by 3L students Liz Hawker and Kaylee Swearengen, both of whom were in our clinical course in their 2L year, with Kaylee also having spent the summer of 2022 in the role of Legal Advocate (LAD). Collectively, Liz, Kaylee along with 2L summer students Francine McKenzie, Alvin Pringle, Stefanie Bernier, and Ethan Quan have made 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 Aundrea Thompson and Emmaleigh Dew as our 2023 summer LADs. Aundrea and Emma’s roles focus on community outreach and engagement. They have organized, led, and assisted with several ID clinics and helped over one hundred vulnerable individuals apply for birth certificates in Thunder Bay, Fort William First Nation and in Pikangikum. They also provided public legal education sessions to different organizations in the district including Lakehead University Indigenous Students’ Association, Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board, Cyber Seniors and Our Kids Count.

Lastly, we are so grateful that 2L student Jacob Eggett joined our team for the summer as a Legal Administrative Assistant. Jacob is learning the ins and outs of how the administrative side of a law office works from our fabulous administrative assistants, Tuula and Nidhi. It is truly inspiring to see all our clinic students dedicate themselves to providing legal services and advancing access to justice in our community. Developing skills and compassion in this field is crucial for a successful career in law. LUCLS’ students are setting themselves up for success and making a positive impact on society!

Rodi-Lynn Rusnick-Kinisky Director, Lakehead University Community Legal Services

*2022-23 student caseworkers: Alexis Fyke, Ally Buso, Cady Dreger, Charlotte Bueckert-Dyck, Dawson Somerville, Elizabeth Hawker, Frederic Diebel, Helen Baxter, Jane van Moorsel, Kathleen Judd, Kaylee Swearengen, Lauren Webster, Manon Iwasiw, Matthew Jollineau, Matthew Suchan, Merritt Baker, Mina Eskaroos, Mitchell Coulter, Simon Cope, Zachary D’Amico, David Baxter, Samantha Sawyer.

Newcomer Legal Clinic

The Newcomer Legal Clinic has had a great start to the summer. We welcomed our full-time summer students, Mina Eskaroos and Charlotte Bueckert-Dyck, who are with us from May to August. We are also grateful to have Bianca Espinoza working with us as a practicum student from Lakehead's Master's in Social Justice program. We continue to partner with The Neighbourhood Organization in Toronto to offer services specifically to temporary foreign workers, and with the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association to offer services to any eligible Northwestern Ontario residents with immigration and refugee legal questions.

Canada's immigration and refugee policy has been changing at a rapid pace. We see the impact of the changes on our clients, members of the community, and the demand for our services. Canada is on track to admit 500,000 new permanent residents per year for the next several years. Global conflicts and instability continue to force people around the globe into refugee situations, more and more of whom are resettling in Thunder Bay thanks to the support of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association. Refugee claimants living in Thunder Bay work in essential jobs while waiting for their claims to be determined. Thunder Bay's Rural and

Thank you to the 2022-23 LSS Team!

Many thanks for all your hard work this past year, as you collaborated with staff and faculty while also advocating for the student body. Thank you to outgoing President, Nic LeBlanc, for his efforts. A round of applause also goes out to the Vice Presidents & Directors for the 2022-23 Academic Year:

VP Academic: Matt Suchan

VP Communications: Cady Dreger

VP Equity: Nahal Golmohammadi

VP External: Hannah Smith

VP Finance: Dawson Somerville

VP Fundraising: Dylan Challinor

VP Operations: Jen Kasowski

VP Health & Wellness: Morgan Connor

Directors of 1L Issues: Megan Domski and Kaitee Lawson-Rimmer

Directors of 2L Issues: Brittany McQueen and Bennet Dawson

Directors of 3L Issues: Mina Moser and Rosalyn Skiffington

Director of Northern and Rural Issues: Shane Pringle

Director of Indigenous Issues: Gabrielle Compeau

Northern Immigration Pilot program has been attracting large numbers of migrants to settle and make their home in our region.

Our clinic remains the only free legal clinic for immigration and refugee law in Northwestern Ontario. We have learned through our clinic's work that immigration and refugee legal advice and support is an important part of settlement in a new country and community. We help the growing population of newcomers to navigate complex immigration rules and processes, to reunite with family members, to stay in status, and to progress from temporary status to permanent status to citizenship. We help service providers and newcomers to learn more about immigration rules. We teach future lawyers to offer legal services that are relevant to newcomers, and to serve clients from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Our students and staff have had a great time getting out into the community at public legal education events and at drop-in legal advice sessions. We hold regular monthly drop-in sessions for temporary foreign workers and a separate drop-in at the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association just for refugees. To follow our work and get notified about events, please subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3HiMuCq

Message from Incoming LSS President Laura Ogden to the Class of 2026

On behalf of the Law Students' Society, I would like to welcome you to Bora Laskin! It is a massive achievement to get into law school and we are so glad you chose to come here. Our hope is that you will quickly realize that we are a different law school than what you imagined. This is a true community which is full of people who are invested in your success. We compete to become the best versions of ourselves here and not against our peers. The staff and faculty are approachable, they know your name and they want to help you. The LSS is here for you, to make this experience as enjoyable as possible and support you throughout your 3 years. You've joined an incredible community and this is only the beginning!! We are looking forward to getting to know you.

Upcoming Events

Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy Conference

The Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy is pleased to present its 7th conference, "Recentering Food Law and Policy: Connecting People and Place". The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law will play host to the event, taking place November 2-4, 2023 here in Thunder Bay.

"For our 7th Canadian Association for Food Law and Policy conference – and the first above the 45th parallel – we will explore questions of interconnectedness in food systems. We will do so by decentering and recentering ourselves. More specifically, we will explore how interconnections may be experienced differently when examined from different perspectives and vantage points. For example, what can we learn about the state of our food systems and our modes of governance by foregrounding northern, rural, remote and Indigenous communities in our analysis? How can a deeper understanding of Indigenous food systems, laws and governance as well as their relationship to Canadian law inform our work? How do our relationships with the natural environment impact food systems, and conversely how do our relationships with food impact the natural environment?"

For more information about CAFLP and the upcoming conference, please visit foodlaw.ca/conference-2023