Black History Month: Supporting Black Youth Representation in the Legal Profession
Aird & Berlis is proud to continue
its support of Black History Month by hosting a special complimentary program
on March 2, 2023, “ Black Voices
(In)Justice: Supporting Black Youth Representation in the Legal Profession.” This programming is
open to the public and is being held in partnership with the Ontario Heritage
Trust (OHT).
During this informative and engaging
session, law students, law educators, lawyers and legal sector representatives
will discuss the profound impact Mary Ann Shadd Cary had on the fight for
equality. Presenters will also examine diversity in the legal sector from
historical and contemporary perspectives.
Joining the March 2 program is the
Honourable Michael H. Tulloch, who was recently appointed as the Chief Justice
of Ontario. Chief Justice Tulloch has been a judge since 2003 and is the author
of two influential reports on policing in Ontario: the Report of the
Independent Police Oversight Review (2017) and the Report of the Independent
Street Checks Review (2018). Chief Justice Tulloch has also dedicated time to
helping Canadian youth for many years, co-founding the Second Chance
Scholarship Foundation, which assists youth re-entering the education system by
providing support for change and academic success.
This event builds on previous
programming co-produced by Aird & Berlis and the OHT. In 2021, Aird &
Berlis sponsored a virtual tour of the Josiah Henson Museum of
African-Canadian History. The museum is one of Canada’s most significant sites
related to Black history and the underground railroad.
This year’s programming will examine how
mentorship and Black representation are so important for Black youth seeking careers
in the legal sector. Aird & McBurney Patent Agent, Pia-Lauren Reece, will
lead a panel discussion which includes Aird & Berlis’ Chauntae De Gannes, a
third-year summer law student and Mark Omenugha, an articling student. Sarah
Coderre, Partner and Co-Founder of Bow River Law will also join the panel.
“Without a doubt, you do not get to where you want to be unless you receive help from those that are at least a little further in their careers than you are,” says Reece. “It is my hope that this session will give students wishing to enter the legal profession a better idea of the opportunities available to them even before they get into law school, knowledge which can pave the way for improving the BIPOC underrepresentation issue we are currently facing in Canada.”
The
program has already amassed more than 1,000 registrants from across Canada. It is
open to the public and of significant interest to high school and university
educators, students seeking learning and development opportunities, and those
working in the legal sector. For anyone who would like more information
regarding Black Voices (In)Justice: Supporting Black Youth Representation in
the Legal Profession, click here.
