President's Message: Building Bridges Toward Better

When I took the reins as president last September, I hoped I would be able to say when my term winds down that I had:

• Connected with lawyers and students across the province in a meaningful way;
• Helped foster respectful and civil discourse about hard issues that impact our members both in practice and beyond;
• and Continued the positive engagement we have with our justice sector partners like MAG and the courts as we work to move closer to full modernization of the justice system.

A year later, I’m proud to proclaim progress on all those fronts and to share some highlights from a most productive year.

Meaningful Connection

I am continually impressed by how the OBA manages to connect members so meaningfully and memorably.

• Our cultural events – like our Blocko and Diwali celebrations – bring people together to be inspired by the trails their peers and leaders in the profession are blazing. In the lighthearted camaraderie, guests never lose sight of the significance behind the celebration, the importance of community, or the continued need to come together, with shared purpose, understanding and curiosity.
• This year we hosted NCA and law student gatherings – as well as Mock Trials for high school students – that, for many, are their first interaction with the OBA. Our amazing staff and volunteer speakers ensure that students are left with a positive impression of a welcoming association and profession.
• I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary impact of our MentorMeals, where students and young lawyers connect with established practitioners in their community through relaxed conversation over an enticing meal at a local restaurant.

Constructive, Compassionate Conversation on Challenging Topics

When it comes to fostering vital discourse around difficult issues, I recall:

• The bravery of the lawyers who participated in the OBA’s Author Series Event on The Right Not to Remain Silent, revealing their very personal, often painful, stories of mental health struggles, which emboldened attendees to ask questions of real consequence to tackle the complex mental health challenges lawyers contend with;
• The intimate and expertly facilitated OBA Diversity Dialogues that have proven a powerful tool for breaking stigma and building solutions – driving change at the professional, organizational and personal level;
• Our landmark Notwithstanding Clause Education & Policy Summit, where discussion around this controversial topic was reasoned, nuanced and respectful – and ultimately uncovered common ground and engendered ideas about guidelines for the use of Section 33 of the Charter; and
• The recent Bridging Borders event, a joint presentation of the OBA, CBA, and CBA In-house Lawyers, held during the American Bar Association Annual Meeting, where I not only had the opportunity to moderate a compelling panel discussion on Responding to Polarization and Overcoming Division but had the honour of presenting the OBA President’s Award to ABA President Bill Bay in recognition of the work of the ABA and all U.S. lawyers who have protected the rule of law for people in the United States and, ultimately, for all of us. (Stay tuned for details of an OBA public information series designed to help Ontarians understand what the rule of law means to their lives and how they can help protect it.)

Advocacy and Engagement

The OBA has long been a leader in critical advocacy, collaboration and exchange around justice-sector modernization. Milestone achievements we delivered this year included the OBA Civil Rules Review Taskforce’s exhaustive review of the Phase 2 Consultation Paper and its comprehensive, multi-sectional response the OBA submitted, as well as our first Civil Litigation Leaders Summit, which brought together representatives from all 10 provinces and National to discuss civil reforms and developments across jurisdictions  – a constructive forum for litigation leaders to learn from each other’s experience and begin to build a pan-Canadian approach on common issues like the disruption of AI in the sector.

In launching my mandate, I expressed concern that widespread polarization was threatening a legal profession that had previously bridged perceived divisions and come together so ably to address issues of importance to the advancement of justice. The idea that entrenchment or withdrawal would derail essential discourse was alarming. But this community once again came through – engaging, informing, advising and supporting. Without your participation, we would not have had the success we did in providing new value and vital connection to our members in an uncertain, ever-changing climate where lawyer skill and sensibility could not be more crucial. Your enthusiasm for my mandate demonstrated to me that the legal community has a deep desire to find our way to discourse over division. It is a path that I and the OBA are committed to continuing along and I do hope you will join us.