MS Society Lauds VLAP Volunteer Lawyers
The Multiple Sclerosis Socety’s Volunteer Legal Advocacy Program (VLAP) has been in successful operation since January 2002 due to the dedication of the many lawyers who have donated their time and expertise to the organization. The MS Society’s VLAP extends its deepest appreciation to these individuals in recognition of their efforts to help people living with multiple sclerosis have access to justice and equality: Vaughan Allin; Kenneth Armstrong; Jo Ann Carmichael; Dick Chan; Seema Chaskar; David Christian; Vicki Easingwood; Del Elgersma; John Grover; Susan Hughes-Hart; Michael Johnson; Gordon Kopelow; Tim Louis; Kirsten Madsen; Edward Ng, Kathleen Packard; Elaine Reynolds; Alan Ross; and Shawn Smith.

Davis and Company has shown continued support and commitment to VLAP. This collaborative relationship has made a huge difference in the lives of people with multiple sclerosis.

VLAP also recognizes the Law Foundation of B.C. for its generous funding.

For more information or to volunteer for VLAP, please contact Adrianne Boothroyd at 604-602-3204 (adrianne.boothroyd@mssociety.ca).


Pivot Wins Praise for Non-Profit Work
The Pivot Legal Society and nurse Megan Oleson are the joint Canadian recipients of the 2004 Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights presented by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Pivot, a non-profit society, focuses on legal and human-rights issues in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. "Pivot's brave and tireless work has helped to empower the most marginalized drug users in British Columbia," said Joanne Csete, Program Director for Human Rights Watch's HIV/AIDS. "It has also forced both city and provincial authorities to grapple more seriously than ever with police harassment and due-process violations against drug users and sex-trade workers."

Ms. Oleson and Pivot lawyer John Richardson were especially praised for their work by Ann Livingston, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU).

These articles were published in the October 2004 issue of BarTalk. © 2004 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.