For Immediate Release
April 13, 2007
OTTAWA – Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson is marking the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on April 17, at CBA’s Law Day celebrations, involving more than 600 Ottawa area high school students.
“On Law Day, the Canadian Bar Association offers students a unique opportunity to learn about the law and the Canadian legal system from judges and lawyers rather than textbooks,” says CBA President J. Parker MacCarthy, Q.C. of Duncan, B.C. “The Minister’s participation in this historic anniversary will further highlight the experience for the students, as they pursue their studies and consider careers in law.”
The Minister’s address to the students, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the auditorium of the Ottawa Adult High School, 300 Rochester Street, follows a busy morning of activities for the students, that begins with a mock trial presentation. The case focuses on issues surrounding bullying, weapons, and Internet privacy for high school students. The scene will be set in a dramatization by a group of drama students from Immaculata High School under the direction of teacher Laura Hache.
“Through this case, students learn the hard way about the consequences of posting private information and photographs on the Internet,” says Susheel Gupta, Counsel for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and one of the organizers of the event.
Ottawa lawyers and a judge will participate in the mock trial, along with the drama students. Provincial Crown Kevin Phillips, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, will face off against defence counsel James Foord, Foord & Murray. Justice Ann Alder of the Ontario Court of Justice will be the judge, and Susheel Gupta will act as court clerk.
The mock trial will be followed by a career panel aimed at helping students focus on their future as they make career decisions. This year’s panel includes: Provincial Crown Kevin Phillips, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario; James Foord, Foord & Murray; Justice Ann Alder of the Ontario Court of Justice; CBA President J. Parker MacCarthy; Rod Olfert, social worker/counsellor at the Rideauwood Treatment Centre; County of Carleton Law Association President Richard Moore, mediator.
Law Day events on April 17 take place at the Ottawa Adult High School, 300 Rochester Street, in the auditorium, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The Minister of Justice is scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m.
Ottawa Law Day activities are coordinated by a committee with members from the Canadian Bar Association, Justice Canada, the County of Carleton Law Association, l’Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board.
The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to improvement in the law and the administration of justice. Some 37,000 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.
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CONTACT: Hannah Bernstein, The Canadian Bar Association, Tel: (613) 237-2925 ext. 146; E-mail: hannahb@cba.org
