Beth Bilson, QC, receives 2010 CBA Cecilia I. Johnstone Award

NIAGARA – Beth Bilson, QC, of Saskatoon, Professor of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, has won the 2010 CBA Cecilia I. Johnstone Award in recognition of her outstanding work for the advancement of women in the legal profession.

“Beth is an outstanding leader in the law who has made profound contributions to the advancement of women in law in Canada, both as the first female dean at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law from 1999 to 2002 and as a law professor mentoring and educating the next generation of lawyers,” said Patricia C. Lane, National Chair of the CBA Women Lawyers Forum. “Beth’s tireless advocacy of issues relevant to women in law including pay equity and gender equity and the many accomplishments she has achieved on those fronts make her an exceptional choice for this year’s award.”

Prof. Bilson has been a member of the faculty of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan since 1979, teaching and writing in the areas of torts, labour and administrative law, and legal history. Since 2006, she has been editor of the Canadian Bar Review.

Prof. Bilson acts as a labour arbitrator. For five years she served as Chair of the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board. She is currently a deputy chair of the discipline committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

Prof. Bilson was appointed in 2000 as chair of a federal task force on pay equity, which reported in 2004 with recommendations for how federal pay equity provisions can be improved. She currently chairs the CBA’s Standing Committee on Equity and the Equity Committee of the CBA’s Saskatchewan Branch.

An important CBA equity objective was achieved in December 2009 when the federal government changed the Employment Insurance Act to extend Employment Insurance maternity and parental leave benefits to self-employed persons.

Prof. Bilson has degrees in law and history from the University of Saskatchewan and a doctoral degree in law from the University of London. She was awarded the designation of Queen’s Counsel for Saskatchewan in 2000.

The Cecilia I. Johnstone Award was established in 2007 to recognize women who have achieved professional excellence in their field and influenced other women to pursue legal careers, supported other women in career advancement, or opened doors for women lawyers. It is named to honour Cecilia Johnstone, an outstanding lawyer, judge, and CBA President who passed away in 2006.

The Award will be presented at the Women Lawyers Forum Reception at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, in the Elizabeth Room of the Crowne Plaza. The reception is held in conjunction with the CBA 2010 Canadian Legal Conference and Expo in Niagara from August 15-17. The event is open to accredited journalists who have registered with the CBA Media Centre. Please contact Hannah Bernstein for accreditation.

The Canadian Bar Association is dedicated to support for the rule of law, and 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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MEDIA CONTACT:

Hannah Bernstein
The Canadian Bar Association
Aug. 13-17: 905-374-4646
E-mail: hannahb@cba.org