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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 25, 2009
OTTAWA – Winnipeg’s Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D., has received the nod for the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) 2009 President’s Award. The Award recognizes the significant contribution of a Canadian jurist to the legal profession, to the CBA or to the public life of Canada.
“In Gail’s case, we are paying tribute to a Canadian lawyer who has made an outstanding contribution to public life in Canada, particularly her contribution to the promotion of human rights,” says CBA Past-President Guy Joubert. “Her dedication and vision have resulted in the establishment of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Manitoba, a new national museum designed to inspire visitors to take personal responsibility for the preservation and enhancement of human rights in Canada and around the world.”
“A tireless community organizer and volunteer, Gail Asper’s leadership of the United Way in Winnipeg and her ongoing support for public-oriented activities of the Manitoba Bar Association stand as a sign of her exemplary commitment,” says Mr. Joubert. “Her philanthropy in these areas is legendary.”
Gail Asper received her law degree from the University of Manitoba in 1984. She practised corporate and commercial law from 1985 to 1989 in Halifax before joining CanWest Global Communications Corporation as general counsel and corporate secretary. She is currently president of the CanWest Global Foundation and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. She is also president of The Asper Foundation, a private charitable foundation, which spearheaded the creation of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Firmly dedicated to her community, Gail Asper has served as co-chair of the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s (MTC) $10-million Endowment Campaign and $6-million Capital Campaign after serving on the Board and as president of MTC. She was the 2002 campaign chair for Winnipeg’s United Way campaign, and chaired the Board of Directors of the United Way of Winnipeg in 2006. She is currently on the Board of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and also volunteers with local, national and international charitable groups.
To be eligible for the CBA President's Award, a candidate must meet at least one of the following criteria: made a significant contribution to the legal profession, to the CBA, or to the public life of Canada. The award is presented only when there is a deserving winner.
The 2009 CBA President’s Award will be presented at the CBA Awards Ceremony and Reception on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, in Toronto at the King Edward Hotel, Sovereign Room. The event is open to accredited media. 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
Tel: 613-237-2925, ext. 146
E-mail: hannahb@cba.org
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