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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2011
HALIFAX – Holly Doerksen of Ottawa, Canadian Bar Association (CBA) Director of National Sections and Conferences, is the winner of the 2011 CBA Jack Innes Achievement Award, which recognizes a staff member’s exceptional contribution to the Association.
“Holly is an outstanding choice for this award as a quiet but passionate supporter of 38 national Sections and Conferences and the role they play in providing value to thousands of CBA members,” says CBA President Rod Snow of Whitehorse. “Over the past 21 years, she has built a reputation among volunteer chairs and CBA staff as an ardent team player, leader, and invaluable resource to committees and the national office.”
As the CBA Director of National Sections and Conferences, Ms. Doerksen is responsible for advising and representing the CBA’s National Sections Council and its Executive on CBA policy. She also oversees the operations of CBA’s 32 Sections, six Conferences, and two oversight Committees.
A 1990 graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Law School, Holly Doerksen joined the CBA later that year as liaison officer and the sole full-time staff member responsible for 26 CBA Sections. Two years later she was promoted to director. Since that time, she has developed and nurtured the CBA’s National Sections and Conferences department, transforming it into a staff of 10 who work with approximately 800 CBA volunteer executive and committee members on an ongoing basis.
Among her many contributions to the CBA, Holly Doerksen played a lead role in the 1992-1994 National Sections Task Force that resulted in a streamlined Section enrollment process and enhanced role and funding for National Sections. As well, Ms. Doerksen has seen her continuing vision of complementary roles for National and Branch Sections within one cohesive Association become a reality.
She was instrumental in the development of an online volunteer handbook and annual orientation workshop for new Section and Conference chairs. Under her stewardship, with a strong team of staff and volunteers, Section deliverables have expanded to include not only expertise for legislation and law reform and professional development programs, but also a wide spectrum of online member resources, over 30 newsletters, outreach initiatives, active email groups and myriad other tools to assist members in their particular practice area and stage of career.
“The volume and quality of expertise and value that Sections and Conferences bring to the core business of the CBA are a testament to Holly’s commitment in supporting these volunteer groups and the collaborative approach which she always brings to her relationships with colleagues and CBA volunteers across the country,” says Leila Gosselin, CBA Chair of National Sections Council and one of Holly Doerksen’s nominators.
The Jack Innes Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding contribution to the CBA by a current staff member who has exhibited creativity, innovation, leadership and commitment. Jack Innes, Q.C., was CBA National Treasurer from 2002 to 2007.
The award takes the form of a $1,000 cash prize and engraved plaque, and will be presented at the CBA Council Awards Lunch on Saturday, August 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the Halifax ABC Room of the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront. The lunch is held in conjunction with the CBA 2011 Canadian Legal Conference and Expo in Halifax from August 14-16. 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
Aug 12-16: 902-492-7889
E-mail: hannahb@cba.org
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