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HALIFAX – Susan L. Hardy of Iqaluit, Nunavut is the winner of the 2011 Canadian Bar Association John Tait Award of Excellence. The award recognizes an outstanding Canadian public sector lawyer annually.

Susan Hardy is Director of Legislation at Nunavut’s Department of Justice. Previously, she was legal counsel (1999-2005) and legislative counsel (2005-2010) in the department.

“Susan Hardy exemplifies preeminent public service through the many contributions she has made through her work as a lawyer for the Government of Nunavut – promoting legal education and access to justice, and establishing new legal structures for the young territory,” says CBA President Rod Snow of Whitehorse.

Highlighting her contributions as co-chair of the CBA Aboriginal Law Section (2004-2009) and Branch President (2007-2009), Rod Snow added, “She dedicated herself to providing members of the local bar with legal education, mentoring and training opportunities. Her tireless efforts, outstanding dedication, and professionalism ensured the vitality of the Nunavut branch of the CBA.”

Bonnie Tulloch, Special Advisor on Northern Issues with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Ottawa and one of Susan Hardy’s nominators, noted, “She has contributed broadly to the promotion of the ideals of the public sector lawyer, and not only in terms of direct government service. All who have worked with her are particularly impressed with the extensiveness and the magnitude of her volunteer commitment.”

Susan Hardy graduated from Dalhousie Law School, was called to Nova Scotia bar in 1993, and practiced law in Halifax for nearly five years.

Her work in the North began at the Office of the Interim Commissioner of Nunavut (Government of the Northwest Territories) in 1998.She was instrumental in working to set up the Department of Justice for Nunavut, in establishing the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal, and in developing special initiatives such as the initial relocation of the Family Support / Maintenance Program and the Innusirmut Aqqusiuqtiit Mediation Pilot Project. She was a public-service designate to the Legal Services Board from 1998-2005.

Susan Hardy served for many years as Chair of Membership and Admissions Committee of the Law Society of Nunavut and was the recipient of the Law Society of Nunavut Volunteer Service Award. She served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Society of Nunavut from 2007 – 2009.

The John Tait Award of Excellence will be presented by the CBA’s Public Sector Lawyers Forum at the John Tait Award Reception at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre, Suite 202, on Tuesday, August 16th at 5:00 p.m. The reception 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 award was established in 1998 to honour, recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of public sector lawyers in Canada. The award honours the memory of John Tait, an outstanding lawyer, public servant and friend of the CBA who passed away in the summer of 1999.

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