ach year during Law Week justice system staff offer tours of courthouses and in-custody facilities in communities throughout British Columbia.

Cowichan Valley - April 23, 2009
The Cowichan Valley Law Day open house was held on Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Law Day activities at the Duncan courthouse included a mock bail hearing, a mock sentencing hearing, various community displays (RCMP police dog and bear mascot, probation, court registry, WAVAW), a kids’ treasure map, ask a lawyer and sheriff's tours.

Fort St John - April 16, 2009
The Fort St John Law Day open house was held on Thursday, April 16, 2009 from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Fort St John Courthouse at 10600 - 100 Street. The open house featured display booths from legal organizations and a mock trial. Information sessions were held on dealing with drug houses/search warrants presentation and family law.

Kamloops - April 16, 2009
The Kamloops Law Day open house was held on Thursday, April 16, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Kamloops Courthouse at 455 Columbia Street. The theme for Law Day was “Access to Justice: Public Confidence in the Justice System.” Law Day events in Kamloops offered a variety of activities for the public, including a mock trial, RCMP demonstrations, courthouse tours and a question and answer session with a judge.

Kelowna - April 18, 2009
The Kelowna Law Day open house was held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Kelowna Law Day events offered a variety of activities for the public, including courthouse and cell tours, mock trials with Law 12 classes and Girl Guides, police dog demonstrations, a Q&A session with a judge(s); resource rooms with information on the law and a wills and estates seminar.

Nanaimo - April 25, 2009
The 2009 Nanaimo Law Day open house was held on April 25, 2009 from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Nanaimo Courthouse at 35 Front Street. Law Day events included a mock trial, displays and demonstrations from legal organizations, free law classes and tours of the courthouse and law library. The RCMP presented seminars and a canine unit exhibition. Police vehicles were on display and tours of the cells in the Nanaimo courthouse were conducted by Sheriffs.

A number of information kiosks from various legal organizations were at the open house, including the Nanaimo Court Registry with information on filing a civil claims and small claims action, the RCMP, the Nanaimo Correctional Center, the Federal Crown, the Provincial Crown, the Nanaimo Family Justice Hub, the Nanaimo Crisis Line, the Canadian Bar Association and the Nanaimo Haven Society.

New Westminster - April 22, 2009
The New Westminster Law Day open house was held from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at the New Westminster Law Courts at 651 Carnarvon Street. Law Day events included an orientation at 9:30 am, a Q&A session with a sheriff at 11:15 am and a Q&A session with a judge at 12:30 pm. A Law 12 class from New Westminster Secondary participated in events.

Terrace - April 16, 2009
The Terrace Law Day open house was held from 12:00 to 4:00 pm on Thursday April 16, 2009 at the Terrace Courthouse at 3408 Kalum Street. Law Day events in Terrace included an open house with luncheon, courthouse tours and presentations by justice system personnel.

Tri-Cities - April 23, 2009
The Tri-Cities Law Day open house was held from 10:15 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the Port Coquitlam Courthouse at 2620 Mary Hill Road. Law Day events included an orientation at 10:15 am, a Q&A session with a Crown Counsel at 11:30 am and a mock trial from 12:30 to 1:45 pm with students from Maple Ridge Elementary.

Vancouver - April 25, 2009
The Vancouver Law Day open house was held on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Vancouver Public Library at 350 West Georgia Street. Law Day events included a public forum, a mock trial, displays and demonstrations from legal organizations, and free law classes that were hosted by the People’s Law School. There were no courthouse tours in Vancouver.

Victoria -- April 18, 2009
The Victoria Law Day open house was held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Victoria Courthouse at 850 Burdett Avenue. Seven hundred people participated in Victoria Law Day. Highlights of the day included the Victoria Police Canine Unit demonstration, the Trial of Goldilocks, “Who Wants to be a Mediator” game show, court talks and tours where the Honourable Mr Justice Macaulay and the Honourable Judge Neal spoke with the public. Registry clerks and sheriffs explained their roles and offered tours of the holding cell and police vans. The Westshore RCMP provided the public with information about drugs and alcohol in an interactive forum.