It’s been another difficult year for many of us, but there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel and we have some great things to look forward to. That said, our Section has definitely not been idle. I’m writing to update you on some recent and upcoming developments.
2022 CBA Immigration Law Conference: Portal to Tomorrow
While it’s not yet safe for us to run a full in-person conference, we know how important it is for us to have opportunities to gather and share. We’re excited to offer opportunities for in-person learning and networking in a limited number of hub cities. This year we will offer both online sessions and in-person presentations, plus social/networking events in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. This is an important step towards our return to a full in-person conference for next year, and we’re really excited to reconnect with friends and colleagues after such a long time.
There’s still time to register for the conference – the in-person events will be held as follows (spots are limited so sign up soon):
- Day 1 – Friday, June 3 in Vancouver
- Day 2 – Friday, June 10 in Toronto
- Day 3 – Friday, June 17 in Montreal
Awards
I’m excited to announce the recipients of the 2021/2022 CBA Immigration Law Section awards. Congratulations to the following winners:
Government Meetings
Your Section Officers have been holding productive virtual meetings with the respective offices of Minister Fraser, Minister Mendocino and Minister Qualtrough, as well as IRCC, ESDC and CBSA. We’ve been in constant contact with IRCC with respect to the Afghanistan and Ukraine crises and have shared updates and minutes via the listserv.
Recent Submissions
We would like to thank all the working groups who participated in these submissions for their contributions.
Pro Bono Responses to International Humanitarian Crises
Dedicated pro bono lawyers from our Section have stepped up on short notice to provide free legal consultations and assistance to those fleeing ongoing humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine. We are incredibly grateful to the lawyers who have volunteered their time and expertise to these causes. There are still opportunities to get involved; contact our Pro Bono Coordinator, Bjorna Shkurti to join the effort.
Social Media
Our social media team has really ramped up our online profile this year, profiling our work, sharing important case laws, and running several Facebook Live Streams, including as part of our pro bono Ukraine response:
Other CPD
In addition to the conference, a recent networking program and our Facebook live streams, we’ve also held several other online CPD events, including the following Law Series webinars:
Get Involved
The success of the Section comes from the dedication of our volunteers and Section members; we invite you to engage with the Section:
Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or if you would like to become more involved.
Sincerely,
Kyle Hyndman
Chair, CBA Immigration Law Section