Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the many women whose courage, steadfastness, and ingenuity have shaped Canada. For those of us in the legal profession, it’s also a time to reflect on the profound contributions that women through the generations have made to law and justice.
This October, I encourage you to take time to learn about some of the trailblazing women in the law who have helped open doors, creating a more equitable profession and a stronger country. These include Beverley McLachlin, the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and the longest-serving chief justice in our history; Corrine Sparks, the first Black woman appointed to the bench in Canada; and First Nations leader Roberta Jamieson, who was both the first Indigenous woman in Canada to graduate from law school and the first woman to serve as ombudsman of Ontario.
Today, Canadian women continue to build on the legacies of these pioneers. In particular, I’m proud to be part of a community of women at the CBA who help each other thrive. Our first woman president was Paule Gauthier in 1992; today, I’m the twelfth, and there will be many more.
Through initiatives like the Madam Justice Project, which features the stories and advice of over 75 women judges, and this month’s Women Lawyers Forum Conference highlighting the rise of women-led law firms, the CBA will keep celebrating the achievements of women in the law and supporting women from the courtroom to the boardroom and beyond.
