Cecilia I. Johnstone Award – Accepting Nominations for 2026!
This annual award honors a colleague who has achieved professional excellence in their field and who has influenced other women to pursue legal careers, supported women in advancing their careers, or opened doors for women lawyers in professional settings that were historically closed to them. The award is named in honour of an outstanding woman lawyer, judge, and former CBA President, who passed away on April 15, 2006.
We welcome nominations until June 30, 2026. The Award will be presented in-person at the 2026 WLF Conference, October 15-16, 2026. Nomination details are available here.
Call for nominations: CBA National Women Lawyers Forum
Apply online | April 23 – May 30, 2026
The CBA National Women Lawyers Forum is seeking nominations for a Communications Officer, a Secretary and up to eight Members-at-Large, for the term September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.
Communications Officer
The Communications Officer is expected to attend meetings and conference calls and is responsible for keeping Section members informed of key Section activities, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved in the work of the Section.
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for preparing minutes of meetings and conference calls in a timely manner, and otherwise assists the Executive as needed. As a Section Officer, the Secretary is also responsible for attending Officer meetings.
The Secretary sequentially occupies each office through to Past Chair, which involves a five-year total commitment.
Members-at-Large
Member-at-Large positions are open to WLF members who wish to actively participate in the work of the Section, including taking part in projects and committees. Members-at-Large are expected to attend WLF executive meetings and to take part in specific projects, committees, and other initiatives of the WLF. There are many opportunities to assist.
Young lawyers and students with a particular interest or relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
Roles and expectations for each position
Nominations
Nominations must be received by May 30, 2026. When filling positions, the WLF takes various factors into account, including language, geographic representation and diversity. We consider members who are familiar with and active in WLF activities, but also seek new participants. The WLF welcomes nominations from trans women, non-binary people, two-spirit, and gender-diverse individuals.