Vancouver Law Day

From the Law Day 2010 Press Release

Access to Justice: Justice for All

Changes in legal systems, financial barriers, and language concerns can have an impact on the ability of all BC citizens to gain access to the justice system. This raises a question about whether everyone in BC has equal access to the justice system.

This concern for justice for all is the theme for this year’s BC Law week, which aims to connect BC’s citizens with members of the legal community. Simply, it means that every BC resident has a right to justice when confronted with a legal problem.

Find out more about access to justice on Law Day at the Vancouver Public Library at 350 West Georgia St. Law Day events will be held from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.

These free, all-ages events offer members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the law and the justice system in British Columbia, what the legal community can do for you, and the legal resources available within the Vancouver region.

Events on April 17 include:

• A citizenship ceremony to be held at 10:00 am in the Library’s Alice Mackay Room. Keynote speeches will made by former Vancouver Mayor and now Senator Larry Campbell and CBABC Executive Director Caroline Nevin. There will be an RCMP honour guard and David Mongar will sing the Canadian national anthem “O Canada.”
• The mock trial of R v Hades, as presented by students from Marlborough Elementary School at 10:30 am. Hades is charged with kidnapping Persephone.
• A free public forum from 12 pm to1:30 pm in the Promenade at the Vancouver Public Library in which the public can ask questions of a panel of senior justice representatives. CBC broadcaster Ian Hanomansing will host the event. On the panel will be The Honourable Michael de Jong, QC, Attorney General of BC; The Honourable Chief Justice Lance Finch, of the Court of Appeal of BC; The Honourable Chief Justice Robert Bauman, of the Supreme Court of BC; The Honourable Chief Judge Thomas Crabtree of the Provincial Court of BC; Assistant commissioner Peter German, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Deputy Chief Constable Doug LePard, of the Vancouver Police Department; and Peter McKnight, Columnist with The Vancouver Sun.
• A forum on Legal Aid from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. in the Alice MacKay Room at the Vancouver Public Library. To be moderated by CBABC President James M. Bond, the forum will discuss two issues: Why is Legal Aid important to you and the people you work with? Why is Legal Aid important to our society? On the discussion panel will be James Bahen, QC; Alison Brewin, Executive Director, Westcoast LEAF; Eugene Kung, BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre; D Mayland McKimm, QC, Chair, Legal Services Society; Grace Oh, Crown Counsel, Downtown Community Court; A Judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia
• Numerous display booths in the Library by organizations involved in the justice system in British Columbia

Also, on Saturday, April 17, 2010, the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association will hold its province-wide “Dial-A-Lawyer” event as part of Law Week. Vancouver region residents are invited to call 1.800.663.1919 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to speak with a lawyer for up to 15 minutes at no cost.
Law Day is part of BC Law Week, an initiative of the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch. Law Week celebrates the signing of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and offers an opportunity for the public to meet and speak with representatives from the legal community.

For more information about BC Law Week please visit: www.bclawweek.org.
For more information about the Dial-a-Law program please visit: www.cba.org/bc.