I served as a Toronto Director on the CLA’s Board for six years 2013-2019.

For the first three terms, a total of six years, I was the Chair of the Mental Disorder Portfolio.

In that capacity, I built the MD Committee and co-chaired six annual mental health and the criminal law conferences, in later years jointly co-hosted with the Law and Mental Disorder Association (LAMDA.)

In 2020 I became the Women’s Director for the whole CLA.

During the next 12 months, I co-Chaired the Women’s Committee with Cassandra DeMelo, the Women’s VP at the time.

Together we hosted monthly events open to women, those identifying as female and non-binary colleagues only.

The dozen virtual events we put on provided a life-affirming sense of community for our women members during the pandemic.  A safe space to form and solidify relationships.

The Women’s Committee events were a huge success. The CLA gained new members who specifically indicated they joined because of these sessions.

We showcased successful and expert women in the defence bar, at all stages of their careers, including junior counsel. We held six AMAs (Ask Me Anythings), starting with me, followed by Caryma S’ad, now Justice Jill Presser, Cass DeMelo and Sid Freeman, Shaunna Kelly and more.

We provided CPDs with Jordana Goldlist on growing your business, with Michelle Johal on bail, Danielle Robitaille on managing difficult clients and Lindsay Board and Colleen McKeown on litigating sexual offences.

We had a special celebration for Justice Presser’s appointment.

We were finally able to meet in person for a Women’s Dinner on November 18. It was glorious.

I cherished my time as the CLA’s Women’s Director, such as it was, during COVID, filling in but never quite filling the much bigger and better shoes of my predecessor, the one and only Lisa Jorgensen.

The Women in Canadian Criminal Defence are extraordinary warriors and superheroes.

My hat’s off to each and every one of them who continues to soldier on in the trenches.