Bit late in doing a recap on this presentation I did with the incomparable Jennifer Chambers for the Human Justice Services Coordinating Committee (that’s a mouthful, isn’t it??!!) – or HJSCC as it is more colloquially known…….on November 15 2023.

We covered a lot of ground including the history of the Empowerment Council’s intervention in mental health law litigation over the last 20-25 years in the Supreme Court of Canada. I have had the great good fortune to be counsel to the Empowerment Council on most of these interventions, and this work has absolutely been among the highlights of my career.

One of these days we will publish a paper on the contributions of People with Lived Experience – specifically the Empowerment Council – to the SCC mental health law jurisprudence! I’ll look forward to seeing that in print.

Working with Jennifer, who is amazingly intelligent and also hilarious, has been an unmitigated joy.

Jennifer has very kindly allowed me to assemble litigation teams on the SCC interventions, affording me the opportunity to bring on mostly younger talent, mostly women. Over time we have found enormous value in adding not only Ruby Dhand, but also Carter Martell, Sarah Rankin, and ever expanding groups of young counsel as brilliant young lawyers join the bar. I am glad to have found a core group who work hard and recognize the enormous value in this rare opportunity within the profession. The work is so important, so rare and so gratifying. I am so grateful.

Jennifer highlighted the importance of non-legal advocacy as well – it was an important and I am pleased to say very well received talk.

Excited about our next intervention at the Supreme Court of Canada already in the works for 2024 – super important case to which my counsel team and I really look forward to contributing something meaningful, while also having the time of our lives – once again!