Canadian Lawyer

November 2020

The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers

Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1307791

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 10 of 43

www.canadianlawyermag.com 9 nology such as cloud-based file and informa- tion sharing and the ability to be on confer- ence calls with staff or clients has provided a "desktop experience" for everyone at TDS, whether they are at home or at the office when they return to the "new normal" of work as the pandemic wanes. He says products such as Microsoft Teams, Office 365, Zoom and GoToMeeting have helped with collaboration. Veteran lawyer Richard Yaffe, who worked in another Winnipeg law firm for almost 40 years before joining TDS late last year, says that, as someone who has spent a good part of the last 10 years working remotely for family reasons, he definitely noticed how the TDS investment in collaborative technology made a huge differ- ence, not just for him but for clients. "The technology is just as important to them," he says, especially during the pandemic, when so many had to quickly make the transition to working from home. It has allowed him, as well as his paralegal and other assistants, to work with clients' sched- ules and to have access to documents, IT and accounting services. Isha Khan named president and CEO of Canadian Museum of Human Rights Q&A Fast Facts: » First female permanent director of Canadian Museum of Human Rights » Graduate of University of Manitoba and University of Victoria Law School » Called to the bar in 2000 in B.C, 2001 in Alberta and 2007 in Manitoba » Senior counsel for Manitoba Human Rights Commission from 2010 to 2015 » Started five-year appointment as museum's CEO on Aug. 17, 2020 Isha Khan President and CEO CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HUMAN RIGHTS Isha Khan, the new president and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, has come on board just as the museum faces scrutiny for allegations of racism, homophobia, sexism and censorship. Canadian Lawyer caught up with Khan to talk to her about her new role. You've had a long career as a human rights lawyer in private practice and with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission — why take on this role at the museum? As a human rights lawyer, you don't get quite as many opportunities to be innovative or use education to bring about change when it comes to fighting systemic discrimination. But I was at a place in my career where I was ready to veer in that broader direction. What was it specifically about the role as director of the museum that appealed to you? It is so much more than just a building that houses artifacts. It's a place where people can learn about human rights, they can talk about human rights, have their ideas challenged and challenge others on their ideas. That setting, where I could be part of leading those kinds of conversations, is really interesting to me. How do you think the Black Lives Matter movement and the recent protests against systemic discrimination fit into the mandate of the museum? More than ever, people — in particular, young people — are thinking about what it means to have human rights, and they are watching what's going around in the world, in our country and they are wanting to understand what this means to them personally. I see the museum as a key as an institution that can be a key player in bringing those people together around these issues. "As the pandemic came, our reaction was 'We've got this.'" Keith LaBossiere, CEO and managing partner, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman MCKERCHER LLP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS SASKATOON | 306.653.2000 REGINA | 306.565.6500 We see innovation in hardship. We see beauty in the struggle to succeed. We understand the intrinsic nature of innovation that is required to survive in business in our province. With local roots tracing back to 1926, we know Saskatchewan and how success is driven by innovation ... naturally. SASKATCHEWAN

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Canadian Lawyer - November 2020