Canadian Lawyer

While the pandemic is still with us, whether Canadians are still committed to fixing structural issues around racism or long-term care is a matter of debate. www.canadianlawyermag.com 1 EDITOR'S DESK UPFRONT www.canadianlawyermag.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wilbur Senior Editor Elizabeth Raymer Editor Zena Olijnyk Canada News Editor Aidan Macnab Production Editor Josh Lewis Writers Annabel Oromoni, Bernise Carolino CONTRIBUTORS Hilary Young, Neill May ART & PRODUCTION Art Director Marla Morelos Customer Success Managers Reena Quimosing, Michelle San Juan Production Co-ordinators Kat Guzman, Loiza Razon Global Production Manager Alicia Chin SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VP, Media and Client Strategy Dane Taylor Sr. Business Development Manager Steffanie Munroe Business Development Manager Lynda Fenton National Account Executive Abhiram Prabhu CORPORATE President Tim Duce Events and Conference Manager Chris Davis Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil Global CEO Mike Shipley Global COO George Walmsley EDITORIAL INQUIRIES tim.wilbur@keymedia.com NAUK SUBSCRIPTIONS CO-ORDINATOR Donnabel Reyes tel: 647 374 4536 ext. 243 donnabel.reyes@keymedia.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES legaladvertise@keymedia.com 2 020 was a year of reckoning for many long-standing inequities. The crisis in our long-term care homes and the Black Lives Matter movement became headline news, and the voices of marginalized communities that had often been ignored were suddenly heard more widely. However, 2020 has come and gone, and the headlines have changed. While the pandemic is still with us, whether Canadians are still committed to fixing structural issues around racism or long-term care is a matter of debate. However, what is still evident is that many of those who were thrust into the spotlight in 2020 to speak about these issues continue the fight. Melissa Miller, for example, grew up in a remote area in Ontario and didn't have many friends her age. She would do chores for seniors who lived nearby and loved to sit around and chat with them afterwards. So, when she eventually became a personal injury lawyer, she fought especially hard for elderly clients mistreated by the justice system. Naturally, when Miller made partner in January 2020, she knew she wanted to fight for older people. Then COVID struck, and her career went into over- drive (p. 12). She realized that fighting for national standards in long-term care, which would take years, was an issue that could address many of the problems that individual cases could not. Likewise, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers has long advocated for better representation for Black lawyers in the justice system. When anti-Black racism was in the headlines in 2020, and initiatives like the BlackNorth pledge emerged in Canada, CABL saw much more interest from Canadian law firms in the work they were doing as well. CABL president Raphael Tachie says he has since seen long-term law firm commitments from some law firms to address this gap in the profession (p. 4). "Those are firms that are not only talking the talk but actually doing more to highlight their commitment," says Tachie. While 2020 gave these issues much-needed attention, neither CABL nor Miller have moved on. Fighting anti-Black racism and fixing long-term care will be needed for many more years ahead. But both causes will have committed advocates like Miler and CABL to ensure that the fight continues. Tim Wilbur, Editor-in-Chief Fixing inequities takes long-term commitments ISSUE 45.08 | OCTOBER 2021 Canadian Lawyer is published 10 times a year by Key Media Canada (Law) Ltd. KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under licence by Key Media Canada (Law) Ltd. CANADIAN LAWYER is a trademark of Key Media Canada (Law) Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Canadian Lawyer disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. Publications Mail Agreement #41261516 ISSN 0703-2129 ©2021 GST/HST Registration #799898465RC-0001 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 RETOURNER TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE NE POUVANT ÉTRE LIVREÉ AU CANADA AU SERVICE DES PUBLICATIONS 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 Key Media Canada (Law) Ltd 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor Toronto, Ontario M5H 3G8 tel: +1 416 644 8740 www.keymedia.com

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