Canadian Lawyer

ensure facilities keep pace with the volume of work and changes in the way litigation is carried out. Ontario and Alberta have established a set of design standards for courthouses, which, given the need for flexibility, may have to be regularly checked and updated. One aspect of the standards that probably needs to be adjusted, says Lee, is the requirement to have wired-in audiovisual and electronic equipment. Achieving this can involve raising floors, which can be impossible in older buildings. "The government still has interest in retaining the heritage value, but to achieve the functionality that's required it's a challenge," says Lee. British Columbia, understood to be in the process of writing its own set of standards, may wish to take account of this. Perhaps as a society we also need to be less nostalgic about our grand, but in some ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY AND ENTER TO WIN AN iPAD MINI** MORE DETAIL AND A WIDER SCOPE OF LEGAL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ONTARIO THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE: • More than 27,000 lawyers • More than 9,000 law firms and corporate offices • Fax and telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, office locations and postal codes EARLY BIRD ORDERS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY CREDIT CARD PAYMENT Perfectbound • December 2013 SPECIAL PRICE $74 (Regular $77) L88804-626 EARLY BIRD MULTIPLE COPY DISCOUNTS 1-9 copies …………………………………… $74 10-49 copies ………………………………… $70.15 50-99 copies ……………………………… $67.84 100 or more copies ………………… $64.76 Multiple copy discounts available Shipping & handling plus applicable taxes are extra Visit carswell.com or call 1.800.387.5164 for a 30-day no-risk evaluation * Offer expires December 15, 2013 • price is based on orders of 100 copies or more **available to new purchasers only 34 ntitled-7 1 November/December 2013 www.CANADIAN cases dysfunctional, older courthouses. In September, the roof caved in at the 100-year-old courthouse in Moose Jaw, Sask. Human tragedy was avoided as the court was not in use at the time, but the incident led to services being suspended and a $1-million repair bill. It is precisely the type of scenario feared by those who argue for greater short- and medium-term investment in building maintenance. Wellwood says when the Calgary Courts Centre was being built, it was widely acknowledged there would probably be no opportunity for substantial renovations for another 25 years. This meant a lot of the decisions were driven by a need for "durability." Identifying high-traffic areas, and advocating "a very rigorous approach to cleaning and maintenance," is key when it comes to the longevity of a courthouse, she says. Security is increasingly a concern in courthouses; in February an Alberta sheriff was shot in the hand during a drug trial in Whitecourt. Bulletproof glass and metal detectors are, accordingly, becoming de rigeur for new courthouses — but not all lawyers are happy about it. Criminal defence lawyer Brennan Smart practises in Kitchener, Ont., where a courthouse opened in March complete with metal detector screening. "To jury members, it gives the impression that society is very dangerous," he says. "They're convinced it's a jungle out there. It taints the jury before they've even started their job." Some would argue the pros of a heavy security presence outweigh the cons, but it appears to be a live debate that warrants a location-by-location decision rather than a blanket approach. Other lessons from recent builds would seem more obvious. Despite the fact the Owen Sound, Ont., courthouse was built in the 2000s and contains a family court, there is no area for children, no café or even a single vending machine, and — until a special request was made — no baby changing facilities, Barefoot notes. "One would think these would be standard," she states. It is worth highlighting the province with the highest number of new builds, Ontario, has financed them through private-public partnerships via Infrastructure Ontario's Alternative Financing and L a w ye r m a g . c o m 13-10-22 2:16 PM

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