Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 25 ORLANDO DA SILVA President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confes- sion of a long and deep depression and attempted suicide has opened up discussion on mental health within the legal community like never before. While there is a deep- rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's coura- geous leadership has helped create specialized support programs for lawyers who struggle in silence. As if that was not enough, Da Silva has gone one step further and asked lawyers to call him per- sonally if they need support. His supporters underline that Da Silva's efforts are crucial in an industry that encourages bra- vado and often mistakes mental illness for a per- sonal weakness. KATRINA PACEY Executive director, Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver, B.C. Pacey was recently appointed executive director of Pivot Legal and continues the good work of her predecessors. Pivot focuses on issues related to health, police accountability, drug pol- icy, and homelessness, poverty, and sex workers' rights. She may be best known for her role in the Bedford case, but Pivot is about more than that and fre- quently has intervener status in major Supreme Court of Can- ada cases, including the recent one on mandatory minimums. She is also gifted at bringing on board highly respected counsel to work pro bono on many of these cases that can really affect the lives of some of the city, and country's, most vulnerable citizens. JUSTICE MURRAY SINCLAIR Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Winnipeg, Man. A rare write-in candidate winner for this year's Top 25, Sinclair was on the list last year, making headlines again in June with the release of the summary of the report of the TRC along with 94 recommendations to redress the "cul- tural genocide" of Canada's residential school system. Over six years, Sinclair led the TRC hearing the stories of more than 7,000 survivors of sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Sinclair, who was the first aboriginal judge in Manitoba, was first appointed to the provincial court where he became associate chief in 1988 and then elevated to the Court of Queen's Bench in 2001. He was co- commissioner of Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in 1988 and presided over a 2000 inquest into the deaths of 12 infants at Winnipeg's Health Scienc- es Centre. Sinclair hopes to complete the commission's full report in the near future, following which he will decide whether to go back to court or retire and advocate for native rights full-time. WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY: "Mr. Da Silva's bravery in ground- ing increasingly acknowledged men- tal health issues in the legal profession in his own personal experience will cru- cially advance these concerns among lawyers and lead to positive ends." WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY: "Incredible dedication to social justice at every level with keen passionate intelligence. She has helped change draconian laws that threaten the lives of sex trade workers and restore dignity to people who have been marginalized." REUTERS / BLAIR GABLE

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