Canadian Lawyer

July 2016

The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers

Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/697581

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 22 of 47

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m J U L Y 2 0 1 6 23 and started working on it and it took a number of years thereafter — probably five or six — to complete the whole series and the 14 books that are now part of the Charter for Children series." The books, first published in English in 2012, have recently been released in French. Each book is set in a different province and showcases a different Charter right, using rhyming, puns, and colourful illustrations to help tell the tale. "I think the big- gest challenge was, one, trying to gear it towards the proper age group and then, two, trying to combine elements of storytelling, humour, trying to make it as entertaining as possible but at the same time educational and informative," Milligan explains. For example, in The Case of the Missing Montreal Bagel, police start raiding homes around the city looking for the missing bagel, highlighting the need for a right to privacy and security. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Lobster, set in She- diac, N.B., works freedom of expression into the plot line. In the Hoofsteps of Emooly Murphy has Eva discovering that her mother, a cow, isn't making as much as the bulls who also give rides to children at the Calgary Stampede. In some cases, Milligan's inspiration is drawn from real cases tried by Canada's courts. The Golden Hook, which centres on religious freedom, is inspired by Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, in which the Supreme Court struck down a rule that prohibited a young Sikh boy in the Montreal area from wearing his kirpan to school. Milligan chose his home province as the setting for The Two Two-Eyed Potatoes, a book that deals with freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The story features two two-eyed potatoes who want to be friends but can't because the rules say that two-eyed potatoes can only be friends with a one-eyed potato. "I think what it ultimately does is provides an analogy to the same-sex marriage debate in Canada, but it's about two potatoes who want to be best friends, so I think it gets children engaged with these concepts on a level that's meaning- ful for themselves and so they can hopefully relate to a similar scenario and then can identify with other children who might be affected by this or other people who will be affected by this, obviously, throughout their lives." While the Charter of Rights isn't usually considered the stuff of bedtime stories, Milligan feels it is important for children to be aware of their Charter rights. "I think that from an early age it is important to introduce children to those concepts so that it fosters an appreciation for them and hopefully also fosters a desire to protect those rights going forward from a very early age," he says. "I think it is important to empower children with a sense of awareness of their rights and freedoms, just to give them a sense of empowerment in their everyday lives." Milligan says the children's books have also provided an out- let for both of his loves — his creative side and the law. "I think what this has done for me is to combine two interests; this part of me that likes to be creative, I like literature, and also combines this passion of mine and the expertise I have in law. It's kind of nice to combine the two. I think this series is a perfect melding of the two." Order # 804218-65203 $46 2 volume looseleaf supplemented book Anticipated upkeep cost – $3 per supplement 4- supplements per year Supplements invoiced separately 0-88804-218-3 Shipping and handling are extra. Price(s) subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. 00227VI-A48890 Canadian Employment Law Stacey Reginald Ball More than 6,145 cases cited Canadian Employment Law is a one-stop reference that provides a thorough survey of FNQMPZNFOU law and analysis of developing trends, suggesting potential avenues of attack as well as identifying potential weaknesses in the law. Canadian Employment Law has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada, in superior courts in every province in Canada, and is used in law schools throughout Canada. CANADA LAW BOOK ® Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: www.carswell.com Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 Also available online on WestlawNext® Canada EmploymentSource™ 82 Scollard Street, Toronto, Canada, M5R 1G2 Contact Stacey Ball at (416) 921-7997 ext. 225 or srball@82scollard.com web: www.staceyball.com Ball Professional Corporation Excellence in Employment & Labour Law • Counsel in Leading Cases • • Author of Leading Treatise • Wrongful Dismissal Employment Law Human Rights Post Employment Competition Civil Litigation Appellate Advocacy Disability Referrals on behalf of employees and employers respected Ball_CL_Mar_12.indd 1 12-03-13 2:27 PM

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Canadian Lawyer - July 2016